For me, especially when it comes to school, it isn’t unusual to do things at the last possible moment. It isn’t uncommon for me to wake up at 4:00 in the morning to finish work before school starts, or waiting until December 20th to know what I want for Christmas.

If you’re like me, you’re not alone; you’re a procrastinator. For me, what that means is that I find it hard to do things on my own time, except for when I’m in an environment where I’m practically forced to. Even doing things I like, such as writing or reading, can be hard to do; as I never have the motivation to sit myself down and do it.

It is for reasons like this that I have a complex relationship with grades. They stress me out so much more than necessary, and cause different mental battles for hundreds of adolescents every day; but without them, I would have no reason to do any of my work.

Procrastination is something that I have been struggling with for years, and it is for that reason that I am hoping to both help myself, but also those who click on this article and need it, with this list.

• Spend less time on your bed

Spending more time on your bed will probably cause you to only want to stay there, where it is warm and comfortable. What I would suggest is getting a desk, or some other furniture in your room, if possible. It will allow you to be up and moving around more, even if you don’t leave your room.

• Limit “mindlessly scrolling”

Some parents would probably say to eliminate internet use all together, as it can cause problems to be on it too much, and while that is true, the internet can be really good when it comes to motivation. Not only will it give you a place to socialize, but it will also allow you to meet and hear about different people and their stories, which could be motivation for different stories and potential characters when writing. But even when it isn’t for writing, it can also offer different services and applications that can assist with time management as well as mental health.

• Make a routine!

It doesn’t have to be the most specific, or even have distinct time frames. It can be as simple as making sure you start your homework the moment you get home. Creating a schedule for yourself, whether you give yourself specific time frames for each part or not, simply marking an area of time where you should do a specific task can help significantly when it comes to motivation. A routine will help your brain be able to say “we should get to work now”, and will help you get a lot done a lot faster.

In conclusion, procrastination is something that tends to bring a lot of problems in life. However, making even the smallest of changes in your daily life can make a difference.