"Procrastination is the thief of time." – Edward Young, English Poet

Do you procrastinate? Feel lazy at times? Everyone does it at one point or another. But it can become a really a bad habit.  You know if you’re a procrastinator if you’re always doing things at the last minute, have trouble getting homework done, and have trouble getting motivated to do things on time.

It’s just so easy to procrastinate. You let your mind wander and end up doing something else like surfing the internet, calling a friend, watching TV or texting your friends instead of studying or doing chores, or whatever your obligation is.  But if you procrastinate too much, you could find yourself stuck in a rut and on an uphill battle to catch up.  Try following these simple steps and learn how to manage your time and prioritize.

Itemize

• Mornings are hectic, so before you go to bed, make a “to do” list of all of the things you have to get done. You will be able to rest better, knowing that you have an updated check list.
• List the items in order of urgency and importance.
• Write down the date next to each item when you need to get each done by.
• Stay focused by keeping your “to do” list in a place that’s clearly visible.
• Use brightly-colored markers to highlight what’s most important.  You can do this on a calendar instead of a “to do” list if that’s easier for you.
• Cross items off your list as you get them done.
• At the end of the day, update your list and see what you still have left to do.

Prioritize

• Start at the top of your “to do” list.
• Then work your way down your list until you get everything done. This way, you will learn how to prioritize and get things done on time. For example, if you have a paper due the next day, make sure to work on that first.
• You might not be able to get everything on your list done in one day, so just keep working your way through making sure to add any new assignments or tasks that you have.
• Pretty soon, you’ll get into a rhythm so you can get your homework done on time, have plenty of time to study and still have time to relax and have fun.

Getting It Done:

Some people who procrastinate are not lazy – procrastination can be a sign of depression.  If you think that you may be depressed, consider seeking help. 

• Avoid watching TV, listening to loud music and the temptation to surf the Internet while doing homework or studying. 
• It’s OK to listen to music if it helps you to relax, but listen to something that will not distract you too much.
• Find a quiet place where you can focus on your work and not be disturbed by other people.
• If your desk is clean, you’ll be more likely to focus on your work than on looking at other things like pictures, magazines, papers, etc.

Time Management

• Try not to text your friends or answer calls that aren’t important. Turn your ringer off and let your voicemail pick up any messages.  You can always call your friends back after you finish your work.  You can even make that your reward.
• Make a schedule that allows enough time for you to get your homework, chores, etc. done.
• If you don’t have enough time to get your work done, then you will have to reorganize your social or sports schedule so that you can fit in time to study or get work done.
• Don’t forget to make time for breaks and rest.  You need to get at least 9 hours of sleep a night for your body to function properly.
• You also need to take breaks to be with your family, friends and do something fun.

Reward Yourself!

• Reward yourself for getting your work done on time.
• A reward should be something that is worth waiting for and can be as simple as a snack or watching a favorite TV show.
• Make sure to wait until you’ve accomplished your goal before rewarding yourself.

More Tips

• Sometimes it helps to do the least enjoyable tasks first just to get them out of the way.  It’s just like eating your least favorite food first.
• If a homework assignment or report is really difficult, try breaking it up.  For example, if you have to do a book report, divide the assignment into three parts:  1) first read the book, 2) think about what you’re going to write, and 3) write the report.

This article has been reviewed by BodiMojo expert Tara Cousineau, Ph.D.