I'll do it tomorrow，I swear!

Procrastination is the thief of time and a lot of students suffer from it．【小题1】 However，they only stare into space，eat snacks，surf the Internet，watch videos and look at their pretty peers sitting around them who，most likely，are doing nothing either．

According to a recent report by the BBC，95 percent of us procrastinate at some point and 20percent of the world's population are chronic procrastinators，complicating their lives with their constant delaying of tasks．The figures are discouraging．【小题2】 Just look at Hamlet，who is perhaps the world's most famous procrastinator．He is also a university student，and his indecision leads to tragedy（悲剧）in the biggest way．

Procrastinators like to find excuses to justify their behavior，but BBC columnist Rowan Pelling says they are all wrong．【小题3】 Pelling says this is nonsense，as work done at the last minute is more likely to have mistakes than work done on time．She says the behavior of procrastinators often makes them feel nervous and ashamed，inconveniences others，and annoys loved ones．Pelling also points out that procrastination feels particularly delinquent（不良倾向的）in a society that views swift action as praiseworthy，and，at times，even as morally good．

【小题4】 Piers Steel，a Canadian social scientist and author of The Procrastination Equation，believes humankind is"designed"to procrastinate．Nevertheless，he suggests a couple of good ways to get through the task at hand．【小题5】 Break the task down into small pieces and work your way through them methodically．The second is ingenious：Give a trusted friend a sum of money and tell them that if you don't complete the task you have undertaken by a specific time，they can keep it or donate it to a cause you hate．

How to Build a Habit

Building good habits takes tremendous effort and insight. 【小题1】 Here are some research-backed steps that can set you on the path from where you are to where you want to be.

Set a specific goal

The way you define the goal you hope to turn into a habit does matter. Goals such as “meditate regularly” are too abstract, research has shown.【小题2】 Don’t say “I’ll meditate regularly.” Say, “I’ll mediate for 15 minutes each day.” Having a bite-size objective makes it easier to get started and easier to see your progress.

Create a detailed, cue-based plan

Scientists have proven that you’ll make more progress toward your goal if you decide not just what you’ll do, but when you’ll be cued to do it, as well as where you’ll do it and how you’ll get there. A plan like “I’ll study Spanish for 30 minutes, five days a week” is OK. But a detailed, cue-based plan like “Every workday after my last meeting, I’ll spend 30 minutes studying Spanish in my office” is much more likely to stick as a habit.【小题3】 Because the when and where in your plan will serve as cues to action that jog your memory.

【小题4】

When we set out to build a new habit, most of us overestimate our willpower and set a course for the most efficient path to achieving our end goal. But research has shown you’ll persist longer and ultimately achieve more if you instead focus on finding ways to make goal pursuit fun.

Foster flexibility

【小题5】 But when you’re in the start-up phase of habit building, it’s important to insert some variability deliberately into your routine. A flexible habit means you can still do what you need to even when a wrench is thrown in your first best plans— say, a traffic jam on the way to dropping the kids off at school that gets in the way of your morning meditation.

Can you recognize the moment when you realize you’ve mastered a foreign language? It’s not when you get a perfect score on a grammar test. 【小题1】 And it takes hard work for your inner thoughts to start flowing in a language that’s not native. Here are some tips that will help you achieve the goal.

Stop the Translating Habit

Don’t try to say something after thinking of a sentence word by word in your own language, and then translating it into foreign words. It’s ineffective because the logical flow of words in your mother tongue won’t sound well in a foreign language. When you’re thinking of something to say, start with the main parts of the sentence: the subject and the verb. 【小题2】

【小题3】

It’s easier to learn the words when you add them into context, and you connect them with one another. If, for example, you’re learning the word morning in a foreign language, you should also look up for words that go with it, such as good or early. You should also pair it with the opposites and check out some synonyms. That’s the best approach to getting a huge vocabulary.

Practice Writing

A writing practice will help you keep track of your progress, but it will also help you remember the things you’ve learned. Try to notice and fix the mistakes in your writing. 【小题4】. This practice will not only make you a more confident speaker, but it will also help you start thinking in a foreign language.

Practice Speaking and Listening

【小题5】 Turn speaking and listening into a daily activity. You can listen to audiobooks (有声读物)in the foreign language, and then talk to someone about the impressions. If you don’t have anyone to talk to just get in an empty room, record your speech and listen to it. You’ll surely recognize the signs of progress.