You’re staring at a blank document, wishing you’d started your essay earlier instead of scrambling hours before it’s due. You submit it, knowing it’s not your best, and promise to do better next time, but the cycle repeats.
If it’s any comfort, know that you’re not alone. In fact, a study by Psychology Today has shown that half of all high school students procrastinate on a daily basis.
It’s even worse when you feel like you’ve studied for hours but made no progress. This struggle is common, especially as students enter college. Studies show that 85-90% of college students procrastinate. Ineffective studying, combined with procrastination, can feel overwhelming and stressful. However, there are solutions to help mitigate the problem, starting with acknowledging the need to take action.
Taking action is always difficult, but by doing so you are only helping yourself in the long run. Whether it is something small like starting an assignment that’s been put off or rethinking a study schedule, it makes a positive impact on overall health and productivity as a student.
Getting out of bed and forcing yourself to work on an essay seems like a daunting task, but breaking it into manageable steps helps. The Harvard Business Review writes that small steps are easier than tackling the entire task at once, and taking the first step is crucial, even if it is the hardest.
Once you start, it’s easier to keep going because the hardest part is done. Break it down minute by minute if necessary, figure out what the next rational step is and take it. Get out of bed. Open your laptop. Launch Docs. Write something, anything, even if it’s just the MLA header. Once you’ve done that first small task, you’ve officially broken the cycle of procrastination. In order to start, it’s always helpful to have a bit of motivation to get you moving.
We know that it’s difficult to find the motivation to do schoolwork when the immediate results aren’t always obvious. If grades don’t provide enough motivation, it can be helpful to create small rewards to push you to complete a goal.
When following this system, it is important to create specific and exclusive rewards for a certain task. The key to this system according to James Clear, author of “Atomic Habits” which gives advice on breaking bad habits including procrastination, is to do something you love while doing the thing you procrastinate on. A common example is watching your favorite show when doing mundane household chores. On the flip side, enforcing consequences for not achieving certain goals may work better for some people. Whatever works for you is best, but now that you’ve gotten started, the question of how to progress in an efficient manner arises.
The biggest mistake students make when doing schoolwork is studying ineffectively. Simply reading over notes is not enough. According to the Learning Center at the University of North Carolina, active studying that requires interaction with the material will best prepare you. Active studying is when you engage with the material beyond reading and repetition, it involves rewriting, teaching, making flashcards and creating tools to help study.
It’s easy to waste time studying without building long-term memory or understanding, leading to feelings of inadequate preparation despite hours spent “studying.” To prepare effectively, experiment with different study techniques to find what helps you retain information best. Speaking with teachers, though it may seem obvious, is a great way to gauge if you are spending an appropriate amount of time reviewing for the class.
Knowing what works for you and sticking to it is the key to productivity. As we prepare for college, learning how to balance school and life is increasingly important.
Especially for students who have a lot of extracurricular activities, it’s important to use your time wisely. Remember to take breaks and set reasonable goals for yourself, and take the time to speak to guidance counselors about any challenges you may be facing. Begin by using these tips in your daily study routine and you will find yourself becoming better at time management and a reduction in your stress levels.
