By: Lexus Partipilo and Grace Soenksen
The University of Wisconsin–Green Bay (UWGB) helps students overcome procrastination in an engaging and supportive way.
On Nov. 19, UWGB Libraries and The Learning Center collaborated to host the Long Night Against Procrastination (LNAP). The event took place on the second floor of the Cofrin Library from 7 to 10 p.m. Students were encouraged to focus on their academics, get help from tutors, and enjoy wellness activities, free snacks, prizes, and more.
According to Brianna Hyslop, the Learning Center manager, libraries around the world have hosted this event. The Cofrin Library has historically hosted this event, but the event has been more consistent over the last few semesters. LNAP is held once per semester, typically around academic breaks, when students may need extra help maintaining momentum and staying motivated.
Hyslop explained, “We’re all waiting for fall break to happen… it’s easy to let some of those tasks we don’t like become our lowest priority.” Hyslop continued, “Events like this are aimed toward students to think about, for one night you can make it your priority, and you can get it done so that you can relax on your fall break and you don’t have to worry about it when you get back.”
The event offers students an opportunity to build healthy study habits and socialize while maintaining their academic focus. Hyslop stated, “It’s an opportunity for students who are struggling a little bit more to give them some of those strategies that can carry them forward in the future.”
A study tip Hyslop has found to improve academic success is the Tomato Timer Method. Hyslop shared, “I was a terrible procrastinator… One of the most helpful strategies I learned is called the Tomato Timer Method, (also known as) the Pomodoro Technique. This is something where you force yourself to do work in 20-to-25-minute chunks of time with little mini breaks. Then, if you do an hour’s worth of work, you get a 30-minute break… I like it because anybody can do anything for 25 minutes… Even if you’re not super motivated, you can sit down for 25 minutes and do something and get something done.”
Hyslop continued, “Maybe next semester, in the spring, they (the students) have built healthy habits, but they enjoyed the social aspect and want to keep participating.”
This is the case for Alex Stephens, a second-time attendee of LNAP. Stephans explained, “I came to it last year, and I ended up getting a lot of homework done. So, my roommate and I saw it posted this year; we put it on our calendar and made sure that we came.” Stephens shared, “I definitely would (go to the event again) because it makes me actually come to the library after class instead of going home.”
Another student who attended this event was Mack Gore. Gore found out about the event through posters on campus and a friend who is a tutor at the event and the Learning Center. Gore stated, “I found other study tips that work for me, but being around people definitely helps. It makes me more motivated… It’s easier to do work if there’s other people working with you.”
The resources offered at this event are open to students year-round. Hyslop concluded, “If students miss tonight, don’t forget they can take advantage of appointments with our tutors, they can come and meet with the academic success coaches, if they need help with their research projects at the end of the semester, we have our research librarians who are available to help them. So, support is not isolated to this one night. We are here all the time to help support our students through the end of the semester.”
