By Haley King
Procrastinating in high school is not unheard of. In fact it is something that almost all students do. Finding someone who does not procrastinate is as rare as finding a diamond in the street. People tend to want to wait until the very last minute to finish something; whether it’s writing a two-page essay, studying for a test, or even doing chores at home.
According to psychologicalscience.org, studies show that people who procrastinate have higher levels of stress as well as a lower self-esteem. Though some students may work well under pressure, the reality is they are increasing the amount of stress, which is also harmful to their bodies and minds.
Students have very busy schedules and are more focused on extracurriculars activities, unfortunately this leaves less time to focus on homework and studying. They are distracted by television, video games, cell phones, and social media.
Procrastination affects over twenty percent of the population and is on the rise. Research shows that it has more than quadrupled in the last thirty years.
Many students do not like to procrastinate, because it stresses them out. They find themselves forgetting information, which causes aggravation and sleep deprivation. Too often they notice that they are constantly putting things off, and the clock is still ticking. Before students know it, they’re out of time.
As a student, this type of behavior is a concern, because in the end, it is affecting future habits and grades.
People are not born with a procrastination gene; it is a learned trait. This is something that can be overcome for those who wish to improve their quality of life. Lifehack.org suggests breaking things down into smaller steps, working on time management, removing distractions, avoiding over committing, setting goals, creating timelines with specific deadlines, sharing goals with others who inspire, or simply stopping the procrastination and just do what needs to be done.
When deadlines are set, everyone has a choice to get the job done now or later. It’s time to make that choice. Stop procrastination before it becomes too strong of a habit to break.
