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Procrastination Struggles (2)

1 Name: justwandering : 2016-04-11 22:31 ID:i4QLcFPE [Del]

So I'm a high school junior in IB really struggling with procrastination.

Disclaimer: I am not a lazy person. I am actually really motivated to do well in school academically and otherwise. I have a clear vision of my ideal lifestyle too: finish hw in around 3-4 hours after school, study daily including reviews and previews, exercise three times a week, and have enough time leftover for extracurricular and anime.

But instead I'd read manga or watch anime for a "short break" right after school, start my 5-6 hr homework load at around 9 (because I'd take more breaks even after I start hw), sleep at 2 or 3, go to school (with some hw that still needs to be done), get home super tired and sleep for around 2-3 hrs, wake up for dinner, and repeat the cycle. <>

Every. Single. Day.

It's a struggle in the sense where I'd consciously know that I'm making a bad life decision whenever I start a new anime before I finish my hw, but I really just have zero self-control, and no sense of danger until it gets really dark. Like I can only enter work mode as time creeps by and my Panic Monster is awakened. (shout-out to anyone who gets the reference lol)

I've read countless articles that give advice for stopping this vicious cycle; and I've tried their advice. I'd shut down my Internet connection after school. I'd completely de-plug and lock myself in my room with my homework. When that didn't work (I'd start drawing or something), I would go to my local library and try to work there (same thing).

Nothing seems to work, and I'm getting really worried because 1. AP season is drawing near and 2. there's only a little over half a year left before college applications and 3. even before tests I really need to do well on I'd still be in the same cycle and it's not like I can suddenly upgrade my resume over night.

And all these bad habits and self-induced pressure is slowly ruining me.

My GPA dropped 0.7. I lost connection with some friends who are really hard-working because they can't understand why I do what I do. I've been stress-eating so much I'd find myself waking up with an empty bag of party-sized chips in the morning next to my bed where I was cramming some homework assignment. I've grown two clothing sizes within the past 8 months.

Thoughts and Advice, anyone?

2 Name: Valdr : 2016-04-11 23:53 ID:CzSQ27ec [Del]

I can definitely speak to a lot of this thread. In fact, I have an essay that I should have finished tonight for AP Lit... that I haven't started yet.
But I have a couple words of advice. For one, create an organization chart, or a Gantt chart. (If you don't know what a Gantt Chart is, look it up.) Having definite start dates and end dates to my responsibilities really helped get me on track and in the mood. Also, make sure you have easy access to what you need to do work, and not so easy access to what you need to procrastinate. For example, my desk used to be SUPER messy. I knew where everything was and all of it was important, but it made it hard to work on stuff, so it gave me an excuse not to work on stuff. When my desk is clear, with my work already laid out on it ready to go, I'm much more likely to sit down and focus on it.
Also, make it hard to procrastinate. Don't leave a bad of chips next to where you work, otherwise you'll always go for that bag of chips. Also, I've started putting my phone on the other side of the room when I'm working on homework. Building good study habits is just that: BUILDING HABITS. It's a gradual process, but oftentimes small measures can make big differences.
Hope this helps!