While attending college, it can be very difficult to stay on top of all of the schoolwork that professors give out on a weekly basis. Many college students have a hard time balancing their assignments while still trying to get an adequate amount of sleep, work a part-time job, as well as have some remanence of a social life.

Trying to balance all these things at once can be very stressful, and oftentimes many students procrastinate to avoid their obligations. Procrastination is the bane of every college student’s existence. However, procrastinating and putting off school work can lead to even more stress, and can cause one’s anxiety to increase dramatically.

In today’s world, technology makes it easier than ever before to procrastinate and put off work until the last possible minute. Devices such as iPhones and the wide array of tablets available provide college students with distractions at one’s fingertips.

There are three different types of procrastinators. Arousal types, avoiders and decisional procrastinators.

Arousal types are considered to be thrill-seekers due to the fact that they will wait until the last minute to complete their work in order to gain a euphoric rush.

Avoiders will put off tasks because of fear. They not only fear failure but they can also fear success, and are also very afraid of what others think.

Decisional procrastinators do not make any decisions, thus absolving them of any responsibility of the events that transpire in the wake of their inability to make a choice.

People who procrastinate can suffer from very serious physical and mental health issues. Some of these issues include gastrointestinal and immune system disturbances, insomnia, as well as the deterioration of personal relationships.

For college students it can be very hard not to procrastinate. However, there are many techniques one can use to help better handle the workload that is required of a college student.

Many people in today’s generation are very easily distracted by technology, and because college work can take a very long time to complete, many students will constantly scroll through their devices while attempting to complete their assignments.

One way to avoid this is to put your cell phone in another place, you can turn off your phone until all the assignments you need to complete are finished and handed in.

Another technique a busy student can utilize is to compartmentalize. By dividing your assignments and completing easier ones first it will seem like there is less to do. This can also be done by setting very small achievable goals for bigger projects.

For example, if you have a research paper to do, try finding the sources first. After finding your sources, find quotes and useful information within those sources to use before even worrying about the paper.

Music can also help when it comes to avoiding distractions. If you have a bothersome roommate or siblings, try putting headphones on and listening to classical music or just white noise.

When flushed with multiple assignments, do not attempt to overwork. It is very important to take breaks while doing school work. Taking breaks once every hour for about 10-15 minutes can help keep you sane and focused on the task at hand.

Although it may seem like a good idea to get the easy stuff out of the way before getting to something like a 10-page paper, it is more productive to get the hard stuff done first. Pushing the more challenging work to a later date means you will probably never even start it. Once you finish that difficult essay, it’s done! All the lighter assignments will take less time and you will feel better after completing the much longer assignment.

Lastly, being the only person holding yourself accountable is not ideal. It is never a bad idea to tell a friend or family about an assignment that is due. This way, not only can they hold you accountable for your assignments, they can also help celebrate your achievements.

Although each of these techniques can be used to help avoid procrastination, they may not work for everyone. Each person operates differently, and thus some of these ideas might not work the same for everyone. Take some time to find out what works best for you when it comes to completing assignments.