Help! Why do I leave my assignments until the last minute?
Do you leave assignments ’til the eleventh hour? We’re all guilty of procrastination, but if it’s become a habit, it might pay to understand why you’re avoiding things.
Whether it’s doomscrolling instead of tackling that assignment, or binging your latest Netflix fix instead of studying, procrastination is a familiar struggle for many students.
Indulging might feel good at the time, but the regret-crash is soon to follow, not to mention a tendency to put off tasks can feel overwhelming at times.
Are you a procrastinator?
Clinical psychologist Eileen Seah says it’s important to understand that everyone procrastinates sometimes. So if leaving your uni work until the last minute is your degree MO, you’re far from alone.
“Procrastination is a choice to delay or avoid tasks and involves intentionally choosing to do something less important instead, even when it can potentially lead to negative consequences,” explains Eileen.
Often misunderstood as mere laziness, Eileen says procrastination is about more than avoiding tasks. It’s about avoiding the discomfort or distress that’s associated with those tasks, she says. “That discomfort can manifest as anxiety, fear of failure, or even boredom.”
- Related reading: How to study effectively for your exams
What is the root of procrastination?
Understanding the psychological reasons why you might be procrastinating is the first step to leaving procrastination station behind.
According to Eileen, some common psychological reasons people procrastinate include:
Fear of failure
If you’re a perfectionist, chances are you’re very comfortable in the procrastination phase.
“Perfectionists procrastinate because they fear not being able to meet their own high standards,” says Eileen. “They may delay starting something to avoid failure or the risk of producing something ‘subpar’.”
Overwhelm
When we’re faced with a large task it’s natural to feel a little daunted. Eileen says the sheer size of a project might be what’s left you procrastinating, as a way to avoid feeling overwhelmed.
Unpleasant emotions
Procrastination is an avoidance strategy, so you don’t have to deal with the unpleasant emotions associated with the task, says Eileen. Whether you’re feeling anxious about not understanding a subject or are bored with the study materials, procrastination is a way to avoid those feelings.
Low motivation
Motivation can be hard to come by sometimes. If you’re finding a task uninteresting, or if it’s not aligned to your personal goals, it can be hard to get started.
What is chronic procrastination?
While everyone procrastinates, Eileen explains chronic or problematic procrastination is when the procrastination negatively affects a person's life, and they are very distressed by it.
“Seeking professional help is important if you’re dealing with chronic, problematic procrastination, as the underlying causes and contributing factors may need to be addressed more deeply,” she says.
Do I have ADHD or do I just procrastinate?
If you’re wondering whether your tendency to procrastinate runs deeper than an aversion to uni assignments, Eileen says it’s a good idea to seek professional help.
“Procrastination is part of the learning process,” Eileen says. “However, a counsellor or psychologist can provide personalised strategies and support to address any underlying issues contributing to procrastination,” she says.
“This is especially important for students with ADHD, as the intrinsic difficulties with getting started and staying focused can make procrastination more likely.”
How do I stop leaving assignments to the last minute?
Before becoming a clinical psychologist, Eileen worked as a student counsellor at various universities in Australia. A tendency to leave assignments to the last minute was something she helped students work through often.
"Think about what's actually fuelling, maintaining, or contributing to your procrastinating behaviours,” suggests Eileen.
“I’ve worked with students who thought they needed to be in the right frame of mind, to feel motivated, to start the work.” The reality is, motivation is not going to rain down from the heavens, says Eileen.
“If you are feeling unmotivated, figure out how to work through that unmotivated feeling rather than assuming you have to feel super motivated to start at all.”
- Related reading: How to beat procrastination and become a more active learner
Strategies to overcome procrastination
Adjacent to simply starting, Eileen offers the following strategies to overcome procrastination:
Break tasks into smaller steps
Break tasks down into smaller, more manageable steps, says Eileen. This method reduces the feeling of overwhelm and makes it easier to simply start. So, instead of focusing on writing an entire essay, start with creating an outline of your essay, or writing the introduction.
Set clear goals and deadlines
Establishing specific, achievable goals and deadlines for each task you need to tackle can help create a sense of urgency while providing a framework to maintain focus.
Eliminate distractions
Make your study environment distraction-free. This might involve turning off social media notifications, using website blockers or an app that encourages study, or finding a quiet corner of the library that can act as your own little study sanctuary.
Team up with an accountability buddy
Share your goals with a friend, or find a study buddy online; there are dedicated platforms for this, like Focus Mate or Study Together, which allow you to schedule study sessions with others, kind of like a virtual study group, says Eilleen. “Usually, there is a kind of momentum you feel when other people are doing it with you versus doing it on your own,” she says.
Looking for more advice on developing better study habits? Read our Study and Life Hacks blog.
