Why do our kids drive us crazy with procrastination?

     Even as adults we may not be the best of planners. We may wait a day too late to pay a bill or have our kids screaming that they have no food before we drive to the grocery store. We can't all be on top of things at all times. Procrastination is a part of life.
     Procrastination, however, can be chronic. It is a learned habit with counterproductive behaviors and somewhat painful natural consequences.
    Our students struggle with procrastination a little more than we do because they do not fully internalize that the "clean up and recovery" efforts from waiting, excusing, and blaming are more painful than just following through with a task at a constant pace. Those natural consequences of procrastination at a younger age do not involve something as severe as losing a job or losing a home. So, the pattern continues, despite something like failing a course.
     Procrastination for teens can be the beginning to an end. It has the power to undermine an entire college experience. Some research proves that as much as 60% of college students claim procrastination is their most pressing problem. It may be the sole reason that 31 million people in our country who start college never finish.
     Overcoming procrastination is essentially learning a new skill. It is the skill of self-mastery which means you have to teach your brain new ways of doing things so that "doing things now" becomes routine and automatic.

      Here are 10 ways that you can teach yourself to "un-procrastinate":

1.      Make priorities with the most urgent of tasks, appointments, and assignments taking precedents.
2.      Work backwards:  take note of when your due date is and pace yourself backwards so that you work a small amount      each day until "the big day" arrives.
3.      Reduce or rid of your "time wasters" - Netflix, gaming, social hours, day dreaming, napping. Resist the urge to                  digress towards these more pleasurable things in life so that the result of getting started and following through with      a task is instead a reward of these fun activities.
4.      Remind yourself constantly of how horrifying the "clean-up" effort will be. Use this negative image to propel your          actions.
5.      Identify what you are avoiding by procrastinating. What is uncomfortable? What is threatening? What is                          unenjoyable? Then approach one small piece of the larger task so you start to feel accomplished and successful.              Partialize big projects into small accomplishable steps.
6.      When the following phrases or excuses enter your mind, interject the word "not" after them: "I'm too tired." "I will do      it tomorrow".  "It can wait for now". "I am sure it will get done on time."  These phrases are fooling you. Don't believe      them.
7.      When you reach the point of overwhelm because you  have procrastinated far too long and you believe that starting      is useless, stop the catastrophizing thoughts and act. Read that first chapter. Take a few notes. Then take a break            and do it again. Work in intervals. Stick with the task until you feel somewhat caught up. Now you are back on track.
8.     Stop promising yourself you'll do  better next time because you are lying to yourself. This is another method of               avoidance when procrastinating. Find what works best for you as a reminder to stay on track (alarm clock, sticky           notes, accountability partner, reward system) and stick with these methods, never letting up because if you are a           perpetual procrastinator it is easy to fall off of the wagon.
9.     Remind yourself of the stress procrastination causes. Ask yourself if you are strong enough and resourceful enough       to handle that kind of stress. 
10.     Set clear and measurable goals. Write down these goals and keep them in view as a reminder to stay on task.

     There are various published tools and resources that you can use as a guide to lessen procrastination. Your success           depends on your commitment and your discipline. It is not possible to snap your fingers and poof!, suddenly be       procrastination-free. This is about dedicating yourself to sustainable change and constant focus.  Academic probation or repeating a class is not as fun as being able to binge on Netflix because you've earned this reward. Work hard (first). Play hard (secondly). (Knaus, Overcoming Procrastination for Teens, 2016).