As spring break comes to an end and warm weather approaches, time seems to drag on endlessly. Knowing that summer is just around the corner, students begin to dread coming back to school. And with homework assignments piling up, final exams approaching, and extracurriculars continuing, the idea of completing assignments becomes rather daunting. But for most students, there’s really only one thing stopping them from getting things done: procrastination.

          While procrastination is without a doubt present throughout the entire school year, it seems to become much more prominent during the fourth and final quarter. For many students, setting homework aside may take away some of the stress that initially comes with it. However, as due dates approach, pressure can only increase with limited time to complete the assignment. And even though procrastination may feel inevitable at times, there are several foolproof ways to avoid it completely.

• Hold yourself accountable 

          While sometimes it can be difficult to acknowledge that you may be procrastinating, one of the first steps to getting stuff done is being able to acknowledge that you have something to do. By holding yourself accountable, it becomes easier to turn your focus towards the tasks at hand. And sometimes, in order to get started, all it takes is a little redirection.

• Utilize to-do lists

          When it comes to staying on top of things, to-do lists are a great way to organize all of the things you have to do. Not only does it help to see all of your tasks in one place, but to-do lists also allow you to sort tasks according to your needs. Placing more important tasks above others can help you stay organized, and may even motivate you to start checking things off, which oftentimes is a reward in itself.

• Set goals

          One of the easiest ways to motivate yourself to complete a task is to set a goal. Similar to using a to-do list, giving yourself a standard to meet could help motivate you to fulfill your task. Once your goal is met, you can go on to set more, eventually completing what you may be procrastinating. 

• Take breaks

          Giving yourself a moment to relax not only helps when it comes to feeling overwhelmed, but taking small breaks can also be useful when it comes to maintaining focus. After sitting down and working on an assignment for a while, taking a step back can help prevent burnout and mental exhaustion, which if not prevented, will most likely lead to even more procrastination.

—-

          Overall, many students can agree that it can be hard to find motivation to complete assignments come the end of the school year. However, by taking a step back and giving yourself a chance to analyze your situation, overcoming procrastination becomes much easier. Using different strategies and techniques will hopefully lead you to finding yourself pushing through and completing everything on your to-do list. And while it sometimes can be difficult to get started, just remember that summer break is getting closer and closer every day.