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Procrastination: The Good, the Bad, and the Reality
July 11, 2017
Building Good Habits for a Successful Second Semester
January 11, 2018

How to Break Procrastination Habits!

break procrastination habits start

When we work with students to break procrastination habits, our ultimate goal is to help them become independent learners. Teaching them about the “why” of their behaviors; discovering which tools, techniques, and strategies are the best fit for them; and reflecting on the ups and downs along the way lead to improved self-awareness, self-regulation, deeper learning, and desired outcomes. Keep reading to learn about strategies you can put to use right now!

Prepare for the Possibility of Procrastination

  • Have your child name their biggest distraction triggers ahead of time. It can help to write them out and keep the list visible. Common distractions include a more pleasant activity, smells and sounds, and, of course, the Internet.
  • Have your child reflect on the last few times they procrastinated. What caused them to procrastinate? Was it different for each instance of procrastination or was there a consistent pattern?
  • Use the information you gathered to plan ahead. For example, if your child procrastinated because they got distracted by their phone, can they plan ahead to keep their phone in another room while doing homework?
  • Encourage your child to come to you if they feel the urge to procrastinate. If they can reach out for help before they start procrastinating, you can help them stop procrastination before it starts!

Develop Strong Habits Before Procrastination Starts

  • Encourage use of a planner – either paper or electronic. Planners are not just for writing down homework; they can be powerful tools for mapping out work time and breaking up bigger or long-term assignments!
  • Check out your child’s work space – is it functional? Is it distraction free? Removing distractions is a never-ending job, but a critical one to help kids develop good study habits.
  • Check up on your child’s sleep habits. Most research indicates as kids reach their teens, they sleep far less than they need to. Recall that it takes more mental energy to attempt tasks we don’t want to do; if kids are getting enough quality sleep, they will have more mental energy with which to counteract procrastination.
  • Reflect on accomplishments. Help your child by taking time to reflect on specific accomplishments from the previous day or week to evoke positive feelings about their ability to get work done. This type of reflection will also help them transfer effective strategies to future tasks.

Reflect on Why It’s Happening and Pay Attention to Your Response

  • Dig into the potential causes of procrastination by using open-ended questions. For example, “What do you think will be the hardest thing about studying for your math test?” or “What’s the first thing you’re going to do to get started on your English paper?”
  • Consider your own expectations and habits. We all want our kids to succeed and do well! But focusing solely on the outcome (whether it be getting into a great college or doing well on a math quiz) rather than helping students navigate the path to get there taps into those feelings we mentioned earlier. Instead, highlight the things your child can control such as their effort, their study strategy, or their organization. This empowers kids and develops self-regulation.
  • Become aware of labels. “Lazy” and “unmotivated” are judgments that children will internalize and use as an excuse not to push themselves. Take care not to label, even when the situation becomes frustrating!

Activate Strategies to Counteract Procrastination

  • Do something now! Have your child take one step toward the task. For example: your child announces, “I have a history quiz tomorrow!” while she is completing her math project. Instead of delaying the history quiz preparation altogether or jumping into it immediately by setting aside the math project, have her break for a few seconds to schedule the history quiz study time for that night in her planner.
  • If your child seems overwhelmed, help them set manageable goals and small timeframes to reach those goals. Many people swear by the Pomodoro technique which involves twenty-five minutes of work followed by a 5-minute break. Find the time that works best for your child too!
  • Encourage your child to eat the frog! Here’s the idea: if I told you that you had to eat a frog by midnight, when would you do it? Right away? Or at 11:59 PM? If you put off eating that frog all day, you’ll spend your entire day thinking about eating that slimy, yucky frog. It’s the same way with procrastination. If you procrastinate doing something, you waste valuable time thinking and worrying about the thing until you get it done. So encourage your child to do the hardest, scariest, and most intimidating thing first. Once that thing is done, they’ll get some great momentum going and everything else will seem easy by comparison.
  • Help your child avoid distractions. There are also a lot of cool apps out there that can help curb distractions. Also, sometimes, you can indulge the distraction briefly to get rid of it. For example if your phone keeps ringing, switch off the ringer, or answer the call to tell the caller that you’ll get back to them later. Just do what needs to happen and then get right back to work.

Need some extra support? We’d love to help out! Contact us to start the conversation.

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      Kimberly Pilot

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      Kim has a bachelor’s degree in public administration from University of Arizona, a master’s degree in special education from University of Illinois at Chicago, and a master’s degree in educational leadership from American College of Education. She previously worked as a teacher for fourteen years, and as a tutoring director for Nurturing Wisdom—we’re excited to have her back on the team! Learn more about her below.

      My favorite class in high school was…geometry (although I prefer algebra) because my teacher, Mr. Warwick, was organized and explained the concepts in an engaging and understandable manner. He made me feel confident when asking questions and was always open to teaching material in a variety of ways.

      I loved UIC because…it allowed me to explore Chicago and meet incredible people while working in a variety of schools and educational programs. The Graduate College of Education had teachers that provided real world context and were very supportive to students’ individual goals.

      On a day off, you’ll find me…at a sporting event for one of my four daughters, floating down the DuPage River, or at the dog park with my dog, Daisy.

      What sets Nurturing Wisdom apart is… the individual care we take with the families we work with and the strong team behind each tutoring decision, including tutoring plans, curriculum, and tutor matches.

      Sarah Tracy

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      Sarah graduated from Marquette University with a bachelor’s degree in education and sociology, and she’s completed coursework in childhood literacy and museum studies. After nine years as a fifth grade teacher in Wauwatosa, Portland, and Chicago, Sarah initially joined NW as a tutor. Learn more about her below!

      A tip I’d give to a student to make the most of tutoring would be… that you get out of it what you put into it. If you put in time and energy, and bring a positive attitude, you’ll achieve so much!

      I loved Marquette University because… it put me on the path to teaching, introduced me to amazing, life-long friends, and made me fall in love with Milwaukee.

      On a day off, you’ll find me… taking a long walk to a coffee shop, chatting with friends, or going on a bike ride and cooking while listening to my latest podcast obsession.

      What sets Nurturing Wisdom apart is… that everyone on the team is a life-long learner at heart, and that we care about the whole student. Everyone is dedicated to getting to know families in order to find a great fit for students and tutors.

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      Shannon has a degree in marketing from Creighton University. After working in the business world for over five years, she decided to go back to school to get her master’s degree in elementary education from Quincy University. Learn more about her below!

      My favorite book is… The Sun Also Rises by Ernest Hemingway. This is an amazing book that made me want to travel and see more of the world.

      My favorite subject in school was… history because I loved learning more about the world and how the past helped shape who we are today.

      On a day off you’ll find me… hanging out with family and friends. In the summer, usually doing something fun outside.

      What sets Nurturing Wisdom apart is… it’s team approach to tutoring as well as it’s individualized curriculum! Both the team approach and the curriculum make tutoring and learning more fun and efficient.

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