I have trouble with my school work due to procrastinating. And my anxiety always gets in the way. How do I get things done?

I had this same problem and still struggle with it at work and with personal chores and errands. I have found that writing down what I need to do whenever something comes to me (or I find out about it) reduces my anxiety. I know that I have done the first step which is putting it on paper (I use a physical planner and a task app) to do and a due date, as relevant. If there isn't really a due date then I will write the task in the monthly notes and the "someday" list in my app. The next thing I do is try to be intentional about how I spend my time. I struggle with planning and routines so I just try to keep myself busy. That way, I'm already "in the mood" to get things done and if I can see time to do something, I decide I will do it then - - or if the inspiration hits/I think to do something, I just do it! The hardest part is usually getting started, so if I can't be "in the mood" already, I don't wait for it to strike me, I really do try to do it when the thought crosses my mind. I've also found that if I think of doing something (or even writing a task down) and then don't do it that it's the not doing it that causes anxiety; the constant remembering going on in the back of my mind and the building up of other things that are distressing me. I might even have to do some deep breathing and progressive muscle relaxation first to calm down and then get started.

I struggled with the same thing in college. I've found that if I just sit down and do whatever the next thing on my list is, no matter how small, it helps me begin productively. I remind myself that I don't have to do things perfectly, I just have to do them. Procrastination can often come from perfectionism and a fear of failure, which leads to an unwillingness to start. If you get even one small thing done, you will feel so much better afterward. Focus on how good it will feel to cross that thing off your list.

This might seem hard or even impossible, but try not to procrastinate. Instead, try and get your work done the day you receive it so then, you will have one less thing in your way later on. I am also guilty of procrasinating and I have come to realize that if I procrasinate, then the work will only continue to pile up, and all of the sudden, I have a huge mountain of schoolwork that I haven't even started. Then, I all of the sudden feel anxious, stressed, and tired. Getting your work done as soon as possible could prevent this cycle from continuing. If needed, you can always create incentives in order to motivate yourself to do your work, like after finishing math and english, maybe get a snack, or after finishing social studies, take your dog for a quick walk, or whatever you might enjoy.

Try going small steps at a time, you can always set up rewards or prizes when you accomplish something, my experience is to create a schedule and follow it, and it always helps if you're motivated to do it. By the way, ask for help if you think your anxiety is too much to handle and distracting you from learning. School can be tough sometimes but I think as long as you focus in class and try your best school can be amazing too! And lastly, don't forget to make positive friends that help you study along the way! Best wishes, Kite Runner

I had a lot of trouble with procrastinating with school work often held me back. The best way to overcome it is to find a way of studying that suits you best! For me I had a textbook and some ambiance on in the background. I kept my phone locked and gave myself many rewards for studying. This was best for me but everyone is different. Take little goals instead of the bigger picture. It's always good to find what suits you best in terms of studying and anxiety. Things can be very tough and school isn't easy but there's always support there.

I am not exactly allowed to give you advice but I am here to talk to you and empathize and let you know from a personal perspective that it does get better and it is not a permanent feeling. I used to deal with procrastination from a first hand and it was tough. and I struggled but it gets better and I have been able to work on that and grow from that time in my life. Now I am always on top of assignments and able to complete them without distraction even with my ADD. so things do get better. I created some skills to help me stay focused for a period of time. I'd set an alarm for 30-45 minutes at a time. Then take 10 minute break. I hope this helps you some-good luck!

I often find it helpful to set up deadlines for things, even if there is none set by the professor. I make a list and feel better when I cross it out or check it off as done. The more of a schedule that you have the better you become at keeping it. Scheduling out your time will not only help you with homework but later with projects and even work-related projects. Procrastination in itself can be a skill worth having because as you learn the consequence of falling behind when life happens it can be really useful to get things done in a hurry just in the nick of time. I am also a big procrastinator so welcome to the club.

Procrastination can be a killer when it comes to getting work done, trust me I know! It's important to take time to relax and find a balance between work and play. I suggest taking up activities like yoga or even just breathing exercises and mindfulness so that you can practice this before you do your school work to get in a calm and collected state of mind so you are ready to focus. To ease your anxiety, try to create a revision timetable or set out a certain amount of time in the day to do all your work so you are in a routine. Plan out what work you are going to do so that you can keep on top of things and it doesn't pile up and become overwhelming. Remember, you can always turn to your teachers for advice or 7cups for support!

I procrastinate a lot. At the moment I'm avoiding my English homework, I'm too scared to actually start it since it might end up terrible and I only have a couple weeks of summer left. I'm trying to get a routine in, 30 minutes of homework everyday and it should be done soon. I find that when I start things earlier I end up procrastinating less since I've gotten into the swing of things. Getting in a routine, finding a quiet place to study helps with school work. Maybe some music?

i suggest baby steps, trying to create a habit of studying the tiniest of things everyday and adding to it little by little. i know how that feels. something i do is making a schedule, and writing few goals to achieve everyday. those goals have to be reasonable and doable. like reading one page or solving a 15 mins problem, summarizing few pages. i sometimes don't achieve the goal if they are difficult like summarizing 2 long chapters but i at least got a little something done like few pages. it is not enough but it helps and makes me feel better