Oh, procrastination, the little devil on your shoulder that tells you whatever is going on inside your phone is more important than studying for that test worth 25% of your grade. Why is a single test worth 25% of your grade, anyway? Well, life is unfair! But you still have to study for it, so here are the best ways to prevent procrastination.

Pick a good study location

The fewer distractions, the better. While it seems like a great idea to do some work on those big ol’ concrete slabs near Barbelin, there are a lot of distractions there. Reserve a study room or pick a quiet spot somewhere on campus to get some work done (see my column: “The best spots to study on campus: A satire”).

Bury your phone

I personally like to lock my phone in a heavy, waterproof lockbox, tie it to a chain and throw it into the Schuylkill River. Out of sight, out of mind!

Take breaks

Many people use different methods to help them work. Try setting a timer on your phone to work for 45 minutes, take a break for 5-10 minutes and then repeat. The only problem is my phone is at the bottom of a river, so this one won’t work for me. When it does, I like to use the “5-5-5” rule. Spend five minutes working, write five words and then take a break for five days.

Work with a study group

This is a great way to collaborate with your peers and spend hours doing anything but work.

Reward yourself

You wrote one sentence of a 10-page paper, so go ahead and take a break. Maybe spend an hour making dinner and go for a nice walk, you’ve earned it.

Admit you’re procrastinating

Stop it! Stop it! Stop it!

Accept defeat

Wait until the last minute, don’t get it done and beg for an extension. You tried your best, after all.