UK STUDENTS SPEND UPTO 2 MONTHS A YEAR PROCRASTINATING

Stylish student accommodation provider Vita Student has found that the average student spends 2-3 hours a day procrastinating when they should be working – which adds up to a whopping 45 days annually. More than a quarter (26%) of the respondents said they are distracted by more than 4 hours every day which amounts to more than 2 whole months wasted every year.

The run up to exam results is the biggest time of year for students, with many looking back and wondering if they could have worked harder. Stylish student accommodation provider Vita Student has surveyed more than 800 students across the UK to find out how easily they are distracted, what they end up doing instead and what could help them concentrate better.

The company found that the average student spends 2-3 hours a day procrastinating when they should be working – which adds up to a whopping 45 days annually. More than a quarter (26%) of the respondents said they are distracted by more than 4 hours every day which amounts to more than 2 whole months wasted every year. With most students only at university for 7 months a year this represents a truly significant amount of time.

The accommodation provider also found that nearly half (49%) of those surveyed waste the most time browsing social media channels, while nearly a quarter (24%) get distracted by friends and 22% find themselves watching TV rather than hitting the books.

Looking back, a third (34%) of respondents said that switching off their phone would have been the best way to help them concentrate. 26% said that private study space would have helped them revise better, while 14% disagreed and said that communal study space would be the best solution for them.

Unsurprisingly, first years are definitely the worst culprits with 41% of students in their first year saying that they spend more than 4 hours a day avoiding revision, while fourth years are the most committed to their studies with only 5% saying they spend more than 4 hours putting off their uni work.

Where students are located also seems to have an effect, with students from Wales and the Midlands most likely to spend more than 4 hours procrastinating, while students in the South West manage to only be distracted for 1-2 hours each day.

Laura Wood, Student Lettings Manager at Vita Student Management, said: “It’s a really important time of year for students, whether they have already received their exam results or are anxiously waiting for them. The results of our survey show how easy it is to get distracted and how important the studying environment is.

“Vita Students are in a good position as all our residences have been designed specifically to provide different learning areas – from our interactive hub spaces to our quiet studio apartments – although we also provide high speed WiFi free of charge which may prove distracting for those who just can’t stay off social media!”

There are 6 Vita Student residences available to live in during the 2014/15 academic year across the UK in popular university cities including Manchester, Liverpool, Bristol, Exeter and Southampton. Rents start from £119 per week for a studio apartment and students can organise their tenancy by calling 0161 709 7777 or visiting http://www.vitastudent.com.

For press information or images, contact Lauren Sibley (lauren.sibley@vitastudent.com / 0161 322 2243) or Helen White (helen.white@selectproperty.com / 0161 322 2243)

About Vita Student

Vita Student is the UK’s leading provider of stylish living accommodation. An unswerving commitment to exceptional service ensures every customer is guaranteed the legendary Vita Student experience. To find your accommodation for this year, visit www.vitastudent.com or call 0161 709 7777.