Procrastination is likely to be the most common issue students face, and it can get in the way of their academic success, personal growth, and well-being. Procrastination is caused by distractions, lack of motivation, ineffective time management, and fear of failure, but it yields late nights, poor work, and increased stress. The good news is that procrastination is an issue that can be broken with the right techniques. In this article, we at St. Wilfred’s School Panvel, being amongst the best school in Panvel will elaborate on some of the best methods that can help students break procrastination and develop good work habits.
Break Down Tasks into Bite-Sized Pieces
One of the biggest reasons why students procrastinate is that they are overwhelmed by the quantity or the size of work involved in a task. Big projects or assignments look intimidating, and it usually discourages students from even trying to start them. The secret to this is dividing massive tasks into tiny, manageable pieces.
When students break down a project into a series of separate little tasks rather than one huge project, it is less overwhelming. For example, rather than considering, I have to write a 10-page paper, a student might break up the paper into sections, like:
- Learn the topic
- Create an outline
- Write the introduction
- Complete each body paragraph
- Revise and proofread the paper
By subdividing one small section of the project into infinitesimal tasks, students can accumulate momentum and move steadily along. Not only does this make the task at hand less daunting, but it also prevents the anxiety of procrastination.
Apply a Time Management System
Also needed to overcome procrastination is good time management. Without planning, students will procrastinate, get distracted by everything they see around them, and waste precious time. St. Wilfred’s School Panvel, being amongst the top 10 schools in Panvel, emphasizes the importance of time management to help students stay on track and achieve their academic goals. A time management system will help students to be organized, prioritize, and space themselves well for every assignment.
Among the best time management techniques is the Pomodoro Technique. The technique has the student working in intense 25-minute blocks with a 5-minute break. Students get a longer rest (15-30 minutes) after four blocks. The technique prevents burnout, makes one more productive, and engages students in work.
Time-blocking is also a good technique, in which students block time for different activities. For instance, a student would block from 9:00 AM to 10:30 AM for mathematics study and 11:00 AM to 12:30 PM for essay writing. It is a method in which students stay focused all day long and do not procrastinate because they have a plan.
In addition, students should use to-do lists or apps like Trello, Todoist, or Google Calendar to sort out tasks based on priority and timelines. A well-organized to-do list not only helps students keep pace with their work, but it also gives them a sense of accomplishment because they strike through completed tasks.
Set Realistic and Achievable Goals
Having unrealistic or overly ambitious goals is among the major causes of procrastination. If the assignment is too big, complicated, or impossible, the students are daunted by the possibility of failure and put off the task. To avoid this, students must set reasonable, achievable goals for every study session or task.
Rather than open-ended or vague goals like Study for the exam or Finish the project, encourage students to break down their goals into quantifiable and measurable objectives.
For example:
- Read and note-taking on Chapter 3 of the textbook
- Write the introduction and the first half of the essay
- Finish the first five problems of mathematics homework
Having small, achievable goals makes the work look less daunting and more manageable. When students manage to fulfill these small goals, they experience a feeling of achievement and accomplishment, and this will encourage them to carry on.
Identify the Cause of Procrastination
Procrastination usually has some root cause behind it, for example, fear of failure, perfectionism, lack of drive, or nervousness. Understanding what actually causes procrastination enables students to fight it more effectively.
For instance:
- Fear of failure: Students procrastinate out of fear of not performing something flawlessly. In that case, students have to be persuaded to embrace mistakes as part of the learning process. Students have to be informed that learning and growth occur through mistakes and not through evading challenges.
- Perfectionism: Procrastination by perfectionists in starting tasks is a result of fear of not doing it perfectly. Encourage students to be realistic in what is possible and assure them that the accomplishment of the task is more important than perfection. Focus on progress rather than perfection can reduce procrastination.
- Motivation: Students will delay a task if they do not find it stimulating. Here, help students connect the task to something they are passionate about. For example, if they are working on an essay, they can try to connect it to something that they are interested in or something that has happened in life. Otherwise, help them understand the long-term benefits that accrue from completing the task, e.g., improved grades or new skills.
By recognizing and addressing the underlying cause of procrastination, students are able to do something about the issues that are stopping them from getting started.
Eliminate Distractions
Distractions are one of the main reasons for procrastination. With today’s digital era, students are distracted by social media, mobile phones, and other study-unrelated activities. To help students maintain concentration and a state of productivity, reducing distractions in the course of study is essential.
Assign a peaceful, tidy working area: A peaceful, tidy, and clean study area allows for concentration and prevents procrastination temptation.
By creating an environment free from distractions, the students can concentrate and accomplish more.
Use Positive Reinforcement
Positive reinforcement is a very positive method of motivating students and preventing procrastination. As soon as students are done with work or have seen some progress, they need to reward themselves. It makes them associate getting work done with something good and motivates them to work.
For example:
- Pause after working for a few minutes.
- Eat a snack or dessert once you’ve finished an activity.
- View an episode of a light-hearted TV show when reaching a milestone.
- Through the association of positive outcomes with task completion, the students will be motivated and would not procrastinate.
Develop a Growth Mindset
A growth mindset is the belief that ability and intelligence are developed by effort and persistence. Procrastination is less likely with growth mindset students because they view barriers as development challenges, not as threats to self.
Enable students to cultivate a growth mindset by:
- Embracing errors as learning experiences.
- Emphasize effort and persistence rather than temporary success.
- Embracing challenges and understanding that failure is part of the learning process.
- Growth-minded students are more inclined to act, learn from experience, and continue to move ahead, even when things become tough.
Create Accountability
Accountability is a strong motivator in assisting procrastinating students. When students realize that someone is keeping track of their work, they tend to remain focused and get their work done on time. Students can promise their parent, friend, or teacher that they will check in on progress and provide their goals. For example, students can promise to send a brief message or email when they have completed a task or milestone. Regular check-ins are another motivator and keep students on track.
Conclusion
Procrastination is one of the most prevailing problems of the students, and it may deter their academic achievement, personal development, and well-being. It may be caused by distraction, lack of motivation, poor time management, or fear of failure, but procrastination is the cause of working late nights, doing work in a hurry, and unnecessary stress. St. Wilfred’s School Panvel, being a CBSE school in Panvel, realizes the significance of overcoming procrastination in order to enable the students to work at their best potential. But the silver lining is that procrastination is not irreversible, and it may be overcome through adopting proper strategies. In this article, we will give some practical steps that may enable the students to overcome procrastination and adopt good work habits.