These days it seems like every student who hopes to continue his or her studies abroad or land a highly-skilled and highly-paid job is studying at two universities. On top of that, there is life outside of school: family, friends, volunteering or interning and, for some, holding down a job on the side to support themselves.

Cambodia is becoming part of the global economy and graduates increasingly have to compete on the international job market. As the Kingdom evolves, top students are facing the same intense study regimen and accompanying stress levels as students in Western countries, where heavy academic workloads have been linked to high rates of anxiety and depression.

With all of this stuff on our plate, it is no wonder that we are tempted to procrastinate when something doesn’t have to be done immediately. We think that we can do it tomorrow, or the next day, and then before we know it we have limited time to finish something and the quality of our work suffers. Although it might seem like putting things off until the last minute is inevitable for today’s hyper-competitive college students, we at AIESEC are here to help you cut down on your procrastination.

In our own efforts to achieve success at two schools, as well as participate in extracurricular activities, the three of us on the AIESEC media team have a few techniques that we would like to share:

First, you have to be well-prepared. Decide on the best place and time for you to get work done before you set out to accomplish your task. A few extra minutes of planning can save you a lot more time, as being in a comfortable environment will help you complete your work much more quickly.

Secondly, when you do decide on a goal that you want to reach in the future, whether it be in the next few hours or the next few years, write it down in a notebook. It might not seem like a big deal, but writing something down makes it more memorable and it won’t fade from your mind as soon as you move on to your next task.

Thirdly, make a schedule that gives you some free time and stick to it. By putting together a schedule each week that includes some time off, you will actually be able to see the open spaces in your schedule. Some students are very successful in their studies but forget to live their lives on the side. Take some time to relax and have fun!

While it may seem like free time is indistinguishable from procrastination, it is actually the opposite. Occasionally doing something fun and relaxing will help you return to your work with energy and enthusiasm. Schedule your free time and use it wisely, and this can be the procrastination anecdote that you have been looking for.

English poet Edward Young wrote that “procrastination is the thief of time”. If you plan ahead and give yourself some time to relax everyday, you can be sure that nothing will steal your valuable time.