Procrastination in Teenagers

Everyone is a procrastinator, especially me. I’m currently writing this the day before the draft is due, and I can say with confidence, I’m not surprised it came to this. In this article, I’ll go over why students often procrastinate, how to help this issue, and also my opinion.

Students can procrastinate for a multitude of reasons: Some may seek perfection so much they put off the stress of finishing their work until right before it’s due. Some may forget, others may not know where to start, and some might just not do it on purpose. I know occasionally I put off work because I’m burnt out, I don’t have the energy to focus to get it done. Certain students could have too much on their plate, which piles up and causes them to be overused, putting their work off for even longer.

It could even be a practice or a bad habit that teenagers have adapted to. And finally, some could just be those rebellious teens you read or hear about in fictional worlds that are few and far between. Often, procrastination is caused by the brain, Piers Steel, a psychology professor at the University of Calgary, states “‘procrastination is the interplay between the limbic system—what feels good here and now—and the prefrontal cortex that cares about the future and the abstract.’”

To help with the issue of procrastination, a good start is to work in an environment with little distractions and no clutter. Eliminating certain activities can also be immensely helpful. Since I’ve stopped working weekends, I’ve opened up so much time where I can finally complete work. Something as simple as changing your words can help; instead of saying “homework you have to do” try saying “homework I’m going to do,” it help eludes that you have more control over what you’re doing.

In my opinion, procrastination is a very normal thing for the teenage and young adult generation to do. I put off a lot of things, mostly because I’d rather feel good in the moment, but then I have to worry about it later. It makes more sense to just get your work done and then enjoy moments with a stress free atmosphere. Students are very aware that procrastination negatively affects them, and yet we still do it. It’s a very bad habit that costs many young adults, maybe, as a society, we should work on that. 

Works Cited

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