procrastination not wanting to do homework

Daniel Wong

30 Tips to Stop Procrastinating and Find Motivation to Do Homework

Updated on June 6, 2023 By Daniel Wong 45 Comments

To stop procrastinating on homework, you need to find motivation to do the homework in the first place.

But first, you have to overcome feeling too overwhelmed to even start.

You know what it feels like when everything hits you at once, right?

You have three tests to study for and a math assignment due tomorrow.

And you’ve got a history report due the day after.

You tell yourself to get down to work. But with so much to do, you feel overwhelmed.

So you procrastinate.

You check your social media feed, watch a few videos, and get yourself a drink. But you know that none of this is bringing you closer to getting the work done.

Does this sound familiar?

Don’t worry – you are not alone. Procrastination is a problem that everyone faces, but there are ways around it.

By following the tips in this article, you’ll be able to overcome procrastination and consistently find the motivation to do the homework .

So read on to discover 30 powerful tips to help you stop procrastinating on your homework.

Enter your email below to download a PDF summary of this article. The PDF contains all the tips found here, plus  3 exclusive bonus tips that you’ll only find in the PDF.

How to stop procrastinating and motivate yourself to do your homework.

Procrastination when it comes to homework isn’t just an issue of laziness or a lack of motivation .

The following tips will help you to first address the root cause of your procrastination and then implement strategies to keep your motivation levels high.

1. Take a quiz to see how much you procrastinate.

The first step to changing your behavior is to become more self-aware.

How often do you procrastinate? What kinds of tasks do you tend to put off? Is procrastination a small or big problem for you?

To answer these questions, I suggest that you take this online quiz designed by Psychology Today .

2. Figure out why you’re procrastinating.

Procrastination is a complex issue that involves multiple factors.

Stop thinking of excuses for not doing your homework , and figure out what’s keeping you from getting started.

Are you procrastinating because:

• You’re not sure you’ll be able to solve all the homework problems?
• You’re subconsciously rebelling against your teachers or parents?
• You’re not interested in the subject or topic?
• You’re physically or mentally tired?
• You’re waiting for the perfect time to start?
• You don’t know where to start?

Once you’ve identified exactly why you’re procrastinating, you can pick out the tips in this article that will get to the root of the problem.

3. Write down what you’re procrastinating on.

Students tend to procrastinate when they’re feeling stressed and overwhelmed.

But you might be surprised to discover that simply by writing down the specific tasks you’re putting off, the situation will feel more manageable.

It’s a quick solution, and it makes a real difference.

Give it a try and you’ll be less likely to procrastinate.

4. Put your homework on your desk.

Here’s an even simpler idea.

Many times, the hardest part of getting your homework done is getting started.

It doesn’t require a lot of willpower to take out your homework and put it on your desk.

But once it’s sitting there in front of you, you’ll be much closer to actually getting down to work.

5. Break down the task into smaller steps.

This one trick will make any task seem more manageable.

For example, if you have a history report to write, you could break it down into the following steps:

• Read the history textbook
• Do online research
• Organize the information
• Create an outline
• Write the introduction
• Write the body paragraphs
• Write the conclusion
• Edit and proofread the report

Focus on just one step at a time. This way, you won’t need to motivate yourself to write the whole report at one go.

This is an important technique to use if you want to study smart and get more done .

6. Create a detailed timeline with specific deadlines.

As a follow-up to Point #5, you can further combat procrastination by creating a timeline with specific deadlines.

Using the same example above, I’ve added deadlines to each of the steps:

• Jan 30 th : Read the history textbook
• Feb 2 nd : Do online research
• Feb 3 rd : Organize the information
• Feb 5 th : Create an outline
• Feb 8 th : Write the introduction
• Feb 12 th : Write the body paragraphs
• Feb 14 th : Write the conclusion
• Feb 16 th : Edit and proofread the report

Assigning specific dates creates a sense of urgency, which makes it more likely that you’ll keep to the deadlines.

7. Spend time with people who are focused and hardworking.

Jim Rohn famously said that you’re the average of the five people you spend the most time with.

If you hang out with people who are motivated and hardworking, you’ll become more like them.

Likewise, if you hang out with people who continually procrastinate, you’ll become more like them too.

Motivation to do homework naturally increases when you surround yourself with the right people.

So choose your friends wisely. Find homework buddies who will influence you positively to become a straight-A student who leads a balanced life.

That doesn’t mean you can’t have any fun! It just means that you and your friends know when it’s time to get down to work and when it’s time to enjoy yourselves.

8. Tell at least two or three people about the tasks you plan to complete.

When you tell others about the tasks you intend to finish, you’ll be more likely to follow through with your plans.

This is called “accountability,” and it kicks in because you want to be seen as someone who keeps your word.

So if you know about this principle, why not use it to your advantage?

You could even ask a friend to be your accountability buddy. At the beginning of each day, you could text each other what you plan to work on that day.

Then at the end of the day, you could check in with each other to see if things went according to plan.

9. Change your environment .

Maybe it’s your environment that’s making you feel sluggish.

When you’re doing your homework, is your super-comfortable bed just two steps away? Or is your distracting computer within easy reach?

If your environment is part of your procrastination problem, then change it.

Sometimes all you need is a simple change of scenery. Bring your work to the dining room table and get it done there. Or head to a nearby café to complete your report.

10. Talk to people who have overcome their procrastination problem.

If you have friends who consistently win the battle with procrastination, learn from their experience.

What was the turning point for them? What tips and strategies do they use? What keeps them motivated?

Find all this out, and then apply the information to your own situation.

11. Decide on a reward to give yourself after you complete your task.

“Planned” rewards are a great way to motivate yourself to do your homework.

The reward doesn’t have to be something huge.

For instance, you might decide that after you finish 10 questions of your math homework, you get to watch your favorite TV show.

Or you might decide that after reading one chapter of your history textbook, you get to spend 10 minutes on Facebook.

By giving yourself a reward, you’ll feel more motivated to get through the task at hand.

12. Decide on a consequence you’ll impose on yourself if you don’t meet the deadline.

It’s important that you decide on what the consequence will be before you start working toward your goal.

As an example, you could tell your younger brother that you’ll give him $1 for every deadline you don’t meet (see Point #6).

Or you could decide that you’ll delete one game from your phone for every late homework submission.

Those consequences would probably be painful enough to help you get down to work, right?

13. Visualize success.

Take 30 seconds and imagine how you’ll feel when you finish your work.

What positive emotions will you experience?

Will you feel a sense of satisfaction from getting all your work done?

Will you relish the extra time on your hands when you get your homework done fast and ahead of time?

This simple exercise of visualizing success may be enough to inspire you to start doing your assignment.

14. Visualize the process it will take to achieve that success.

Even more important than visualizing the outcome is visualizing the process it will take to achieve that outcome.

Research shows that focusing on the process is critical to success. If you’re procrastinating on a task, take a few moments to think about what you’ll need to do to complete it.

Visualize the following:

• What resources you’ll need
• Who you can turn to for help
• How long the task will take
• Where you’ll work on the task
• The joy you’ll experience as you make progress

This kind of visualization is like practice for your mind.

Once you understand what’s necessary to achieve your goal, you’ll find that it’s much easier to get down to work with real focus. This is key to doing well in school .

15. Write down why you want to complete the task.

You’ll be more motivated when you’re clear about why you want to accomplish something.

To motivate yourself to do your homework, think about all the ways in which it’s a meaningful task.

So take a couple of minutes to write down the reasons. Here are some possible ones:

• Learn useful information
• Master the topic
• Enjoy a sense of accomplishment when you’ve completed the task
• Become a more focused student
• Learn to embrace challenges
• Fulfill your responsibility as a student
• Get a good grade on the assignment

16. Write down the negative feelings you’ll have if you don’t complete the task.

If you don’t complete the assignment, you might feel disappointed or discouraged. You might even feel as if you’ve let your parents or your teacher – or even yourself – down.

It isn’t wise to dwell on these negative emotions for too long. But by imagining how you’ll feel if you don’t finish the task, you’ll realize how important it is that you get to work.

17. Do the hardest task first.

Most students will choose to do the easiest task first, rather than the hardest one. But this approach isn’t effective because it leaves the worst for last.

It’s more difficult to find motivation to do homework in less enjoyable subjects.

As Brian Tracy says , “Eat that frog!” By this, he means that you should always get your most difficult task out of the way at the beginning of the day.

If math is your least favorite subject, force yourself to complete your math homework first.

