Overcome Procrastination: Practical Student Strategies

Introduction

It’s 6:30 in the morning. You’ve just woken up and feel so sleepy you think, “A few more minutes can’t hurt,” and drift back under your comforter.

The sounds of kids playing outside, sunlight and birds chirping at your window wake you three hours later. You realize you only have 15 minutes to study for your biochemistry final, even though you had four weeks to prepare.

When grades come back, relief mixes with regret — you didn’t fail the course, but you know you could have done better. Next time you promise to prepare earlier.

What is procrastination?

Is it self-deception, poor organization, or a lack of motivation? It’s all of those. Procrastination is a predictable set of habits and mental shortcuts that block completion of important tasks. To beat it you need to understand how your brain reacts to stress and reward.

Two kinds of procrastination

The key is to identify which category you tend toward. Many people are a mix, but knowing your dominant pattern helps you choose the right tactics.

Anxious procrastination

Anxious procrastinators avoid tasks because anxiety about them consumes attention. They displace that anxiety with other activities — sleeping, playing video games, socializing, or reading unrelated material.

Example: I once finished a dense book about mathematical probability instead of studying for a law school final. That time could have been used far more productively.

Reward procrastination

Reward procrastinators assume a task is easy and give themselves early rewards as if the work were done. You might be reading this article while unfinished tasks loom — convincing yourself you’ll do them later.

Often, when you return from the reward (a meal out, a break), you’re tired or uninterested and still haven’t completed the task.

Methods to overcome procrastination

1. Start a task within two minutes of deciding to do it. Saying “I started it” makes finishing more likely.
2. Break large assignments into small, scheduled increments. Regular short sessions produce more progress than last-minute marathons.
3. Commit to habit change. Knowledge alone doesn’t help—set concrete steps such as calendar blocks, timers, or accountability partners.
4. Allow occasional mistakes, but record them. Log brief notes about setbacks so you can learn and adjust.
5. Don’t reward yourself for work you haven’t substantially completed. Reserve rewards until after a meaningful portion is finished.
6. Be patient. Habit change is like exercising a muscle — it improves over weeks, not days.
7. Start very small to build confidence. Small wins increase motivation and clarify next steps.
8. Find or create meaning in the task. As interest grows, the need for “tricks” decreases — for example, decorating lights for your family vs. treating a paper as deliberate writing practice.

Quick tips

• Use a timer (Pomodoro): 25 minutes focused, 5 minutes break.
• Schedule study sessions on your calendar and treat them like appointments.
• Remove distractions: put your phone in another room or use site blockers.
• Tell a friend your plan for accountability.

Conclusion

Apply these principles consistently and you should see change fairly quickly. With persistence, your grades, sleep, and free time will improve. Good luck!