How to Avoid Procrastination

During high school, procrastination is a HUGE problem for many people, including myself.  I always realize that I had left all my homework untouched late at night.  This is frustrating because for everyone, especially people who play sports, it is very tiring. Playing soccer after an all-nighter from a physics lab is never fun...

Here are a few tips for avoiding procrastination.

1.  Turn OFF your laptop unless you need to use it for research or reading.  Don't keep it up while you do math homework or anything, because even if you think it is just keeping you from being bored, it is a BIG distraction.  There are unlimited things you can do on there, so just keep it off until you finish.

2.  If it is time for a big project or finals week, you may want to think about deactivating your Facebook and other distracting sites temporarily, because just the thought of it being there will be very tempting.  Facebook has kept me up very late many times, even though it is one of the easiest distractions to avoid.  If you need to talk to people for help, calling them is a better option, because it is straight forward and you will not be distracted by all your notifications and messages.  

3.  Pick a time to start your homework.  Make it a reasonable time, because if it is too early, you will probably have a harder time following it.  Once you decide to start, focus!  It might even be better if you sit near your parents...maybe the living room table.  They will help keep you focused while you finish your homework.

4.  Don't nap! Naps are ones of my favorite things to do after school too, but it is one of the worst things you can do.  It will mess up your sleep schedule greatly, as you will need to stay up later to do homework, and you will have a hard time falling asleep at night when you really need the sleep.  If you absolutely need it, keep it under 30 minutes (power nap).

5.  Don't text while doing homework.  It's fine to make a quick call for help, but don't sit there texting between every problem.  You might say it's boring, well of course homework is boring, but the quicker you can finish, the more time you have to do what you want. Again, sitting where your parents are watching will be helpful, as you probably will not text as often right in front of them.

PLEASE DO NOT TAKE FOCUS PILLS.  Unless you really have ADHD, it is not good for you take them.  I know pills like adderall are helpful, but it is not good for you in the long run, and you will have a hard time falling asleep.  Energy drinks are also not recommended.  Drink like Monster and Amp may not be bad for hanging out, but not for homework.  It will have the opposite effect and will make you too hyper to do homework.  If it is necessary, 5 hour energy is a better choice as it has a lot less sugar, it will not make you hyper, and it will not make you crash.  If you feel you are too hyper to do anything, just wait a bit...do NOT try things like Marley's Mellow Mood. (I know it tastes and feels good, but trust me...it will have you snoozing very quickly).  

Sleep as much as you can at night.  Just because you can get by with maybe 4-6 hours of sleep does not mean it is good for you.  That is usually the amount I end up getting, but I know it is taking a toll on my body.  Your high school years are when you need sleep most! Your body and your brain are still in the middle of growing, so don't let lack of sleep keep you from achieving your full potential.  Try to get maybe 8-10 hours of sleep a night.  

Good luck focusing! Sorry this was a long post, but there was a lot I wanted to say.