Many students at some point in high school have procrastinated in starting their homework, completing a project, or studying for a test. It’s easy to put off hard or time-consuming assignments until the very last minute, but if you do, you then may have to pull an all-nighter.
Organize
Have a plan or idea for completing your work
- Invest in a planner to keep track of all your assignments and due dates
- This helps organize your work and gives you a more orderly and measured framework to work within
- Procrastinate less if you are organized
Hold yourself accountable
While it is easy to find reasons not to study and take unnecessary or extra-long breaks, catch yourself before this happens.
- Remember that you are responsible for the assignments you complete or don’t complete, the tests you ace or don’t do well on, and your grades.
Eliminate distractions
Shut your phone off, retreat to a quiet place, listen to classical music or white noise to drown out any background noise, and try not to think about other people’s distractions.
- This will reduce the chances of procrastinating.
Take a Break
Take a 10-15 minute break.
- Listen to music, take a walk, or scream into a pillow. Anything that takes your mind off of your school work and allows you to relax helps reduce stress and improve retention of information
- A study showed that taking a break can increase focus and reduce stress.
Prioritize
Make a list of what needs to be completed. Focus on the most critical or time-sensitive assignments first.
Reward Yourself
Rewarding yourself may create an incentive to complete a task and help avoid procrastination.
Set Goals
It’s easier to get started on a project when you establish simple, reachable goals.
Set deadlines
Set a specific date for when you want a project or assignment to be completed
