How to Eliminate Procrastination

It’s Thursday evening and you’re frantically working to finish up an English project due tomorrow morning. Tired, angry, and anxious that you can’t watch your TV show tonight, you ask yourself, “How did this happen?”

First, you spent your entire weekend binging Netflix, since you were giving yourself a break from the week. Then during the week, you spent hours on Tik-Tok, then you shared them with your friends, spending more time laughing at them and discussing what other videos are comparable in a group chat. That is called procrastination, and it is one of the most destructive habits.

However, if you make a habit of being proactive, it can lead to positive results if you focus and stay committed. Below are a few quick tips that you can use to transition from being a procrastinator, to a proactive student.

Make a Plan

Using a planner and making a detailed plan for the project is key. All supplies need to be present and important rubric points need to be highlighted for various parts of the project are just a few of the many details needed. A planner helps you keep all of the notes, comments and steps within your plan. A whiteboard is also beneficial as it can help you see the big picture when you lay out your plan. Remember, always get an overview before going through the details.

Remove Distractions

Whether you’re studying at home in a living room, bedroom, or kitchen, you are surrounded by distractions. You know what those specific distractions are and they’re part of the reason you procrastinate. Your social media accounts, your phone, your Tik Tok videos – all are in your control. Remove those distractions and watch your productivity rise and you’ll come to realize later that you’ve finished the project early and have time for yourself. Next time you find it hard to focus, look around the room and remove the biggest distractions. The environment plays a huge role in productivity. Control it or it will control you.

Start Early

The earlier the better, as it will allow time to fix mistakes or add to your project, while leaving you with more time for yourself when you are finished. You should start your project like any other homework, immediately the day it is received. No matter how small the first step is.  Procrastination is often caused by the fear of starting. By making progress, even minimal progress, from the beginning, you are less likely to procrastinate later on.

Dividing Goals

Whenever any project is assigned, it is best to divide the project into small manageable steps. In addition, writing the amount of time each part will take gives a realistic idea of how long it will take. This makes it easier to focus rather than getting overwhelmed by the project as a whole. By breaking your project into small manageable chunks, you’re able to measure the progress you’re making with each item complete.

Support Systems

Getting started on tasks isn’t always easy, and it’s difficult to push yourself when it’s a task that isn’t fun or interesting.  Therefore, find someone to push you to get started. Whether it’s a parent, friend, sibling, or tutor, find a support system that works for you so that you are motivated to start and finish your project. 

The truth is procrastination plagues the productivity of people all over the world, not just students. However, students who learn how to manage procrastination by becoming proactive thrive in the adult world. If your student struggles with procrastination or any other executive functioning skill, let us help!