Its fair to say that every college student, at one point or another, and for various reasons, will experience a time in their lives where they put an important task off until the very last minute. We are all guilty of it at some point and some suffer from it more often than others. Procrastination can lead to a number of issues, the most major being that things are not completed in time, or are only decently done at best. Putting important things off can also lead for one to feel major anxiety, stress, and can eventually lead to depression, making it easier for one to procrastinate. So then how does one battle such a common problem. Well here are the tips to help students get o the procrastination train.

1. Set a Routine

An important distinction that every person should make within their life is a set time to do work and a set time to relax. By making a schedule for yourself every week, giving yourself a specific time frame to do homework can really make things easier for you. So that way you can get things done on time without putting them off until the night before.

2. Turn It Off

Be it your TV, your phone, or even certain pages on your computer, like Facebook and Pinterest. Shutting things off and setting them aside allows you the ability to focus on what is really important without the temptation to get distracted by your screen. However, putting on some of your favorite music can help you to hone into the task at hand, tuning out all outside noises.

3. Take Things One Step at a Time

When a person has multiple important things that need to be done, it can be very easy for that person to become overwhelmed by these tasks and feel as though it is impossible to get it all done. This pushes that person to give up rather than try taking things one step at a time. Forcing them to push things off until time has run out. Instead, try and focus on the sheer fact that it is impossible to get everything done at once but it is very feasible to complete everything one task at a time. Making checklists in order of priority can serve extremely helpful in these cases.

4. Reward Yourself

More often than not, it is easy for one to give themselves time to relax before diving into a project. Instead, try and use the relaxation time as a reward for yourself for after you have completed your task. For example, if you finish reading a few chapters of a story, writing a response to an article, or starting a draft for your essay, take the time afterward as a break for working hard. That way, you have earned it.

5. Do What Works for You!

For some, putting things off until the last second allows for a person to do their best work, as they work better under pressure. Putting things o also allows them time to truly re ect on a project before diving into it. Allowing them plenty of time to come up with provoking material that dem- onstrates a true understanding of their project. Toni O’Keefe, a second-year English major explains, “I personally procrastinate because I tend to work better under pressure and it gives me more time to prepare for the assignment.”

For some, procrastination serves as a creative tool rather than a hindrance to one’s quality of work. And that is okay. But if your procrastination hurts you rather than helps you, than hopefully these tips serve as some helpful tools for you.