After doing so, you’ll feel a surge of motivation from knowing it’s finished. And you won’t procrastinate on your other homework because it will seem easier in comparison.

(On a separate note, check out these tips on how to get better at math if you’re struggling.)

18. Set a timer when doing your homework.

I recommend that you use a stopwatch for every homework session. (If you prefer, you could also use this online stopwatch or the Tomato Timer .)

Start the timer at the beginning of the session, and work in 30- to 45-minute blocks.

Using a timer creates a sense of urgency, which will help you fight off your urge to procrastinate.

When you know you only have to work for a short session, it will be easier to find motivation to complete your homework.

Tell yourself that you need to work hard until the timer goes off, and then you can take a break. (And then be sure to take that break!)

19. Eliminate distractions.

Here are some suggestions on how you can do this:

• Delete all the games and social media apps on your phone
• Turn off all notifications on your phone
• Mute your group chats
• Archive your inactive chats
• Turn off your phone, or put it on airplane mode
• Put your phone at least 10 feet away from you
• Turn off the Internet access on your computer
• Use an app like Freedom to restrict your Internet usage
• Put any other distractions (like food, magazines and books unrelated to your homework) at the other end of the room
• Unplug the TV
• Use earplugs if your surroundings are noisy

20. At the start of each day, write down the two to three Most Important Tasks (MITs) you want to accomplish.

This will enable you to prioritize your tasks. As Josh Kaufman explains , a Most Important Task (MIT) is a critical task that will help you to get significant results down the road.

Not all tasks are equally important. That’s why it’s vital that you identify your MITs, so that you can complete those as early in the day as possible.

What do you most need to get done today? That’s an MIT.

Get to work on it, then feel the satisfaction that comes from knowing it’s out of the way.

21. Focus on progress instead of perfection.

Perfectionism can destroy your motivation to do homework and keep you from starting important assignments.

Some students procrastinate because they’re waiting for the perfect time to start.

Others do so because they want to get their homework done perfectly. But they know this isn’t really possible – so they put off even getting started.

What’s the solution?

To focus on progress instead of perfection.

There’s never a perfect time for anything. Nor will you ever be able to complete your homework perfectly. But you can do your best, and that’s enough.

So concentrate on learning and improving, and turn this into a habit that you implement whenever you study .

22. Get organized.

Procrastination is common among students who are disorganized.

When you can’t remember which assignment is due when or which tests you have coming up, you’ll naturally feel confused. You’ll experience school- and test-related stress .

This, in turn, will lead to procrastination.

That’s why it’s crucial that you get organized. Here are some tips for doing this:

• Don’t rely on your memory ; write everything down
• Keep a to-do list
• Use a student planner
• Use a calendar and take note of important dates like exams, project due dates, school holidays , birthdays, and family events
• At the end of each day, plan for the following day
• Use one binder or folder for each subject or course
• Do weekly filing of your loose papers, notes, and old homework
• Throw away all the papers and notes you no longer need

23. Stop saying “I have to” and start saying “I choose to.”

When you say things like “I have to write my essay” or “I have to finish my science assignment,” you’ll probably feel annoyed. You might be tempted to complain about your teachers or your school .

What’s the alternative?

To use the phrase “I choose to.”

The truth is, you don’t “have” to do anything.

You can choose not to write your essay; you’ll just run the risk of failing the class.

You can choose not to do your science assignment; you’ll just need to deal with your angry teacher.

When you say “I choose to do my homework,” you’ll feel empowered. This means you’ll be more motivated to study and to do what you ought to.

24. Clear your desk once a week.

Clutter can be demotivating. It also causes stress , which is often at the root of procrastination.

Hard to believe? Give it a try and see for yourself.

By clearing your desk, you’ll reduce stress and make your workspace more organized.

So set a recurring appointment to organize your workspace once a week for just 10 minutes. You’ll receive huge benefits in the long run!

25. If a task takes two minutes or less to complete, do it now.

This is a principle from David Allen’s bestselling book, Getting Things Done .

You may notice that you tend to procrastinate when many tasks pile up. The way to prevent this from happening is to take care of the small but important tasks as soon as you have time.

Here are some examples of small two-minute tasks that you should do once you have a chance:

• Replying to your project group member’s email
• Picking up anything on the floor that doesn’t belong there
• Asking your parents to sign a consent form
• Filing a graded assignment
• Making a quick phone call
• Writing a checklist
• Sending a text to schedule a meeting
• Making an online purchase that doesn’t require further research

26. Finish one task before starting on the next.

You aren’t being productive when you switch between working on your literature essay, social studies report, and physics problem set – while also intermittently checking your phone.

Research shows that multitasking is less effective than doing one thing at a time. Multitasking may even damage your brain !

When it comes to overcoming procrastination, it’s better to stick with one task all the way through before starting on the next one.

You’ll get a sense of accomplishment when you finish the first assignment, which will give you a boost of inspiration as you move on to the next one.

27. Build your focus gradually.

You can’t win the battle against procrastination overnight; it takes time. This means that you need to build your focus progressively.

If you can only focus for 10 minutes at once, that’s fine. Start with three sessions of 10 minutes a day. After a week, increase it to three sessions of 15 minutes a day, and so on.

As the weeks go by, you’ll become far more focused than when you first started. And you’ll soon see how great that makes you feel.

28. Before you start work, write down three things you’re thankful for.

Gratitude improves your psychological health and increases your mental strength .

These factors are linked to motivation. The more you practice gratitude, the easier it will be to find motivation to do your homework. As such, it’s less likely that you’ll be a serial procrastinator.

Before you get down to work for the day, write down three things you’re thankful for. These could be simple things like good health, fine weather, or a loving family.

You could even do this in a “gratitude journal,” which you can then look back on whenever you need a shot of fresh appreciation for the good things in your life.

Either way, this short exercise will get you in the right mindset to be productive.

29. Get enough sleep.

For most people, this means getting 7 to 9 hours of sleep every night. And teenagers need 8 to 10 hours of sleep a night to function optimally.

What does sleep have to do with procrastination?

More than you might realize.

It’s almost impossible to feel motivated when you’re tired. And when you’re low on energy, your willpower is depleted too.

That’s why you give in to the temptation of Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube videos more easily when you’re sleep-deprived.

Here are ways to get more sleep , and sleep better too:

• Create a bedtime routine
• Go to sleep at around the same time every night
• Set a daily alarm as a reminder to go to bed
• Exercise regularly (but not within a few hours of bedtime)
• Make your bedroom as dark as possible
• Remove or switch off all electronic devices before bedtime
• Avoid caffeine at least six hours before bedtime
• Use an eye mask and earplugs

30. Schedule appointments with yourself to complete your homework.

These appointments are specific blocks of time reserved for working on a report, assignment, or project. Scheduling appointments is effective because it makes the task more “official,” so you’re more likely to keep the appointment.

For example, you could schedule appointments such as:

• Jan 25 th , 4:00 pm – 5:30 pm: Math assignment
• Jan 27 th , 3:00 pm – 4:00 pm: Online research for social studies project
• Jan 28 th , 4:30 pm – 5:00 pm: Write introduction for English essay

Transform homework procrastination into homework motivation

Procrastination is a problem we all face.

But given that you’ve read all the way to here, I know you’re committed to overcoming this problem.

And now that you’re armed with these tips, you have all the tools you need to become more disciplined and focused .

By the way, please don’t feel as if you need to implement all the tips at once, because that would be too overwhelming.

Instead, I recommend that you focus on just a couple of tips a week, and make gradual progress. No rush!

Over time, you’ll realize that your habit of procrastination has been replaced by the habit of getting things done.

Now’s the time to get started on that process of transformation. 🙂

Like this article? Please share it with your friends.

Images: Student and books , Homework , Group of students , Consequences , Why , Writing a list , Organized desk , Gratitude

January 19, 2016 at 11:53 am

Ur tips are rlly helpful. Thnkyou ! 🙂

January 19, 2016 at 1:43 pm

You’re welcome 🙂

August 29, 2018 at 11:21 am

Thanks very much

February 19, 2019 at 1:38 pm

The funny thing is while I was reading the first few steps of this article I was procrastinating on my homework….

