Help Yourself
Need more help?
Acknowledge your strengths
Accept your limitations. Notice how high expectations
fuel self-defeating thoughts and interfere with pleasure
and success in learning.
If you would like to discuss your concerns, you can make
an appointment with an ACU Counsellor.
This service is free and confidential. For more information
about the ACU Counselling Service or to make an
appointment, please go to the ACU website.
students.acu.edu.au/counselling
Take breaks without guilt
Everybody needs to take breaks. It doesn’t mean you are
lazy, or a bad person. Throw yourself into whatever it is
you are doing - vacuuming, watching TV, reading, surfing
the web or going out with friends. Do it and enjoy it to the
max.
Focus on the process
Consider measuring your success by what you have
learned along the way and your enjoyment of the process,
instead of just focusing on the outcome.
OVERCOMING
BLOCKS TO
STUDY
GETTING PAST PROCRASTINATION
AND PERFECTIONISM
ARE YOU STRUGGLING TO GET STARTED?
WORKING CONSISTENTLY BUT FEELING OVERWHELMED?
FEELING THERE IS NEVER ENOUGH TIME?
Last revised January 2016
CRICOS registered provider: 00004G
Procrastination and perfectionism
Many students struggle with procrastination in their studies.
Procrastination may be a result of unrealistically high standards
and trying to achieve perfection in assessment tasks.
For some students, procrastination can become a strong habit,
and a barrier to enjoying their course and achieving a reasonable
balance between study and life.
Do you recognize these study blocks?
1. Are you easily distracted?
2. Do you worry excessively about being evaluated by others?
3.
Do you put off starting an assessment task for fear of not
getting it right?
4. Do you spend too long trying to produce a perfect result?
5. Are you frightened of failing?
6. Do you feel resentful about studying?
7. Do you have trouble managing your time?
8. Are you having trouble concentrating?
9. Are you overwhelmed and not sure where to start?
10.Do you make unreasonably negative judgments about your
ability to succeed?
If you think procrastination or perfectionism
are cramping your study style you might want
to...
•Notice critical ‘self-talk’ and inaccurate assumptions that
stop you from getting on with study
•Challenge these beliefs and try to make more accurate
statements about the situation
UNHELPFUL THOUGHT
REALISTIC THOUGHT
“I have to do really well
or everyone will think I’m
dumb.”
“Getting it done is what
counts. I’m here to learn and
improve over time.”
“I can’t work when I’m tired
and depressed.”
“I can still make a start
right now.”
“It’s too hard and I don’t
know how to start.”
“I’ll work on something else
and ask for help tomorrow.”
“I can’t believe it! My essay
is due tomorrow. I’m so lazy
to have not started it yet.”
“I’ll focus on getting it
started. Putting it off
doesn’t mean I am a bad
person.”
“I’m so stupid. I should have
finished by now.”
“I will finish. I’ll focus on
what I can do to pull it
together.”
Revise your study style
Get Organised
•Make a study plan for the semester, month, week or day
and prioritise tasks
•Create an inviting study space and minimise distractions
to encourage focus
Take Small Steps
•Reduce an overwhelming task by breaking it into smaller,
more manageable steps
• Start on an easy task then switch to a more difficult one
•Set just 15 minutes aside today to work on the task you are
putting off
Think Outside the Box
•Be playful with your work, scribble down ideas, speak words
aloud and record them, or do a mind map
•Vary your study tasks and take regular scheduled breaks
Care for Yourself
•Energise yourself, jump up and down, take a short break,
relax and then go back to study
•Allow yourself to feel pleased and reward yourself for
completing work
Reach Out
• Ask for help from a friend or a family member
•Consider making time to talk with your tutor, lecturer,
or an Academic Skills Advisor