Monday, in math class, you are working on the history essay that was assigned Friday.
Your leg is bouncing up and down like it can make you write faster. You are racking your brain to try and remember if the teacher asked for the essay to be typed. A six-year-old’s story about a blue cat probably has better detail–and better grammar, but you somehow get a concluding thought written down and call it quits.
You walk into the the class and hand the essay to the teacher feeling like you just created the Declaration of Independence all by yourself. You almost feel proud when you get a C–hey, it is not an F!
Maybe you had a big tournament to compete in, some family event that meant you were gone all weekend, or maybe you were just chilling with friends over the weekend and did not want to write the essay.
We have all been there. Life gets in the way, and school work–or any kind of work–just gets moved down on the priority list.
So, if you want to remove the last-second cramming and put a stop to high school greying, try some of these tips to stay organized:
Prioritize. Is it necessary to go see Gangster Squad this Saturday? If there is a history essay that is due Monday, do not do the Spanish worksheet due Tuesday.
Set small goals. Goals provide structure and a reason to get work done. Make yourself a promise to finish the essay and THEN go to the movies on Saturday night.
Write down small and long-term goals! Recording it is like making a promise to finish a project, and it affirms the goal in your mind.
Stay away from Facebook, cellphones, Twitter,  Pinterest, computers (unless that essay needs to be typed), television, etc. This may sound obvious, but electronics are the biggest distraction.
Environment matters. Be in an area that is quiet and without distractions. Furniture can have an impact as well. Sit at a desk and avoid chairs that are too comfortable or have too much padding. That sounds ridiculous, but if it is too comfortable, it becomes that much easier to fall asleep. No work gets done when you’re in dreamland.
These are some simple tips that tend to be overlooked; however, while they will definitely help you to stay on track, they are not the only things necessary to avoid procrastination.
If you want to avoid those down to the wire moments, you have to be willing to work. The most integral part of getting work done is wanting to.