November 12, 2019 at 12:44 pm

same here! but now I actually want to get my stuff done… huh

December 4, 2022 at 11:35 pm

May 30, 2023 at 6:26 am

October 25, 2023 at 11:35 am

fr tho i totally was but now I’m actually going to get started haha

June 6, 2020 at 6:04 am

I love your articles

January 21, 2016 at 7:07 pm

Thanks soo much. It’s almost like you could read my mind- when I felt so overwhelmed with the workload heap I had created for myself by procrastination, I know feel very motivated to tackle it out completely and replace that bad habit with the wonderful tips mentioned here! 🙂

January 21, 2016 at 8:04 pm

I’m glad to help 🙂

January 25, 2016 at 3:09 pm

You have shared great tips here. I especially like the point “Write down why you want to complete the task” because it is helpful to make us more motivated when we are clear about our goals

January 25, 2016 at 4:51 pm

Glad that you found the tips useful, John!

January 29, 2016 at 1:22 am

Thank you very much for your wonderful tips!!! ☺☺☺

January 29, 2016 at 10:41 am

It’s my joy to help, Kabir 🙂

February 3, 2016 at 12:57 pm

Always love your articles. Keep them up 🙂

February 3, 2016 at 1:21 pm

Thanks, Matthew 🙂

February 4, 2016 at 1:40 pm

There are quite a lot of things that you need to do in order to come out with flying colors while studying in a university away from your homeland. Procrastinating on homework is one of the major mistakes committed by students and these tips will help you to avoid them all and make yourself more efficient during your student life.

February 4, 2016 at 1:58 pm

Completely agreed, Leong Siew.

October 5, 2018 at 12:52 am

Wow! thank you very much, I love it .

November 2, 2018 at 10:45 am

You are helping me a lot.. thank you very much….😊

November 6, 2018 at 5:19 pm

I’m procrastinating by reading this

November 29, 2018 at 10:21 am

January 8, 2021 at 3:38 am

March 3, 2019 at 9:12 am

Daniel, your amazing information and advice, has been very useful! Please keep up your excellent work!

April 12, 2019 at 11:12 am

We should stop procrastinating.

September 28, 2019 at 5:19 pm

Thank you so much for the tips:) i’ve been procrastinating since i started high schools and my grades were really bad “F” but the tips have made me a straight A student again.

January 23, 2020 at 7:43 pm

Thanks for the tips, Daniel! They’re really useful! 😁

April 10, 2020 at 2:15 pm

I have always stood first in my class. But procrastination has always been a very bad habit of mine which is why I lost marks for late submission .As an excuse for finding motivation for studying I would spend hours on the phone and I would eventually procrastinate. So I tried your tips and tricks today and they really worked.i am so glad and thankful for your help. 🇮🇳Love from India🇮🇳

April 15, 2020 at 11:16 am

Well I’m gonna give this a shot it looks and sounds very helpful thank you guys I really needed this

April 16, 2020 at 9:48 pm

Daniel, your amazing information and advice, has been very useful! keep up your excellent work! May you give more useful content to us.

May 6, 2020 at 5:03 pm

nice article thanks for your sharing.

May 20, 2020 at 4:49 am

Thank you so much this helped me so much but I was wondering about like what if you just like being lazy and stuff and don’t feel like doing anything and you don’t want to tell anyone because you might annoy them and you just don’t want to add your problems and put another burden on theirs

July 12, 2020 at 1:55 am

I’ve read many short procrastination tip articles and always thought they were stupid or overlooking the actual problem. ‘do this and this’ or that and that, and I sit there thinking I CAN’T. This article had some nice original tips that I actually followed and really did make me feel a bit better. Cheers, diving into what will probably be a 3 hour case study.

August 22, 2020 at 10:14 pm

Nicely explain each tips and those are practical thanks for sharing. Dr.Achyut More

November 11, 2020 at 12:34 pm

Thanks a lot! It was very helpful!

November 15, 2020 at 9:11 am

I keep catching myself procrastinating today. I started reading this yesterday, but then I realized I was procrastinating, so I stopped to finish it today. Thank you for all the great tips.

November 30, 2020 at 5:15 pm

Woow this is so great. Thanks so much Daniel

December 3, 2020 at 3:13 am

These tips were very helpful!

December 18, 2020 at 11:54 am

Procrastination is a major problem of mine, and this, this is very helpful. It is very motivational, now I think I can complete my work.

December 28, 2020 at 2:44 pm

Daniel Wong: When you’re doing your homework, is your super-comfortable bed just two steps away? Me: Nope, my super-comfortable bed is one step away. (But I seriously can’t study anywhere else. If I go to the dining table, my mum would be right in front of me talking loudly on the phone with colleagues and other rooms is an absolute no. My mum doesn’t allow me to go outside. Please give me some suggestions. )

September 19, 2022 at 12:14 pm

I would try and find some noise cancelling headphones to play some classical music or get some earbuds to ignore you mum lol

March 1, 2021 at 5:46 pm

Thank you very much. I highly appreciate it.

May 12, 2023 at 3:38 am

This is great advice. My little niece is now six years old and I like to use those nice cheap child friendly workbooks with her. This is done in order to help her to learn things completely on her own. I however prefer to test her on her own knowledge however. After a rather quick demonstration in the lesson I then tend to give her two simple questions to start off with. And it works a treat. Seriously. I love it. She loves it. The exam questions are for her to answer on her own on a notepad. If she can, she will receive a gold medal and a box of sweets. If not she only gets a plastic toy. We do this all the time to help her understand. Once a week we spend up to thirty minutes in a math lesson on this technique for recalling the basic facts. I have had a lot of great success with this new age technique. So I’m going to carry on with it for now.

October 31, 2024 at 10:58 pm

Is it possible that our education system is failing to engage students in a way that inspires them to do their homework, leading to a lack of motivation?”, “refusal

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Solving Procrastination

Homework Procrastination: Why You Procrastinate on Homework and How to Stop

Homework procrastination involves unnecessarily postponing working on homework assignments. For example, if a student delays starting a homework assignment until right before its deadline for no good reason, even though it would have been better for them to start earlier, that student is engaging in homework procrastination.

Homework procrastination can take various forms, from wasting hours trying to bring yourself to start writing an essay, to putting off an important project until the end of the semester. This is a problem not only because it can harm your performance at school, and therefore cause you to receive lower grades , but also because it can cause you to suffer from various other issues , such as frustration, anxiety, and stress .

If you often procrastinate when it comes to doing homework, know that you’re not alone. Procrastination is a common problem among students ; in terms of statistics, studies show that approximately 80%–95% of college students engage in procrastination to some degree, approximately 75% consider themselves to be procrastinators, and approximately 50% say that they procrastinate in a consistent and problematic manner.

Fortunately, however, there are some things that you can do to solve this problem, as you will see in the following article. Specifically, you will first see an explanation about why students procrastinate on their homework, so you can understand your own behavior better. Then, you will see what you can do in order to stop procrastinating on your homework, so you can start getting them done on time.

Why you procrastinate on homework

You procrastinate on homework because issues such as exhaustion and anxiety outweigh your self-control and motivation. These issues include personal factors, like fear and perfectionism, and situational factors, like distractions and unclear instructions.

Specifically, when you need to get homework done, you rely primarily on your self-control in order to get yourself to do it. Furthermore, your self-control is sometimes supported by your motivation, which helps you complete your homework on time.

However, in some cases, you suffer from issues that interfere with or oppose your self-control and motivation, such as exhaustion and anxiety . When these issues are stronger than your self-control and motivation, you end up procrastinating, until you reach a point where the balance between them shifts in your favor, or until it’s too late.

This explains why you might end up procrastinating on your homework even when you have the necessary motivation and you truly wish that you could just get started. This also explains why you might end up procrastinating on your homework until right before deadlines , when the increased motivation, often in the form of stressful pressure, finally pushes you to get to work.

Accordingly, common reasons for procrastinating on homework include the following :

• Abstract goals , in terms of being vague about how and when you intend to do the homework.
• Feeling overwhelmed , often while being unsure of how to complete the homework.
• Perfectionism , in the form of refusing to create work that has any flaws.
• Fear of failure , often because of concerns over how such failure might reflect on you.
• Anxiety , often in light of potential negative feedback.
• Task aversion , especially in cases where you find the homework boring or unpleasant.
• Lack of motivation , often as a result of feeling disconnected from your future self or having rewards that are far in the future.
• Physical or mental exhaustion , often due to a combination of reasons, such as a high academic workload and associated stress .
• Resentment , generally toward the homework, toward its source, or toward something related, such as a parent pushing you to do well in a subject that you’re not interested in.
• Sensation seeking , generally in the form of enjoying working on things right before the deadline, when there’s intense time pressure.
• Problematic work environment , generally as a result of having many distractions or temptations around.
• Lack of sufficient communication from instructors, for example when it comes to not having clear directions and due dates for a certain class project.

