Online courses allow users to have more freedom and flexibility in their learning. However, this flexibility may sometimes have negative consequences. It happens because of the lack of fixed hours for classes, supervision in the person, and the presence of teachers and classmates. Some students say, “I will do it later” or “help me with my online class” so many times that they end up in a last-minute rush without even realizing it.
Procrastination is one of the most common and also the most damaging problems that are associated with online education. The way to the solution of the problem starts with acknowledging the reasons for procrastination.
Understanding The Psychology of Procrastination
Procrastination is a wrong concept most of the time, where it is thought that a person simply lacks time management skills, while in fact it is a psychological coping mechanism. When a person is given a task that he/she finds difficult, boring, or that makes him/her feel uncomfortable emotionally, the brain, in an attempt to avoid negative emotions, will look for instant relief.
So, a student enrolled in an online course may decide to “take my class for me,” check his social media account instead of watching an online lecture video, or choose to organize notes so as not to start the essay. The person feels as if he/she is being productive, but actually, it is avoidance that is pretending to be productivity.
Psychologically, is failure in emotional regulation rather than laziness. It is the brain’s mode of communication which says, “I don’t want to feel stressed, anxious or overwhelmed at this moment.” Shortly, this method provides temporary relief; however, it causes anxiety when deadlines approach.
The Role of Emotions in Procrastination
Emotions stay at the center of one’s learning. When a job/activity provokes feelings of uncertainty (“What if I fail?”) or boredom (“This topic is so boring”), the emotional discomfort is often so strong that the brain rebels against even the idea of starting.
People who learn online are more susceptible since there is less social pressure to do it right away. Without a teacher watching and classmates that are working alongside you, it is simpler to escape unpleasant emotions by putting off the work.
Also, perfectionism which is a fear of not doing something well enough, can be the reason behind procrastination. Some students keep delaying to start the tasks because they are terrified of making imperfect works. To them, not starting at all seems safer than risking failure.
Why Online Learning Makes Cure For Procrastination Worse
Conventional classrooms hold structure, habituation, and real-time accountability. In contrast, online learning depends mostly on one’s self-discipline and inner motivation.
Being online makes it worse for one to procrastinate because the common causes of procrastination are also present there.
- Flexibility overload: Without a fixed schedule students hardly can determine the actual time they have and they always tend to overestimate it.
- Digital distractions: Social media, notifications, and open tabs constantly vie for the user’s attention.
These factors reinforce each other so that one can easily fall into the loop of “I will start later” despite having good intentions.
Step 1: Start Small and Redefine Progress
To break free from the habit of procrastination, a highly effective method is to make your initial step so minimal that it doesn’t scare you.
Having the smallest of actions drastically reduces the emotional resistance that often hinders us. In most cases, after a person has started, the power of momentum is what takes over. This phenomenon is what the psychologists call the Zeigarnik Effect, which means creating some mental tension due to starting a task leads to the urge to finish it.
Online learning is not about rushing to the end of the course but rather being consistently engaged in the process. Any tiny action holds the value of a habit in the long run.
Step 2: Manage Emotions, Not Just Time
In a situation when you are avoiding a task, take a moment, and instead of doing it, work it out in your mind “What am I really feeling at this moment?” Is it anxiety, confusion, or boredom? Identification of the feeling allows you to communicate with it.
- Should anxiety be one of the feelings, you can start dealing with it by making a small and very clear step out of a task.
- In case you feel boredom, you can either motivate yourself by linking it to your more significant goals, or simply give yourself a treat after.
- If you are confused, then it is better to seek assistance from the instructor or watch the lecture again.
Emotion management is a way of not yielding to them and hence, regaining control over your learning process.
Step 3: Build External Accountability
Get involved in a study group. Establish reminders that are more intimate than they would be if they were simply automated notifications.
Making public your commitment to achieve your goals generates a light social pressure that helps to cross the motivation gap. Even the tiniest thing as letting a group chat or discussion forum know of your progress can have a great impact.
Accountability is the way in which procrastination, which has been a private struggle, becomes a shared, supportive effort.
Final Thoughts
Procrastination should not be considered a weak point. It is, however, a typical human reaction to some kind of emotional discomfort. The response has been amplified by the liberty and isolation that come with e-learning.
With an insight into the psychology of the matter, pupils can substitute the feeling of guilt with the use of a strategy and the feeling of avoidance with that of awareness. It is not a matter of forcing one’s self with discipline when breaking the cycle but rather a matter of crafting one’s surroundings, feelings, and mentality in such a way that they will support one’s progress.
Your biggest wins in e-learning are more often than not, the result of small, regular actions rather than significant efforts made at the last minute. Each time you decide to start, even if it is only for a short period of time, you are doing more than just completing a task; you are changing the way your brain works.
