“I’ll do it tomorrow” a simple phrase uttered by oh so many of us! Putting off an unpreferred task or any task really, until the very last minute when, well, we have no choice but to do it and generally just rush through it at that point. Some people work well under that kind of pressure, but for the ones that don’t, there are some strategies that will help limit the number of tasks that we tend to procrastinate and I will share some of these strategies within this article. So, how do we stop procrastinating?
First, though, let’s explore some reasons why we tend to procrastinate.
Procrastination Culprit Number One:
We just don’t understand what we are supposed to do
This right here is one of the most common causes of procrastination, especially in school-age children. They are given a task or assignment along with basic directions on how to complete that task or assignment. The problem is (and this is just one of the common ones), a lot of us don’t always process information in a “typical” way. This processing challenge then leads to misunderstandings, confusion, frustration and then naturally, procrastination.
Often times people, including adults, are afraid to ask for clarification on an assignment due to our own insecurities. This can be a direct result of past experiences or just simply a lack of confidence. No one wants to feel inadequate, especially to their teachers or bosses. This lack of understanding of the given task then leads to procrastination and anxiety. The two almost always go hand in hand.
One way to remedy this is to ask for directions in written form. This may be difficult to do for some people because nobody wants to be different and ask for accommodations and I completely understand that. However, sometimes it is better to be slightly uncomfortable for a short amount of time than to suffer throughout the entire task with uncertainty, worry and anxiety.
Another remedy could be to ask to look at an example. So many of us are visual learners and all we need for clarification is a simple visual representation of the task. This again may present the same feelings as above, but may be worth it in the long run.
Ideally, any task or assignment would have a visual representation along with written instructions, but sadly that is just not that common so it is best to try to develop the strength to advocate for yourself in times like this.
Procrastination Culprit Number 2:
We tend towards perfectionism
Another huge culprit of procrastination is a tendency towards perfectionism. This one is a bit more difficult to remedy as this is more internal than some of the other culprits. Many kids are so fearful of failing that they remedy this fear by failing to accomplish the task in the first place.
This culprit most likely will need to be addressed at home rather than rely on school systems or teachers to reinforce the notion that there is no such thing as perfect. Yes, we can strive to receive A+ work, but as parents, we should also appreciate the fact that our children put in the work, make the effort and complete the task, even if it falls short of A+ work. Grades will come and go, but self-esteem, or lack thereof, can last a lifetime.
In short, it is better to reinforce good habits geared towards learning rather than handing in a perfect project. Ultimately we should strive for accomplishment within the task at hand over perfectionism.
Procrastination Culprit Number 3:
We have no clear direction
This is a big one. No clear direction on how to even begin a task can be extremely overwhelming. So often educators assume that all students can comprehend directions given one time. Now, those directions are also often given under the premise that just providing a sheet with written directions will suffice in explaining the task when the truth is, this does not suffice for the majority of students.
Explanations and/or directions should be given with as much explanation as possible. Giving the students details of what exactly is expected of them, how much time the project or assignment should take and a timeline of expectations would be quite helpful for a lot of students.
They should include written form, a verbal explanation of what is the expected outcome of the assignment/project and most of all samples or examples of finished assignments/projects. This would touch on each learning modality to reach most learners since most learning is comprised of all 3 learning modalities.
Students are afraid to ask questions for fear of criticism by not just the teacher, but their peers, as well. It would be helpful if classrooms encouraged asking questions for clarification as a necessity and not a sign of distractibility or incompetence. So often an educator becomes unaware that their students are new to the material and may need extra guidance to perform a task that they themselves are quite familiar with as most assign the same projects year after year.
The best way to remedy this is to give your child the confidence to ask questions. Make that a normal thing in your household. Encourage your child to ask for clarification rather than play the guessing game and wonder exactly what it is they are supposed to do. That just breeds procrastination and anxiety.
How to Overcome Procrastination
Set a Timer
This has been referred to as the Pomodoro Method. I have used this technique with almost all of my students whether they struggle with procrastination or not. It is a powerful visualization tool that helps students complete tasks in a more timely manner than if they choose not to use a timer.
POMODORO TECHNIQUE – My Favorite Tool to Improve Studying and Productivity
Often if a student will just set a timer for even 3-5 minutes to begin working on a task, they will continue to work on the task for a much longer period of time. It is incredibly common for procrastinators to find it difficult to just start the task, not necessarily work on it and complete it, but starting is the issue.
This strategy can really help with that. It is kind of like tricking the brain into thinking even though I don’t want to do this, I only have to do it for 3 minutes and anyone can do almost anything for 3 minutes.
Make a To-Do List
This can be another powerful tool for aiding in overcoming procrastination. It not only helps visualize the tasks that need to be accomplished, but it also allows you to prioritize your tasks (which is another area of executive function that many people are challenged with) to see which ones take precedence.
When writing your to-do list (can be digital too), it is best to focus on just what tasks need to be done for that specific day, to lessen any feelings of overwhelm. Sometimes actually writing tasks down with a pen(cil) and paper will encourage your brain to hold on to the information easier than if you just add them to a digital to-do list. However, the benefit of a digital to-do list is you can set them to offer reminder notifications, which can be extremely helpful when juggling a full schedule.
Chunking your Tasks
This is another helpful strategy to help overcome procrastination. Chunking refers to breaking down tasks or assignments into bite-size pieces that are not as overwhelming to the brain.
For example, if a student needs to write an essay on a topic that is dreadful, it is best to break that essay down into manageable pieces. Start with an outline or mindmap to help organize your essay and what points you would like to focus on.
Next, begin with reading or listening to some informational text for 5-10 minutes and take some notes. Utilize the timer for tasks like this. The brain can only focus attention on an unpreferred task for so long without losing focus and having your thoughts drift.
Then, take it one paragraph at a time. One day, one paragraph. Allow yourself enough time prior to the project due date so you are able to break down these tasks. If you don’t allow yourself the time, you will be right back to where you started, staring at the face of procrastination!
I do hope that some of these strategies help you or your child overcome their struggles with procrastination or at least give you some encouragement to try. If your child could use some extra help, feel free to book a free trial session with me to see if I can help!