In addition, other issues can also make you more likely to procrastinate on your homework. For example:

• Problematic behaviors like self-handicapping , which involves procrastinating so that if you fail you can blame your failure on procrastination rather than your abilities, and self-sabotaging , which involves procrastinating as a result of a tendency to sabotage your progress.
• Personality traits like distractibility and impulsivity .
• Underlying issues like lack of sleep , ADHD , and depression .

Finally, note that some of these issues can lead to problematic procrastination cycles . For example, this can happen if you’re anxious about your homework, so you procrastinate on it, which makes you even more anxious about your homework due to the added negative emotions that you now associate with it (e.g., guilt and shame), which in turn makes you more likely to keep procrastinating on your homework in the future.

Understanding why you procrastinate on your homework can help you learn how to overcome your procrastination. However, while understanding why you procrastinate can be helpful, in many cases you can reduce your procrastination even without figuring this out. As such, if you find that you’re struggling with this step, don’t worry, and don’t get stuck; simply move on to the next step, which involves trying out various anti-procrastination techniques, until you find the ones that work best for you.

How to stop procrastinating on homework

To stop procrastinating on your homework right now , you should identify the smallest possible thing you can do to make progress on it, and then modify your environment to make it as likely as possible that you will do it.

For example, if you need to write a paper for a university course, the smallest possible step that you can take toward finishing it might be opening the relevant document on your computer, and writing just a single opening line, even if it’s poorly phrased initially. Once you realize that this is all you need to do, you can start modifying your work environment to help yourself achieve that, for example by going to a room with no distractions, leaving your phone outside, and turning on airplane mode on your laptop to disable your access to online distractions .

There are many other anti-procrastination techniques that can help you stop procrastinating on your homework. You don’t need to use all of these techniques, since some won’t be relevant in your case, and since you will generally need only a few of them in order to make significant progress toward overcoming your procrastination. As such, try skimming through this list, and finding the techniques that you think will work best for you.

Improve your planning:

• Set concrete goals for yourself. For example, instead of a vague goal, such as “finish my psychology paper over the weekend”, set a concrete goal, such as “start writing an outline for the psychology paper on Thursday at 5 pm in the library, right after I finish the last class for the week”).
• Break your homework into small and manageable steps. For example, if you need to write a research paper, you can start with steps such as “(1) brainstorm three potential topics, (2) figure out which topic I like best, and (3) find five relevant sources”. If the project that you’re dealing with is large and will therefore require a large number of steps, don’t worry about outlining the whole thing from the start; simply identify the first few steps that you need to take, and add new ones as you go along, to avoid feeling overwhelmed or getting stuck.
• Set a series of milestones and deadlines for yourself. This will help you be accountable and plan ahead, and can also motivate you and give you a rewarding feeling of continuous progress.
• Identify your productivity cycles. Different people are more productive at different times, based on factors such as whether it’s morning, noon, or evening. To reduce procrastination, you should take your personal productivity patterns into account, and schedule your homework for times when you’re most likely to be able to actually work on it.

Improve your environment:

• Change your environment to make it easier for you to focus. For example, if you know that you work best when there are no distracting noises, go somewhere quiet, or put on some noise-blocking headphones.
• Change your environment to make it easier for yourself to get started. For example, if you know that you will need to write an essay tomorrow after you wake up, then leave the document open on your computer before you go to bed.
• Change your environment to make it harder for yourself to procrastinate. For example, if you tend to procrastinate by browsing apps on your phone , leave your phone outside the room where you plan to work.

Change your approach:

• Start with a tiny step. For example, if you need to write an essay, help yourself get started by committing to only write a single sentence at first. This can help you push yourself to get started on homework, and often, once you do so, you’ll find it easy to keep going.
• Start with the best or worst part first. Some people find that starting with the most enjoyable or easiest part of an assignment helps them get going, while others find that getting the worst part out of the way first helps them avoid procrastinating over time. Use either approach if you feel that it works for you.
• Add a time delay before you procrastinate. If you can’t avoid procrastinating entirely, try committing to having a time delay before you indulge your impulse to do so. For example, this can involve counting to 10 before you’re allowed to open a new tab on the social media website that you usually use to procrastinate.
• Use the Pomodoro technique. This involves alternating between scheduled periods of work and rest. For example, you can work on your homework for 25-minute long stretches, with 5-minute breaks in between, and a longer 30-minute break after every 4 work sets that you complete.

Increase your motivation:

• Make doing the homework feel more rewarding. For example, you can gamify your work, by marking down streaks of days on which you’ve managed to make sufficient progress on your assignments, and potentially also give yourself some reward once you reach a sufficiently long streak.
• Make doing the homework feel more enjoyable. For example, you can do your homework in a pleasant location, while listening to energizing music.
• Visualize your future self. For example, you can visualize yourself being able to relax after you finish working, visualize yourself being rewarded for getting a good grade in a course, or visualize yourself having to handle the issues associated with not finishing your homework on time.
• Focus on your goals instead of your assignments. Instead of focusing on the fact that you have an aversion to your homework, for whatever reason, try focusing on your end goals for completing the homework, such as getting a good grade in an important class so you can have a better application for grad school.

Change your mindset:

• Give yourself permission to make mistakes, and accept the fact that your work won’t be perfect, especially at first. This can be helpful, for example, when it comes to assignments that involve writing, where you can give yourself permission to write a bad first draft, and then edit it afterward.
• Address your fears. If you’re procrastinating because you’re afraid of something, try to identify your fears and resolve them. For example, if you’re afraid that your writing won’t be good enough, you can say to yourself that your goal is to just start by getting something written down, and that you can always improve it later.
• Develop self-compassion.   Self-compassion can help reduce your procrastination, as well as various issues that are associated with it, such as stress. It consists of three components that you should develop: self-kindness , which involves being nice to yourself, common humanity , which involves recognizing that everyone experiences challenges, and mindfulness , which involves accepting your emotions in a non-judgmental manner.
• Develop self-efficacy. Self-efficacy is the belief in your ability to carry out the actions that you need to achieve your goals, and it can help you reduce your procrastination. To develop self-efficacy, try to identify the various strategies that you can use to finish your homework, and think about your ability to execute those strategies successfully.

When deciding which approach to use in order to overcome your procrastination , keep in mind that anti-procrastination techniques are especially effective when they’re tailored to the specific causes of your procrastination. For example, if you procrastinate because you set abstract goals for yourself, you should focus on setting concrete goals instead. Similarly, if you procrastinate because of available distractions, you should remove those distractions from your study environment, or go work somewhere else instead.

In addition, note that if you suffer from an underlying issue that leads to procrastination, such as lack of sleep , depression , or ADHD , you will likely need to resolve that issue, using professional help if necessary, if you want to successfully overcome your procrastination.

Finally, keep in mind that most people need more than one technique in order to overcome their procrastination , and that different techniques work better for different people in different circumstances. Accordingly, don’t expect a single technique to solve all your problems, and don’t feel that if some technique works well for others then it will necessarily also work well for you. Instead, try out the various techniques that are available to you, until you figure out which ones work best for you, in your particular situation.

10 Tips on How to Stop Procrastinating on Homework

• June 4, 2023
• | Author: Virtue Map Team

You do not like to tidy up, but you are happy to take on household chores as soon as you remember the importance of the homework deadline. I hate cooking more than anything, but I can spend hours cooking if you only have an important homework assignment for tomorrow.

Have you ever wondered why it happens ? Have you ever asked yourself why I can’t do my homework? These are the surprises of procrastinating homework, that are able to surprise us every time we have to do one or another task immediately.

Why is it hard for Some People is Hard to do Homework?

People may procrastinate because of various reasons , such as:

• Feeling anxiety and fear that they will not be capable to complete the homework assignment;
• Wrong order of priorities;
• The belief that the homework task is boring;
• Thinking that homework will take little time, so it can be done later;
• Lack of motivation and perseverance to do homework;;
• High expectations of teachers and parents;
• There is no understanding of why it is necessary to do homework;
• Lack of energy due to inappropriate daily routine or diet;
• It is difficult to concentrate due to personal problems or an unsuitable environment for doing homework;
• Perfectionism or the desire to complete a task perfectly.

How to Stop Procrastinating on Homework? 10 Tips to Push You Forward

1. be honest with yourself and admit that you procrastinate.

