Stop taking in new information.
Information overload will stop you in your tracks every time. Rather than doing yet another Google search or forum lurking session, rest that you already know enough about applying to graduate school to take the first step. Stop reading. Stop searching. Start moving forward.
Take the first step. Actually just take any step.
Since you’ve been procrastinating, worrying, and gathering information for so long, you may have no idea which way is up, down, forward or backward. That’s okay for now. At least you’ve stopped staying up until 1 am reading graduate student blogs from 2008. Since we’ve already established that you already know enough to get started on your graduate school applications, do something real and tangible to move you forward in your application process. This could mean officially registering for a test date to take the GMAT or GRE, writing a first draft of one of your essays, scheduling a consultation call with an admissions consultant (make it a working session if possible–not just a theoretical strategy “what if?” session), or redoing your resume. Remember: further research is not a first step. ACTION is a first step.
Create some accountability for yourself.
You’ve probably been wringing your hands in the secrecy of your own mind. Most people who know you probably don’t even know how important applying to graduate school is for you–or how much of a challenge it’s become for you to move forward in the process. Tell several people about your goal of applying to graduate school this season so that you have trusted people whose opinions you care about looking to see if you did what you said you’d do. Wanting to live up to what you said you’d do will serve as a powerful tool to get you out of procrastination mode and into GSD mode. TAOA Community: Have any of you out there been procrastinating? What first step are you going to take or have you taken to move forward?
You have got it spot on! I am myself infected by the “procrastinating virus” for a long time now, having symptoms similar to what you describe above. Life keeps coming up with new opportunities and challenges each time I get started on the applications and they keep taking a backseat.
The one thing I have learned and would like to share is that the applications must be given the respect they deserve. It is a tough deal to look inside and honestly evaluate yourself and I suppose people (especially the procrastinators) shy away from doing that. How I am trying to rise above this is by taking the help of friends and family to give me a third party perspective (SWOT) and the results have been amazing. I have been finding out attributes about myself that were for me normal traits but for others are appreciable facts. At the same time some stories come up that I had forgotten. It is difficult to get people to come up with weaknesses but once they open up, you find really interesting stuff.
As you have mentioned in the last point this also leads to accountability as people keep you on your toes asking progress. Inspite of a hectic schedule, this helps me to make the process a little easy for myself come up with better content for essays.
Thanks for sharing your views. I will take your “anti-virus” and hope it works for me. You are absolutely right – Information overload is a real time killer.
Hi SK! I’m so glad that you enjoyed the article! It sounds like you’ve created a great plan to help yourself stop procrastinating and get started on your applications. In business school, you’ll be doing a lot of those kinds of activities where you ask for feedback, so it’s great that you’re getting a head start on that. Thanks for reading!