As students, avoiding work is something we all do. We know it is disadvantageous, so why do we continue to procrastinate? Eliminating procrastination in our routine may become easier once we are aware of many negative aspects.
We procrastinate, or put off our work, because it frees up time for us in the moment. The afternoon we could spend finishing a project, we spend with friends or just watch television instead. This is relaxing enough in the moment, but over time, this procrastination can build into a stress-crescendo.
As we reach deadlines, the amount of anxiety and stress we have accumulated is legitimately unhealthy. Thinking about the pile of homework we have to complete before a due date is enough to make a student’s stomach drop. Not only does procrastination make us feel sick with stress, it is detrimental to our grades.
Personally, I have left so much work that it is impossible to finish at the last minute; yet incomplete and partially completed work affects PowerSchool quickly. In accordance with this, the work we may actually complete is shoddy and thoughtless. Having a homework system that allows for procrastination inhibits us by leaving us unorganized and depressed. This, of course, is information we already knew.
It is too easy for teachers and parents (and even friends) to tell us to ‘just stop putting your work off,’ but to present no real solution. We know procrastinating is awful, so hopefully shedding light on all of its ‘cons’ will make us search for better approaches to homework.
Time management and spacing out work is crucial. It may seem unattainable at first, but practicing healthy work habits for college and future careers is easiest to start in high school. Actively trying to better your grades, lifestyle, and school behavior will be an improvement for your transcript and mental health.