One of the most common reasons why people cannot get rid of procrastination is that they do not recognize that they are procrastinating homework. And when asked why they did not complete one or another task on time, they find many reasons to make excuses.

So, in order to get rid of a problem, you first need to acknowledge it. And consciously monitor your speech and actions in order to ensure that they do not lead to procrastination.

2. State very clearly the reasons that lead you to procrastinate

After you have acknowledged that procrastination is causing you discomfort, it is time to name the reasons. Ask yourself why is it so hard to do homework? What exactly makes you anxious or afraid?

Naming the reasons will allow you not to blindly surrender to emotions, but to assess the situation rationally. When you clearly name the reasons, you may find that most of them are just ridiculous and not worth looking into.

3. Set clear and motivating goals

Another tip that can help to do your homework more effectively is to be clear about why you need to do it. This reasoning should not be superficial, but essential and inspiring for the work.

It is possible that the goal of finishing the school year with excellent grades or passing well in exams will not be very inspiring. In this case, try to deceive yourself. Use homework as a way to accomplish other goals. For example, if I achieve the goal set this month – I will allow myself to go to a concert of my favorite music group with my friends. If not, I will have to skip it, etc.

4. Break big goals into small ones, they will seem easier to overcome

Large projects can be really intimidating. In fact, they often paralyze people before they even begin to complete the assignment. Therefore, it is important to divide the task into several performance stages, and if necessary – to divide these stages into separate tasks.

This way the studying will no longer seem insurmountable. Step by step, one task at a time, you will soon have completed the entire project. And all this is only because a set of small tasks seems easier to overcome than one big task for our brain.

5. Surround yourself with people who have set goals and are purposefully pursuing them

Such a company will not only encourage you when it is difficult or inspire you when you lack motivation, but will also testify by example that the set goals are achievable. Of course, only if you devote enough time and effort to it.

As it is said, if you want to reach your goal slowly, go for it alone, if you want to reach it quickly, invite at least a couple of people to help you.

6. Tell others about the assignments you have to do

This is one of the effective ways to stop procrastinating with your homework and not only talk about the homework to be done, but actually do it.

You probably wonder, how does it work? Actually, this is another psychological trick that shows that when we have spoken about our plans to others out loud, we do not want to disappoint them. Therefore it becomes an additional motivation that helps to keep studying easier and to avoid procrastination at the same time.

7. Improve your time management: plan your schedule and stick to it

This is almost the most important thing: developing the habit of planning and sticking to that plan. Today, there are many ways to choose from that can help you plan your time and use it effectively. While some people still use a paper must-do list, others write their tasks down in a productivity app .

It doesn’t really matter which way you choose. The thing that is really significant – to choose one of the most popular ways to organize your agenda. And after that to start putting it into practice in your daily life. You will soon be surprised how much planning can do.

8. One task at a time

We often hear praise for those who know how to do several things at once. But it clearly does not work. When doing several tasks at once, our brain keeps switching back and forth from one thing to another. That is why we get tired faster, make more mistakes, and work less efficiently.

Therefore, if you want to save time and do more tasks in a shorter period of time, always follow a consistent order: one task at a time.

9. Choose a place to do homework with as few distractions as possible

If you want to prepare your homework effectively, then you need to provide the right environment for it. Choose a place where you have enough space to sit down comfortably and place the necessary tools nearby. It should be a quiet place – silence helps you concentrate for studying better.

It is also recommended to put aside all devices that may distract you. Be strict with yourself – give yourself a limited amount of time for homework (this will help you focus) and during this time do not use smart watches, phones or the computer unless your homework assignment requires it or the technology is useful for productivity .

10.  Reward yourself for successfully completed assignments

Do not forget that doing homework should be fun! Therefore, always reward yourself after successfully completing tasks. This will lead to self-satisfaction and the work done, and will also provide motivation to perform other assignments.

What kind of reward could this be? Whether it’s an episode of a newly released series or ice cream – use your imagination! And you will get rid of such questions as how to not procrastinate on homework, etc.

How to Indicate that You are Procrastinating on Studying?

Here are some of the symptoms that indicate you are prone to homework procrastination:

• Even though you know you have to do a task right away, you keep putting it off;
• Accomplishing small tasks that require only a little time and concentration also take a lot of your time;
•  You keep postponing frustrating tasks or the ones that might be boring;
• You wait until the deadlines for the completion of the work start to really cause you to worry about not being able to make it;
• If you have the opportunity, you prefer to postpone work until tomorrow, even if you know that the amount of tasks the next day may not be manageable;
• You would describe your busyness as a waste of time.

Is it common to procrastinate on homework?

Of course. Every task that requires you to leave your comfort zone can cause fear, confusion, and reluctance to do it. The same emotions are caused by tasks that seem uninteresting or too difficult. Most people have to deal with these emotions in order to stop procrastinating.

Can procrastinating on homework indicate ADHD?

There is no direct relationship between procrastination and Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). The reasons why people with ADHD fail to complete tasks are different from those who succumb to procrastination.

People call me lazy. Is it true that laziness and procrastination are the same thing?

Not really. Laziness can be described as an unwillingness to do anything at all. Meanwhile, procrastination is characterized by active action, but paying attention to things that are not important. For example, knowing that there is only one day left to finish an important homework project, a person still chooses to first wash the floor of the room, download a long-watched movie, to clean and organize the computer desktop, etc.

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Procrastination

9 reasons you procrastinate (and 9 ways to stop), expert advice on a range of reasons we fail to get things done..

Posted June 16, 2015 | Reviewed by Ekua Hagan

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It is estimated that one-fifth of adults and half of all students procrastinate. 1 Negative impacts of procrastination include diminished performance, poorer mental and physical health, and increased stress, worry, and guilt . Longitudinal studies of procrastination have indicated that it “appears to be a self-defeating behavior pattern marked by short-term benefits and long-term costs.” 2

So why do we do it?

While more research remains to be done, researchers tend to agree that the reason any particular individual procrastinates can vary idiosyncratically, and that the “cure” is to respond to whatever reasons might be specific for the individual.

Here are 9 common reasons that you might procrastinate, along with suggestions to help you start taking action on each of these.

What to try: Talk to yourself with kindness. Accept that you’re human, and be an optimistic coach rather than a negative critic.

What to try: Talk to yourself about the negative consequences these role models faced when they procrastinated. Then find new role models to mimic, specifically those who take action and experience positive results because of it.

What to try: If you need a skill upgrade, get one. Ask for help if it is available. If not, use a new cognitive coping self-statement such as, “I can learn as I go,” or, “Extra time on this task will increase the odds of me being effective.” Dr. Bill Knaus also suggests that you adopt a "no-failure" mindset to reduce your self-doubt . He suggests that you “experiment and see what happens,” rather than stopping yourself with unproven predictions.

What to try: Challenge yourself to open your mind and prove your bias wrong. Use the task as an opportunity to combat your bias.

What to try: Make a habit of starting earlier than you think you’ll need to and work on completing your task early. This might compensate for any deficiencies in time estimation. Then, give yourself a reward for completing the task early or on time!

What to try: Remind yourself about the gains of the future, and de-emphasize the frustration of the present.

What to try: Work on diminishing the importance of doing things perfectly and emphasize the importance of completing tasks in a timely fashion. Keep a list of examples of times when perfectionism has been unhelpful to you, and of times when task completion has been more helpful to you.

What to try: Get proper treatment, including individual therapy with a licensed therapist. In addition to ruling out physical causes for your mood or anxiety, proper treatment will usually include helping you to set achievable goals given your condition, and teaching you to break your tasks into smaller, more manageable chunks.

What to try: Challenge your beliefs about tolerating discomfort and revise what you say to encourage yourself to engage in a task, even if only for a little while. Focus on the longer-term rewards that you’ll experience while persevering with the task. Stick with it and start seeing discomfort as a prerequisite for growth, rather than as the enemy. Utilize the "Premack Principle," rewarding yourself for doing the uncomfortable (such as balancing your checkbook) with something that you like doing often (such as checking Facebook ).

Pam Garcy, Ph.D. is the author of How To Make Time When You Don’t Have Any: A New Approach to Reclaiming Your Schedule

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1. Rozental, Alexander; Carlbring, Per (2014). Understanding and Treating Procrastination: A Review of a Common Self-Regulatory Failure. Psychology 5.13, 1488-1502.

2. Tice, Dianne M ; Baumeister, Roy F (1997). Longitudinal study of procrastination, performance, stress, and health: The costs and benefits of dawdling. Psychological Science 8.6, 454-458.

