Mar 29, 2017 4 min read

Q.Help me with procrastination. I’m horrible at deadlines. I tell myself I work best under pressure, but I know that’s a lie. I simply put things off. Last week was spring break. I didn’t go away like many of my college friends. I went home to “catch up” on back work. Now, here I am, back at school. I didn’t even open a book during break, my workload is huge, classes start tomorrow, and what am I doing? I’m on Facebook, looking at Instagram, saving recipes from Pinterest and now I’m writing to you! Any hints?

– 19-year-old

Mary Jo’s Response: There are two ways of looking at procrastination. The first perspective sees putting off tasks negatively. It is the most common viewpoint. While I will share some insight into why people procrastinate, I want to start with my opinion. Despite many people’s beliefs, and a few definitions, I don’t think people who procrastinate are lazy. I think it is more complicated, especially with young people. The second perspective sees a way to use putting off tasks to improve creativity.

Procrastination may be connected to negative emotions. When a student thinks about a task due, feelings like stress, doubt, and anxiety may arise. The student may feel overwhelmed just thinking about the task. The impulse to do something they like and trigger positive feelings may lead to a cycle. The student watches a YouTube video or texts friends. These activities distract from the negative emotions, and the student is temporarily happy. A cycle can begin. Each time the student is distracted, the negative emotions return stronger. Here are some hints for breaking this cycle:

• Make the task more enjoyable: Decreasing the negative feelings can help. Do you have friends who share this task? Could you create a study group? Would it help to talk about the task with friends or trusted adults, and think of creative ways to make it fun?

• Reduce temptation: Turn off devices, find a quiet place to work, and set a timer. Work a little each day, instead of saving the entire project until the night before it’s due.

Another way to look at procrastination is to see if you are an active or a passive procrastinator. Studies show some people actively work through their task list, prioritizing what is right for them at the time, and thinking about all the tasks. Forcing creativity can be frustrating. Procrastination might work in your favor if:

• Even when you’re not actively working on a task, you keep it on your mind, and seek creative ways to accomplish it. For example, you’re on social media. You think of your project, take a few moments and do some research. You save the research for later.

• You use the time before you work on the project to make good decisions. You weigh the pros and cons of approaches to completing the task. You are actively engaged mentally.

Your question resonated with our peer educators. Good luck.

Peer educator response: Procrastination is common for many of us. Find your motivation first. Do your best work. You know yourself. If waiting until the day before an assignment is due will end up with sloppy work, you owe yourself more time. There are apps you can download to block you from distracting apps. Set reminders on your phone. Limit distractions. Find a buddy.

Contact Dr. Mary Jo Podgurski with questions at podmj@healthyteens.com.