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As a student, have you ever felt unmotivated to do a task or put off work until the last minute? You may be experiencing a common learned habit called procrastination, which is the act of delaying or postponing a task despite knowing that there could be potential negative consequences for doing so.

There are many different types of procrastination. There are perfectionists who have high standards; the ones to put off work until the task is done correctly. Next, there are dreamers that have big goals but have a lack of success due to fear of change. Lastly, defiers can make excuses, while crisis-makers might create chaos. According to Lifehack, “The existence of different types of procrastination stems from the various ways individuals perceive and respond to tasks and responsibilities.” To figure out what kind of procrastination type you may have, you can reflect on your daily behaviors, identify common signs, and consider adjusting your environment.

Procrastination in students has been growing due to stress, which could negatively impact mental health. According to Procrastination Statistics, “80-95% of students report struggling with procrastination, with 75% identifying as habitual procrastinators.” Procrastination is a common problem for most students and is necessary to reduce the struggle students face from procrastination.

The negative effects of procrastination

Procrastination can have a variety of negative effects on a student’s mindset such as being less focused, due to wasted time and from missed opportunities.

Firstly, procrastination harms the mind by taking control of valuable time and easily putting off daily tasks. According to Proactivity Lab, “… on average, a person wastes around 218 minutes (three hours and a half) everyday procrastinating.” Students could be doing homework, working on daily tasks, or hanging out with friends instead of wasting precious time on procrastinating. In addition, procrastination can also lead to increased stress and anxiety. When procrastination is used as an avoidant coping strategy to manage negative task-related emotions, stress starts to slowly build up. The feelings of guilt, shame and anxiety can intensify from how procrastination is affecting someone which can lead to worsening motivation or poor time management in the long run.

Additionally, being less focused can result in having emotion regulation issues or have a lack of urgency. According to Team of Greats, “The term for this is ‘Temporal Discounting’, it is our inability to judge future consequences compared to experiencing the immediate gratification …” Temporal Discounting can be one of the reasons why students are affected with lack of career planning or have an inability to focus on daily activities.

Tips and Resources

Three straight forward tips that can help students to avoid procrastination are to 1.) have a consistent repetitive schedule, 2.) set a goal, and 3.) set alarms or reminders of a task that needs to be done. Furthermore, having a repetitive schedule can help rewire the brain into becoming more initiative-taking. According to the National Library of Medicine, the author indicates, “Cultivating a sense of self-discipline can enhance motivation and reduce procrastination, especially when faced with repetitive tasks.”

By setting goals and rewarding accomplishments, the mind feels confident that it can keep the goal going without reminders. This rewires the brain for more success. Finally, practicing time management can prioritize tasks which strengthen the mind and help get into a routine of completing tasks. The ability to manage time wisely with tools like a to do list or schedule, can give extra time to one’s day for breaks and slow down stress.

Resources at UW Bothell that can help with procrastination include the Academic Learning Commons, located in UW2-030. Staff can assist with tutoring, which helps students be on the right track with assignments. First year students can also check in with their Peer Coach to help set goals. And lastly, students can visit the Academic Advising Center in UW1-160 to connect with their academic advisors.

Ultimately, there are many procrastination tips that could help with changing your mindset. There are also plenty of online and on campus school resources that can help with procrastination. It is a common challenge for many people and so you’re not alone in this struggle. It’s never too late, so don’t be afraid to ask for advice around campus or strategize methods to set yourself up for success!