3. Sirois, Fuschia M (2014). Procrastination and Stress: Exploring the Role of Self-compassion. Self and Identity 13.2, 128.

4. Bandura, A. (1988). Self-efficacy conception of anxiety. Anxiety Research, 1(2): 77-98.

5. Sirois, Fuschia M et al (2014). Out of Sight, Out of Time? A Meta-analytic Investigation of Procrastination and Time Perspective. European Journal of Personality, 28.5, 511.

6. Ozer, B; O'Callaghan, J; Bokszczanin, A; Ederer, E; Essau, C (2014). Dynamic interplay of depression, perfectionism and self-regulation on procrastination. British Journal of Guidance & Counselling: 309.

7. Ederer, Elfriede; Essau, Cecilia (2014). Dynamic interplay of depression, perfectionism and self-regulation on procrastination. British Journal of Guidance & Counselling

8. McCown, B; Khambatta, I; Blake, R; Keiser, R (2012). Published online: 12 April 2012. Content Analyses of the Beliefs of Academic Procrastinators, Springer Science+Business Media, LLC

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How to Stop Procrastinating on Homework: 9 Helpful Tips

Published on: 09/21/2022

By Scott Winstead

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Are you looking for clear, actionable advice on how to stop procrastinating on homework?

Does it feel like no matter how good your intentions are, you just can’t seem to make yourself sit down and do your work?

Don’t worry, you’re not alone. Procrastination is a common problem that affects students of all ages.

Finding the motivation to study and do your work can be tough, especially when there are other things that you’d rather be doing.

The good news is that there are things that you can do to make it easier to get started on your homework and avoid procrastination.

In this article, we’ll share with you some of the best tips on how to stop procrastinating on homework so you can get your work done and move on with your day.

1. Make a plan

The first step to avoiding homework procrastination is to make a plan. Having a plan gives you something to stick to and helps you stay on track.

Start by knowing what work you need to do and when it’s due. Then, break down the work into smaller tasks that you can complete.

For example, if you have a paper to write, your plan might look something like this:

• Choose a topic
• Do research
• Write a rough draft
• Edit and revise
• Print and submit

Making a plan will help you see the big picture and understand what needs to be done. It can also make the work feel less daunting because you’re not looking at it all at once.

2. Figure out why you’re procrastinating

While it’s easy to call a procrastinator lazy, the reality is there are usually several underlying reasons for why someone is putting off their work.

It could be that the task feels too difficult, or maybe you’re just not interested in the subject matter.

Maybe you’re worried about not doing the assignment well, or you’re procrastinating because you don’t want to deal with the consequences of not doing it right.

Whatever the reason, it’s important to figure out why you’re procrastinating so you can find a way to overcome it.

If the task feels too difficult, for instance, you might try breaking it down into smaller steps or getting help from a tutor or classmate.

And if you’re worried about not doing the assignment perfectly, remind yourself that everyone makes mistakes and that the goal is to learn from them, not to be perfect.

3. Set a timer for working and taking breaks

One of the best ways to stop procrastinating is to set a time limit for yourself.

Tell yourself that you’re going to work on the task for 20 minutes, and then take a 5-minute break after.

After 4 or 5 of these cycles, you should have made significant progress on the task and you can take a longer break.

The key is to not allow yourself to get too bogged down or overwhelmed by the work.

By setting a time limit, you’re giving yourself permission to take breaks and not feel guilty about it.

4. Find a study buddy who’s focused

You’ve probably heard it said that you are who you spend the most time with.

This is especially true when it comes to your studies.

If you’re constantly around people who are unfocused and uninterested in their work, it’s going to be that much harder for you to stay on track.

On the other hand, if you surround yourself with people who are motivated and focused, you’re more likely to be motivated and focused as well.

One way to do this is by finding a study buddy who shares your goals and is willing to help you stay on track.

Working with someone who’s doing well in school can help you stay focused and motivated, and it’s also a great way to get help when you’re struggling with a concept.

5. Find the right environment for doing your homework

It’s very possible that the reason you keep procrastinating on your homework is because you’re trying to do it in an environment that’s not conducive to learning.

For some people, that means trying to do their work in a noisy or crowded place. Others might find it difficult to focus at home because there are too many distractions.

Everyone has different needs when it comes to finding the right environment for doing their homework.

Some people need complete silence, while others prefer to have some background noise.

Some people like to work in a library or coffee shop, while others prefer to be at home.

The important thing is to find an environment that works for you and stick to it.

6. Get rid of distractions

Another reason you might be procrastinating on your homework is because there are too many distractions around you.

This could be anything from your phone to the TV to social media.

If you’re trying to do your homework but you keep getting distracted, it’s important to get rid of those distractions.

Figure out exactly what it is that keeps distracting you and find a way to eliminate it.

For some people, that means putting their phone in another room while they work.

For others, it might mean working in a library instead of at home.

Whatever it is, getting rid of distractions will help you stay focused and get your homework done.

7. Let others know about your homework schedule

By letting others know when you’ll be doing your homework, you accomplish a couple of things.

First, you’re less likely to procrastinate because you don’t want to let others down, and you’ll have some people who can help hold you accountable.

Second, letting others know about your homework schedule can help ensure that no one interrupts you while you’re working.

8. Set reasonable goals

Another reason you might procrastinate on your homework is that your goals are too lofty or unrealistic.

If you’re constantly trying to achieve perfection, you’re setting yourself up for disappointment and frustration.

Instead, try to set reasonable goals for yourself.

Focus on understanding the material and doing your best, rather than getting a perfect score.

Or make your goal to do a specific amount of work each day, rather than to finish all of your homework for the week in one sitting. Check out our guide to setting SMART goals for students to get a better idea of how to set achievable goals.

9. Take breaks

If you’re finding it difficult to focus on your homework, it might help to take a break. While that might sound counterintuitive, taking breaks can actually be helpful for your concentration.

If you’ve been working on a project for a while and you’re starting to feel overwhelmed or frustrated, take a 5-10 minute break to clear your head.

Get up and walk around, have a snack, or just step away from your work to give yourself a mental break.

You’ll come back feeling refreshed and ready to tackle your work with a clear head.

A Final Word on How to Stop Procrastinating on Homework

At one time or another, we’ve all been guilty of procrastinating on our homework.

But if you find that you’re habitually putting off your work, it’s important to find a way to stop. Otherwise, you’ll just end up falling behind and feeling stressed out.

By following the tips above, you can develop better habits and break the cycle of procrastination so you can be more productive at school .

Have any questions about how to stop procrastinating on homework? Let us know by leaving a comment below.

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How To Stop Procrastinating? Helpful Tips for College Students!

Updated: June 19, 2024

Published: December 30, 2019

Your to-do list is piling up, but you’d rather do anything than start crossing items off your list. From procrastinating studying to procrastinating submitting that assignment, most college students wish they know how to stop procrastinating.

Did you know that there are actual reasons why you’re likely procrastinating? So, if you can overcome these barriers, it may get easier to know how to not procrastinate. We’ll share them so that you can maximize your time management skills and be your best self as a college student.

Why Do Students Procrastinate?

At any point in your student lift, you may find yourself taking longer to get things done than necessary. That will lead you to want to know how to not procrastinate on homework, studying, assignments, and chores.

Let’s first break down the common reasons why college students procrastinate in the first place. Some or all of these reasons may resonate with your own experience.

Unclear goals

If you have no clearly defined goals as to what you wish to accomplish, it could be harder to understand why you have to do certain things.

Fear of failure

An all too common occurrence is that those who procrastinate actually are just afraid to fail. So, they’d rather not start to avoid this potentially displeasing sentiment.

If there’s a lot going on in your school life and/or personal life, you may feel unsure how or where to even start.

You could feel worried or anxious about the potential outcomes of whatever you have to get done, be it a homework assignment or test results.

Perfectionism

Often in line with the fear of failure comes the idea of perfectionism. When you have the goal of everything being perfect, then you may never want to start something to avoid any flaws or mistakes (which are inevitable).

Lack of motivation

It could be possible you feel a lack of motivation because goals are too far out in the future or are unclearly defined

Perhaps, the most important thing to do is to ask yourself why you are procrastinating in the first place. This could prove to be a useful exercise because you may have to tackle the more deeply rooted issue and the shackles of procrastination will be released.

For example, you could fear that you don’t know how to do something, and to get started, you simply need to know a little more information or ask for help to understand a concept. Once you do that, you could find yourself easily finishing the required assignment.

