This is a scenario we’re all familiar with: you’re getting ready to study, but you decide to clean up your room first, so you don’t get distracted; or run an errand, so you can really get studying without potential distractions; or any number of things that’ll get in the way of your actually finishing that assignment or prepping for that test. This is procrastination—the bane of every student’s existence, the scholar’s constant temptation, and the wrench in the gears of academic progress!

Here’s the thing: procrastination does you no good. Even while you’re doing it, it’s not like you’re enjoying yourself, because the whole time you’re anxious about the work you should be doing but aren’t. So let’s deal with this thing.

Stop telling yourself you’re too busy

Keep reminding yourself that once you get this done, you can vegetate stress-free on the couch and watch whatever it is you’re meaning to catch up on, or take a nap, or go out, or read something for pleasure. If you put off the work you absolutely have to get done, it’ll permeate your entire day, even when you’re doing things you usually enjoy. Struggling with the stress of unfinished work can poison even the fun things you do, so just don’t procrastinate. Chances are you know someone who’s been mocked for finishing their homework first thing even when it’s a weekend, but they’re not the ones in a wild panic on Sunday night, so who’s really laughing?

Accept that the temptation is there (and always will be)

There’s nothing wrong with you, and you’re not a bad student, if you’re prone to temptations to procrastinate. Of course you’d rather play X-Box than write a history paper. Playing a videogame releases endorphins in torrents compared to the slow-release satisfaction that comes from writing a really fine paper, so really, SCIENCE says videogames are more fun. Don’t beat yourself up, is what we’re saying. But know that the fruit of hard work is that much sweeter.

Positive reinforcement

Keep your eye on the prize: you’re working this hard for a reason. Maybe you have your heart set on a really great college, maybe you have a deal with your parents about a fantastic present when you do well, or maybe you just get a real kick out of getting a good grade and feeling pleased with yourself. It’ll help to have reminders of these things where you can see them, so they’re there to keep pushing you.

Baby steps

Don’t focus on the finish to the point where you’re blind to the process—you’re not going to absorb and assimilate a huge amount of information all in one go. Try and break everything down into simpler pieces—so if you’ve got 100 questions to do for a month from now, do a few questions a day; don’t let them wait until the night before they’re due. That’ll just make you nuts. Work steadily and you’ll do great.

Balance

Being a good student doesn’t in any way demand a Spartan, ascetic lifestyle—you have to be careful to let yourself have fun often. Overburdening yourself with schoolwork will only burn you out, and then you’ll be no good to anyone. Schools generally know what they’re doing when they decide on coursework and you’re not going to be given an impossible work load, so the best thing to do is to allocate time to get everything done, and staying true to your own plans.

Remember to stay positive and stick to your schedule and don’t let stress get you down—here are more tips on how.

Our first tutoring session is free—what’re you waiting for?