Throughout my high school career I have struggled with procrastination. I usually found ways to put off doing serious work until the last possible moment, creating many excuses to justify why I do it. Even if it is your first semester as a freshman or last as a senior, learning how to combat procrastination is one of the most important skills you need in high school. Over time I’ve created methods to combat procrastination and worked on several others. Here are two methods I have used:
Phone/Device limits
A large distractor for many of us is our personal devices such as smartphones, computers, video game consoles, etc. They eat away at your attention when working. To combat this, there are a few methods I have used to stay focused. Application limits are a common solution that I used for much of my high school career. These limits helped me stay focused while working by preventing me from going on distracting apps such as Instagram or YouTube. Common forms of device limits include timed blackouts during study hours where you cannot use the device at all and time limits on specific applications. I found the time limits on apps generally more effective and convenient. When working on some assignments there are times you will need to use your device to complete them. With a timed blackout you cannot access these materials as easily which is mildly annoying. When I actively used either of these methods I found myself finishing homework earlier and quicker than usual, I also was more ahead of due dates for long projects, which I can attribute to limiting my device usage. Overall, limiting device usage is a very effective method to stop yourself from delaying yourself from doing your homework.
Environment change
A major factor in procrastination is the environment where you work. Loud environments are full of distractions and can easily derail you from tasks. If the area you are working at becomes too distracting, it is a good idea to head somewhere else to work. A good work environment is key to beating procrastination. Some places that kept me focused were the North and Woods Libraries. There are minimal distractions and an overall quiet environment. If you are unable to change your environment, a good remedy would be to respect the boundary of your workspace more. If you decide that when you enter your work area you will do work, you are more likely to do it. When I started to only use my desk at home for schoolwork I found it much easier to accomplish it. Respecting its boundary by removing distractions from it helped keep me mentally focused on finishing my homework. I would say that changing your workspace is a very good way to keep you focused.
While procrastination is a hard thing to conquer, doing little things help make the battle easier. I believe that everyone should give these tricks a try when they need a boost to stay focused. Your small sacrifices will go a long way into improving your work ethic and becoming more productive.
