When I first started thinking about filling CAT form and applying to business schools, I thought I had plenty of time. After all, deadlines were months away, and I had already survived college finals, right? But pretty quickly, I realized that MBA prep isn’t just about managing topics and forms, it’s also about managing yourself. And the biggest challenge? Procrastination. Not the obvious kind, but the sneaky, disguised kind that looks like productivity until it’s not.
Here are a few ways procrastination crept into my MBA journey maybe they’ll sound familiar.
"I’m Just Researching Right Now"
I spent hours and hours reading reddit posts or watching YouTube videos on how to create the best of personal statements. It felt productive, but looking back, I was stalling. I wanted to have the perfect game plan before I actually started writing or studying. But the truth is, perfectionism was just fear wearing a productivity costume.
So what helped me? I gave myself permission to start messy. My first essay draft was full of clichés and run-on sentences, but at least it existed. Starting imperfectly is better than not starting at all.
“I Still Have Time”
It’s very weird how time feels endless when a deadline is a few months away. I told myself I’d get serious next week. Then the weeks kept slipping by. Suddenly, I was three weeks from the CAT and I was screaming at myself for letting it happen.
So what helped me? I made a calendar with mini-deadlines and stuck it where I would see it every day. Breaking things into chunks made it way less overwhelming. Plus, crossing things off a list is weirdly satisfying, you know what I mean right?
"I Work Better Under Pressure"
I used to brag about pulling all-nighters in undergrad and still doing well. But MBA prep isn’t a one-and-done paper. It's layered. It has CAT, XAT, essays, recommendation requests, interview prep, etc and it builds over time. Last-minute cramming just doesn’t cut it.
So what helped me? I started treating my MBA prep like a part-time job. A couple hours here and there, consistently. It felt less chaotic and way more effective.
"I’ll Wait Until I Feel Motivated"
You ever see reels on YouTube or Instagram and feel motivated for 5 seconds? Yeah thats was me too. Some days I just wasn’t in the mood to write essays or study quant. I figured I would wait until motivation struck. Spoiler, it rarely did. I had to learn that waiting to feel motivated is one of procrastination’s favorite excuses.
So what helped me? I started setting timers for just 25 minutes. No pressure, just a short focused sprint. Half the time, once I got started, I ended up working longer than planned.
Procrastination during MBA prep doesn’t always look like Netflix binges or Instagram scrolls. Infact it wears the mask of research, perfectionism, or false confidence and recognizing it is the first step. Once I got honest with myself and took small, consistent steps, things got way more manageable.
So if you catch yourself saying “I can do it later,” pause and ask, What am I really avoiding? Chances are, you already know the answer. So try to be better than the previosu day.
You’ve got this.