How to Stop Procrastinating in College

Now that we’ve covered some of the reasons why students procrastinate in the first place, let’s take a look at some best practices to learn how to stop procrastinating.

Get Organized

To avoid the sense of overwhelm of having too much to do or not knowing where to start, organization proves to be crucial. It’s a great idea to use tools that help you stay organized, whether they are calendars or scheduling apps on your computer or the trusted old-school method of writing things down. Consider writing down upcoming assignments and deadlines, estimating how long the task will take you to perform, and counting backward from the due date to give yourself adequate time to get it done.

Of course, it still comes down to you having the motivation to start rather than procrastinate, but it’s easier to do when you have a clear idea of what you need to get done and by when.

Set Deadlines and Reasonable Goals

If you’re a person who procrastinates because your goals seem unattainable, then consider resetting your goals. While you can’t choose when assignments are due, you can choose when you want to have it ready by. In the same vein, you can’t choose when test dates are, but you can choose when to start studying. You can break down these items into smaller, achievable segments so that you can maintain momentum and feel accomplished. For example, if you have a 10-page research paper due, consider setting a goal to finish two pages per day so you can avoid having to write it fast. 

Remove Distractions

Sometimes, the only way to want to get things done is to have no other alternative. You can position yourself for this scenario by removing distractions. Put your phone in another room. Turn off the TV. Tell your friends that you’re busy. Then, you can free up your own time to get your to-do list crossed off.

Take Breaks

Getting things done doesn’t have to feel tiring or undesirable. Remember to relieve yourself of your efforts and give yourself breaks. This can also help to increase your motivation to get things done because you can look forward to the upcoming break. And, you can make your break as fun or as relaxing as you see fit. Some examples of break ideas you can try after you accomplish items on your list include: walking, cooking, calling a friend, scrolling through social media, playing with your dog, taking a nap, etc.

Reward Yourself

In the same way that breaks can serve as rewards and help to boost your motivation, so can actual rewards! Depending on what you enjoy, you can set rewards both big and small accordingly. Say you enjoy food and trying new eateries. Tell yourself that if you ace your next big exam, you’ll treat yourself to a dining experience at the restaurant you’ve always wanted to try. Or, if you like fashion, then buy yourself something new when you finish your semester with a good GPA. 

Ask for Help

If you’re struggling to hold yourself accountable, ask your peers or friends for help. You can help each other meet deadlines if you are unable to maintain your own self-control. Having people around you who will support you in reaching your goals and aspirations can help to manage your motivation levels as you are answerable to people besides yourself.

The Bottom Line

While there is no single answer as to how to stop procrastinating for college students, there are different behaviors and habits that you can try to overcome this common challenge.

So, if you’re a constant procrastinator or you find yourself stuck these days more than before, try to figure out why. Then, practice some of the above tips to overcome any mental hurdles.

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In this article

How to Stop Procrastinating on Homework – Learn to Study Like a Pro

Everyone has experienced procrastination at some point in their lives.

It’s that feeling of dread when you think about a task that needs to be done, followed by a strong urge to do anything but that task.

Unfortunately, procrastination can have some serious consequences.

Not only does it lead to feelings of guilt and anxiety , but it can also interfere with work, school, and personal relationships.

In extreme cases, it can even lead to depression.

Procrastination – A Common Issue For Students

Many students find that they work better under pressure, but this often leads to last-minute scrambling and feeling overwhelmed.

Other students procrastinate because they feel like they can’t do the assignment perfectly, so they put it off until they can’t avoid it anymore.

Still, others might have difficulty getting started or may be bored by the task at hand. 

There are many causes of procrastination, but no matter the reason, procrastination can have negative consequences.

It can lead to lower grades, as well as increased stress and anxiety. 

Elusive Goals

Unclear or elusive goals are one of the common reasons why people procrastinate.

Students are often very curious as they always have an analytic approach to any given task.

So, it is common for them to want to know why they are performing an action before getting started.

And with uncertain goals, they are likely to delay work until they find a reason to complete it. 

Avolition Or The Lack Of Motivation  

There are many reasons why students procrastinate, but one of the most common is simply a lack of motivation.

When students don’t care about the task at hand or don’t see the point in doing it, they’re much more likely to put it off. 

For this reason, it’s vital to identify a deeper purpose behind a project and keep this vision front of mind.

Overwhelm and Fear of Failure

Everyone is built differently, with varying desires, goals and motivations.

Students are no exception to this and can easily become overwhelmed by impending deadlines or a heavy workload. 

This overwhelming feeling often develops in response to a fear of failure.

In a competitive society where performance is paramount, students may be worried about doing the assignment well or getting a bad grade.

Perfectionism

When we set a goal of everything being perfect, we often don’t want to start anything in order to avoid any mistakes and flaws.

Students may procrastinate out of perfectionism , feeling that the task is not worth doing unless it can be done right first time.

Anxiety 

There are various of reasons why people feel anxious day to day. In the case of students, anxiety can be very unhealthy if not handled carefully.

Perhaps the expectation of parents may place undue pressure on a student, or comparison with peers may force them to evaluate their own performance negatively.

Procrastination is a common side-effect of such stress. 

How To Stop Procrastinating on Homework

Procrastination is a common problem for students of all ages.

When faced with a difficult or boring homework assignment, it can be tempting to put it off until later.

However, this can often lead to even more problems, as the work builds up and becomes even more daunting. 

1. Getting Organized Can Help

One of the best ways to avoid procrastination is to stay organized.

Having a clear plan for what needs to be done and when will make it much less likely that we delay our work.

Additionally, keeping track of all of our assignments in one place will help us stay on top of everything that’s due. 

2. Be Reasonable When Setting Goals

Realistic goals are essential to avoiding procrastination for students.

By setting goals that are achievable, we are more likely to stay motivated and on track.

In contrast, when our goals are unrealistic, it is easy to become discouraged and give up. 

In addition, avoid setting goals that are too general.

For example, instead of saying we want to get better grades, set a specific outcome-orientated goal such as getting an A or process-related goal such as studying X number of hours.

This will help us make a plan of action and stay focused. 

3. Cut the Distractions

As a student, there are countless distractions that can keep us from completing our work.

Social media, streaming services, and even simply talking to friends can all prevent us from getting our assignments done on time. 

However, there are some steps that you can take in order to avoid these distractions.

One method is to create a schedule for ourselves and stick to it.

Dedicate specific times of day to working on schoolwork, and make sure to stick to those times. 

Additionally, try to find a quiet place to work where you won’t be interrupted by others.

If possible, turn off your phone or any other devices that might distract you.

By taking these steps, you can create an environment that is conducive to productivity and avoid the procrastination pitfalls that so many students fall into.

4. Recharge by Taking the Needed Breaks

One of the most important things for students to do in order to avoid procrastinating is to take breaks.

It may seem counterintuitive, but students who take breaks are actually more productive overall.

That’s because they’re giving their brains a chance to rest and recharge.

As a result, they’re able to come back to their work with fresh energy and new ideas. 

In addition, taking breaks can help to prevent burnout.

When students try to push themselves too hard, they often end up feeling overwhelmed and discouraged.

However, by taking regular rest, students can maintain their motivation and avoid fatigue. 

5. Rewarding Ourselves is Fulfilling

Completing work and then rewarding ourselves is a great way to avoid procrastinating.

It is important to find something we look forward to as a reward for completing small tasks, so that we’ll be motivated to keep going.

This could be something as simple as watching our favorite TV show, going for a walk, or taking a nap. 

The key is to engage in an activity to break up the monotony of work and find our flow again afterwards.

Whatever the reason, procrastination can have a major impact on a student’s academic success.

That’s why it’s important to learn how to overcome it .

Identifying the reasons for procrastination can be a helpful first step.

Once we know what’s causing our procrastination, we can start to find ways to deal with it.

Some students find that setting small goals and taking breaks throughout their work helps them stay on track.

Others find that listening to music or reading while they work helps them focus.

Whatever works for you, make sure to start today – don’t wait for tomorrow!

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6 tried-and-true ways to beat procrastination and get back into homework.

When summer ends and school starts up again , there are probably lots of things that will change in your life. You’ll have a more strict routine to follow. You’ll be spending more time with your peers. You’ll get back into school activities and classes. And you’ll have to deal with homework again.

Getting back into homework is tough when you’ve spent a couple of months not having to do any. It’s easy for students to get caught up in a vicious cycle of procrastination and stress around completing homework on time. Just getting started can be the hardest part.

