Procrastinating Again? Here’s What To Do
Procrastination is one of the biggest reasons why students perform well below their potential.
Despite what many people think, procrastination is rarely a problem of laziness or poor time management. Procrastination usually starts with emotions. When a task feels boring, confusing, or overwhelming, your brain looks for relief, even though this may cause more stress later.
Instead of trying to force yourself to power through, it’s a lot better to give yourself grace, and try to make it easier for you to get started. Here’s how.
What Is Procrastination?
Procrastination is the act of delaying important tasks even when you know it will make things harder later. This often happens when a task feels:
Too difficult
Too boring
Too overwhelming
Emotionally taxing
Your brain chooses short-term comfort over long-term success. Social media, games, and chatting feel rewarding right now, while studying feels stressful. So your brain avoids the work.
Why Do Students Procrastinate?
Procrastination is linked to how the brain handles emotions, not time management.
When you think about a difficult assignment, the brain activates areas related to stress and discomfort. To escape that feeling, you may move toward something that feels good instantly — your phone, YouTube, or food.
This is why simply “trying harder” rarely works. It’s better to try and make starting tasks easier for yourself.
How to Stop Procrastinating: 6 Practical Strategies
1. Break Tasks Into Tiny Steps
Large tasks feel scarier than smaller ones. That’s why it’s helpful to break your tasks into easier, smaller steps.
Setting intentions are important to build discipline. However, instead of writing “Study biology” in your to-do lists, write:
Open textbook
Read page 45
Write 3 bullet points
Once you start, momentum builds naturally.
2. Use the 5-Minute Rule
Tell yourself you only need to work for 5 minutes. After that, you are allowed to stop.
Most of the time, you will continue because starting is the hardest part.
3. Create a Distraction-Free Study Space
Your environment has a powerful influence on how you work. Try and make it easier for yourself to focus!
Put your phone in another room
Close unnecessary tabs
Use full-screen mode when studying
Out of sight really does mean out of mind.
4. Schedule Tasks, Not Just Deadlines
“Study tomorrow” is vague.
“Study chemistry from 5:30–6:00 PM” is clearer, and holds you accountable to actually do the task.
By assigning tasks a timeframe, your brain treats them as real commitments.
5. Start With the Easiest Task
Do not start with the hardest topic. Start with something simple to build confidence. This creates a feeling of success that carries into harder work.
6. Reward Progress, Not Perfection
Waiting until everything is finished to feel good leads to burnout.
Reward yourself after each study block with a:
Short walk
Music break
Snack
Your brain learns that effort leads to positive outcomes.
Final Thoughts
Procrastination is not a personality flaw. It is a habit formed by how your brain reacts to stress. By using small steps, short study blocks, and a better environment, you can re-train your brain to start faster and work smarter.
Learn to prioritize creating good systems rather than trying to motivate yourself.
Start today with one small task — just five minutes — and watch how quickly your productivity changes.
