How to Stop Procrastinating

Procrastination: the bane of every student’s existence.

Everyone – even highly-driven and accomplished individuals – struggles with procrastination. So, what’s the key to conquering it? A mindset shift. Everyone thinks, learns, studies, and works differently. The only way that anyone can overcome procrastination is by changing the way they think about their work and learning some common strategies about what works for them. 

Recognize that you’re procrastinating 

As mentioned above, everyone thinks, learns, studies, and works differently. Consequently, the strategies that help someone else overcome procrastination may not instantly help you. To start, you’ll want to stop and acknowledge:

• That you are in fact procrastinating
• Why you’re struggling with procrastination 

 Often, procrastination is painted as “laziness,” but this is an oversimplification of the issue. There are numerous reasons why people procrastinate and narrowing down why you’re doing it can help you find the right solution. 

Reasons why you may be procrastinating:

• Task aversion: You may dislike the task that’s on your to-do list, and as a result, you may avoid doing it for some time. 
• Perfectionism: If you’re afraid to make a mistake or fear that your work may not be perfect, you may put off doing the work altogether. 
• Fear of evaluation or negative feedback: Sometimes people procrastinate because they are afraid of receiving negative feedback from or being evaluated by others. 
• Fear of failure: If they believe they may fail at a task, someone may not want to do it at all. 
• A perceived lack of control: Some people believe that they don’t have control over certain outcomes in their life regardless of how much effort they put forth.  

Take actions that work for you

Once you’ve discovered why you’re procrastinating, you can work to find the right solution. I work with clients daily and know that finding solutions that fit their unique challenges works better than giving someone a checklist. Here are some anti-procrastination strategies to keep in mind as you search for your own solutions. 

• Break down your work into small, daily action steps 

This is something I work to do with each client. No matter what problem you’re having, you can always break it down into something more manageable. It helps make your bigger goal feel exciting and possible. Procrastination often occurs because an individual feels overwhelmed by the prospect of simply starting. We combat that challenge by taking baby steps toward your goal every single day. 

• Eliminate procrastination “pit-stops”

Some people procrastinate because they make it easy to. Try to notice the “pit-stops” that suck up your time while you’re supposed to be on task. For example, do you spend a lot of time on social media? Disable your notifications on your phone or delete the app altogether. You may be shocked at how much more you get done. 

• Promise yourself a reward

Can’t seem to get anything done? Incentivize yourself! Promise yourself that 45-minute episode or a walk to grab a coffee after you’ve done the task you’ve been dragging your feet on all day. It often goes much faster when there’s a light at the end of the tunnel. 

• Tell others about your goals 

Having someone else hold us accountable for our tasks and goals is one of the best ways to ensure we get it done. Tell your friends, family, tutor, etc. about what you’re planning to accomplish. They’re more than likely to bring it up when they see you next, and it’s a great way to stay accountable. 

Final thoughts

 Procrastinating isn’t a problem that’s unique to you, but you will need a unique solution based on the reasons why you’re procrastinating. If you’re interested in VIP coaching to design the perfect solution for you, you can learn more about my approach here.

I’m here to help all students learn how to be more efficient in their approach!