At Liz Morrison Therapy , our counselors help middle schoolers and high schoolers ease into tough transitions and set healthy habits. Getting back into homework and school mode can be a challenge, but it doesn’t have to ruin your school year. Here are some of our best tips for getting back into the habit quickly – so you can spend more time with your friends instead of worrying about assignments.

How to Overcome Procrastination and Do Your Homework: 6 Tips

Procrastinating on homework is one of the hardest habits to break, and it’s no secret that it poses a huge challenge to students. And it’s not actually about laziness – it’s about a desire to avoid the negative emotions that accompany whatever thing you have to do.

There are a lot of ways to overcome procrastination, and what works for some people won’t work for everyone. The key is to try different emotional management techniques and procrastination-busting methods until you figure out what works for you, and then continue to build on those. As you get better at new time management skills and emotional health habits, completing homework and other tasks will be easier. Ultimately, you’ll be less anxious and distressed about your workload.

Here are 6 ways you can build healthy skillsets around work, break the habit of procrastination, and set yourself up for success at school.

1. Acknowledge the difficulty of transitions

Your schedule is changing as you get back into school. This means your daily activities will change too. This might sound obvious, but many of our clients ignore this important aspect of returning to school. If you’re like most students, you have a lot of feelings about going back to school – you might be nervous, excited, apprehensive, sad, or some mixture of all of the above. And pushing away your difficult feelings can make it much more difficult to transition back to doing homework and attending classes. Maybe you’re someone who has a tough time with classes and schoolwork, or maybe you’re someone who looks forward to new assignments. Either way, you’re not alone. Acknowledging the big changes in your schedule – and how you feel about it all – can make a big difference in making you feel more relaxed and settled. Give yourself grace as you transition. It can help normalize any struggles you’re having and give you some much-needed emotional “wiggle room.”

2. Be realistic about your schedule

One of the biggest reasons students find it hard to get back into homework after the summer break – aside from procrastination – is they’re much busier with extracurriculars, sports, clubs, hanging out with friends, and possibly even working day jobs. There’s simply not a ton of extra time for doing homework, and this can put a lot of stress and pressure on getting everything done. Take a look at your schedule and ask yourself:

Can I realistically get everything done in the time that I have?

Can I feel good while getting everything done? Do I feel balanced and healthy?

Do I have any unnecessary or extra-stressful things in my schedule that I can eliminate?

How can I make sure to spend time on self-care along with all my other obligations?

Working through questions like these in a journal or with a therapist can really help you figure out what’s working and what might benefit from a change.

3. Eliminate distractions

If you’re someone who can focus all your attention on one task at a time without getting distracted, count yourself lucky. But for the rest of you out there, be sure to eliminate distractions when you work. Put your phone on silent and put it somewhere out of sight. Put headphones on with white noise or soothing ocean sounds if that helps you concentrate. Some students like a noisy atmosphere (like a coffee shop or a study group) for getting things done, and others prefer a completely quiet space where they can be alone. Know what you need, and give yourself that.

4. Plan out your homework – and break it up

To properly plan out your homework, it helps to know what’s going to be due and when. Write out a list (or buy a planner) with all your upcoming assignments, and score them on a scale of importance and difficulty. Many students tend to underestimate the time needed to complete their homework, so be realistic about the time different tasks take you. Don’t plan on finishing 4 different projects in one go, because that will just leave you exhausted and braindead. Next, give yourself a time limit for each project or assignment. Finally, work on the hardest thing first so some of the stress about completing difficult tasks is eased. And keep in mind that you don’t have to finish the hardest one first – you just have to get started.

Break up each of your assignments into chunks of time, and make sure to give yourself plenty of time to finish each. For example, say you have a paper due at the end of the week. Instead of trying to write it all the day before it’s due, set aside 30-60 minutes per day all week to work on that paper. Breaking up assignments will give your brain breaks and keep you from feeling super-stressed during and after homework sessions.

5. Set a timer

Setting a timer is a surprisingly useful tool for getting things accomplished. Simply getting started on homework is one of the biggest challenges for many students. Seeing a timer counting down can boost your motivation and help you begin. Setting a timer also is great if you’re easily distracted or have trouble focusing – it gives you an external cue to rely on. It also helps you avoid getting completely sucked in to one task at the expense of everything else you need to do.

Of course, it will likely take some trial and error for you to figure out how much time is actually right for you to work on each of your homework assignments. And this is totally okay. You can always tweak the timer when you need to. But in general, once the timer is up, wrap up what you’re working on. Give yourself a short break, and then move on to the next thing on your list.

6. Ask for help

There’s no shame in asking for extra help. Completing your homework shouldn’t feel like a monumental task. If you feel swamped with assignments and school work and need some support, consider asking your teacher or a tutor to help you. If your school doesn’t have a tutoring service, you can hire one or ask an adult for guidance. And if you are struggling with motivation or with the transition back into school and homework, a therapist can help.

Therapy Can Help You Figure Out How to Get Back Into Homework

If you’re having a hard time getting back into the rhythm of schoolwork and assignments after summer, you’re not alone. And you don’t need to let back-to-school stress get you down. If you’d like support in getting through your anxiety about how to do homework, we’re here for you. We’ll help you learn tools to beat the procrastination cycle, take the stress out of homework, and feel good about completing all your assignments and tasks. You’ll feel more prepared and confident about getting back into the demands of school.

Feel free to contact us for a free 15-minute phone consultation. We can answer any questions you have and see whether we’re a good fit.

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• by Alex Russell
• December 16, 2024

It’s just days until the deadline. Maybe it’s hours. Whatever the task may be, procrastination is a reality during the busy holiday season. For many of us, procrastination is a reality all the time. 

“We procrastinate because we can't do everything we want to do, and when we weigh different factors and prioritize some tasks, others get pushed back,” said Yuko Munakata, a professor of psychology in the College of Letters and Science at UC Davis.

In a recent paper , Munakata charted some of the factors that contribute to procrastination in both children and adults. She also shared some tips on how we can build the motivation to get started on that last-minute holiday shopping and any other tasks we need done.

How does procrastination affect us?

Procrastination is a failure of self-regulation that everyone experiences. Overcoming procrastination on any task begins with the motivation to get to work. Research literature on procrastination identifies four factors that determine how motivated we will be to get started:

• How valuable completing the task is to us
• How confident we are that we can complete the task
• The delay in time before the task is due
• Our own impulsiveness

Munakata studies executive function in children in her Cognition in Context Lab at the UC Davis Center for Mind and Brain. Executive function involves goal maintenance and self-control, both of which are involved in procrastination. 

Emotions are central to procrastination, she said, and the way we deal with the anxiety it causes can build habits that make procrastination even worse. Sometimes a task, like holiday shopping or a deadline for school or work, can feel so grueling that it triggers negative emotions like stress and anxiety. Instead of addressing the root cause by starting the task, we might try to fix those feelings. 

“We try to repair those bad feelings by cleaning the house or going on social media to watch cat videos,” said Munakata. “Another part of the procrastination loop is if you associate a task with some bad feeling and then take this alternative approach to make yourself feel better. You can learn that kind of habit.”

How to overcome procrastination

Of the four main factors that affect how much we procrastinate, two of them — the length of the deadline and our own impulsiveness — are outside of our control. Munakata suggests instead to focus on the two procrastination factors we can control: how valuable the task is to us and how confident we are that we can complete the task.

By increasing the value of the task, Munakata helped her kids to get over their procrastination with chores. She did this by finding ways to make chores fun, and if not fun then with a fun reward once they’re finished. Now, her kids blast music while unloading the dishwasher and hurry through wiping down the table after dinner to start a family board game.

“They're tapping into increasing the value of the outcome to get over the threshold for initiating that task,” said Munakata.

During the holiday season this year, Munakata used another the strategy to overcome her own procrastination with holiday shopping during the busy end of the academic term: she took steps to increase her confidence in being able to get the task done.

To start, she set aside protected time to go out. She also broke the task down into smaller decisions that she knew would be easier to achieve and identified low-hanging fruit. 

In her case, low-hanging fruit was to buy easy but meaningful gifts. When she and her family first arrived in Davis, they needed to buy new housewares. That year, housewares became holiday gifts that were fun because they were not the usual gifts but solved a very real problem. This year, kitchen towels were among the low-hanging fruit but were also meaningful because they remind the family of their first year in Davis.

“It can be really helpful to convince yourself that you can get this done by saying, ‘Here's this protected time, here's low hanging fruit.’ These can get you started,” said Munakata.

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