How to solve your procrastination habit this academic year
When it comes to putting off what you need to do, we're all guilty. According to research, nearly a quarter of us (25%) chronically procrastinate, with those between 14 and 29 years old most likely to procrastinate daily. With that in mind, we look at how to solve your child's procrastination habit this academic year.
What's the issue with procrastination?
With 86% of secondary school students saying they procrastinate on assignments, 46% on writing essays, and (30%) on studying for exams, it's no surprise that anxiety amongst students is on the rise. The top reasons for procrastinating cited by students and parents include struggling to balance work and other responsibilities, combined with easy access to distractions (61% of students watch TV or movies while procrastinating, closely followed by 58% on checking social media and messaging apps). And, of course, the problem with putting off things is that it builds fear, which is why procrastinators are also more likely to sleep poorly and feel constant worry, which can contribute to feelings of depression.
The good news is procrastination is a habit that can be overcome with the benefits of less anxiety, more motivation, and a feeling of being in control. Here's what you need to know.
Most time management issues are down to procrastination
Addressing time management issues and overcoming procrastination is crucial if you want to help your child enhance their productivity and achieve academic success. There are the obvious things you can do, such as limit distractions and create a schedule with clear goals, yet there's one technique to try right at the start of the day that focuses your child's mind immediately.
Every day, before they do anything, ask them to identify three specific tasks that are most important and time-sensitive. Get them to detail what they need to do in order of priority, for example, revising a past paper for an upcoming test, answering an email for an admin issue lingering, and prepping for a lesson.
They should then tackle just these three high-priority tasks right away. Knowing they can achieve three things a day will help foster a sense of achievement that motivates them to keep planning their day this way to get things done.
Procrastination is a habit, not a personality type
Over 75% of people consider procrastination a personality trait/problem, yet students need to realise that they are not inherent procrastinators but have a habit of procrastinating. This is a crucial distinction. Saying you are a procrastinator is a way to feel helpless about procrastination and avoid taking responsibility to get things done.
The reality is procrastination is often influenced by external factors such as task difficulty, lack of motivation, or fear. Focusing solely on the label of "procrastinator" overlooks addressing these underlying issues and taking control of the situation.
Procrastination is a way to avoid discomfort
Procrastination is how students avoid discomfort or negative emotions associated with a particular task. Several psychological factors contribute to this, and procrastination can occur when a task is perceived as unpleasant, challenging, or overwhelming. For these reasons, you may delay starting the task to avoid the discomfort associated with it. Fear of failure can also be a powerful motivator for procrastination. Postponing a task is a temporary way to escape disappointment or self-criticism that could accompany failure.
What can help here is to seek help for the feelings underlying your procrastination; teachers and tutors can help with everything from fear of failure to feeling overwhelmed with a subject.
Procrastination can be overcome
The good news is that procrastination tends to be at its highest among young people between the ages of 14 and 29 and becomes less severe as you age. In the meantime, you can help yourself by understanding the underlying reasons for procrastination. Work on building resilience to discomfort and finding ways to increase intrinsic motivation for tasks.
Developing this proactive approach to facing challenges can help reduce the tendency to procrastinate and enhance your child's overall productivity and well-being.
Related reading: Productivity hacks for students and Seven habits of successful students