Picture this, you get assigned a big essay due in a few weeks, but every time you sit down to get some of it done you get sidetracked to something else. You might think, ”Oh I’ll get that done later,” but soon you’ll find yourself stressed about getting it done the night before it’s due. If this sounds familiar you might struggle with procrastination.
Statistically, a study done by Gio Della showed that procrastination affects teens and young adults the most with 81% of undergraduate students in 2024 saying that they thought of themselves as habitual procrastinators. This problem affects many people, and a poll that Gio Della also did, shows that 94% of people said that their procrastination habits made them feel unhappy.
You might wonder with so many people struggling with procrastination if there are any good ways to shake this bad habit and how other students at GHS feel about and deal with it.
Before we hear about other students’ histories with procrastination, let’s first look at some tips and tricks that can help you overcome your procrastination. One of the best ways to limit the amount of time you procrastinate is to eliminate distractions. Try putting up your phone, turning off the TV, and going to a quiet space. This can help you direct all your focus on the task at hand instead of veering off track.
Another useful tip to beat procrastination is to break down a big task into smaller easier parts so it’s less overwhelming. “I always split my projects up. It makes me less worried about them,” said senior Caleb Sheehan.”I always try to do my best on any assignment I’m given and scheduling it out makes sure I will be able to turn it in, done to the best of my ability.” When you schedule a project it not only can help you feel less overwhelmed but it can also help ensure that you get it done on time because you are working on it bit by bit each day.
When asking a few seniors about their experience with procrastination throughout their time in high school to see how it affected them. “I procrastinate a lot because I don’t feel like doing homework… but I don’t procrastinate to the point where I don’t have time to get my work done,” said Brady Turner ‘25.
This was a recurring thing when asking people about their experience with procrastination. A lot of people seemed to be very big procrastinators but said that they always seemed to be able to get it done before it’s due. “I am 100% a procrastinator.” says Claudia Liberg ‘25, “I wait until the last minute to get everything done. While sometimes I get late assignments, usually I’m able to pull through and get everything done.”
At the end of the day, everyone procrastinates, especially high school students, but finding ways to beat this can greatly help you in the future and help you become a better, more productive person.
