How to stop procrastinating homework in college?
Procrastination is often the single biggest obstacle preventing you from achieving your goals. According to studies, “50% of college students consistently procrastinate, 75% identify as procrastinators, and 80%–95% engage in procrastination at some point” (APA PsycNet).
We’ve all experienced procrastination, like picking up your phone to check the time, only to find that hours have slipped away as you mindlessly scroll through TikTok.
Many people will tell you that your phone is the problem, and while they’re not entirely wrong, it’s almost impossible to avoid using your phone in today’s digital age.
Even putting it away while working might help once, but it requires conscious effort and willpower—something you can’t rely on having every day.
The truth is, the phone isn’t the issue. The real question is: why do you feel compelled to check your phone in the first place?
It’s not that you enjoy wasting time or love the stress of leaving work until the last minute. Rather, scrolling through your phone seems more interesting than the task at hand. That’s the core problem. So, how do you make tedious work more engaging?
While it can be difficult to make some tasks genuinely enjoyable, there’s a simple yet effective way to bypass this urge—by changing your environment.
This concept has three key applications.
1. Optimize Your Existing Workspace
Does your desk at home contain items that distract you? Start by revamping your workspace. Remove unnecessary clutter and add things that help you focus, such as a dim lamp, a good book, or a digital clock. A clean, organized desk can do wonders for your focus and productivity.
2. Completely Change Your Environment When Unmotivated
When you’re feeling particularly unmotivated, try working in a different setting altogether. Head to a cozy coffee shop, a quiet library, or even a peaceful restaurant. Changing your surroundings can stimulate creativity and refresh your focus.
Studies show that even slight changes in environment can lead to improved focus and decreased procrastination by reducing the triggers of habitual distractions (THE).
3. Surround Yourself with the Right People
The people around you play a significant role in shaping your mindset and productivity. If someone consistently discourages your goals, it’s best to distance yourself from them.
However, you should also be able to recognize the difference between constructive criticism and pure negativity. Constructive criticism aims to help you improve, while negative feedback aims to tear you down.
Helpful Tip
Try to distinguish between places where you work and places where you relax. Even if you take breaks to use your phone, try moving to a different spot.
This simple change will help your brain associate specific places with work, making it easier to slip into a productive flow every time you sit down at your desk.
Conclusion
So how do you stop procrastinating homework? You start now…
All this advice means nothing if you don’t take action. You can read hundreds of books, but if you implement nothing, you won’t experience true benefits.
I challenge you to start now. If you’re reading this with unfinished work hanging over you, go to a coffee shop, sit down, and try to focus.
You’ll be surprised how much a change in environment can boost your productivity.
