Procrastination: to put off intentionally or habitually; to delay doing something until a later time because you do not want to do it. This term is not uncommon for high school students or adults, but has become so popular that it is used more casually and more prominent in society today that it is no surprise of its influential impact.
Typically, many high school students and adults are subject to this form of exercise. Though it may not always be meaningful, the creation of this habit may just come about spontaneously without even coming to the realization.
With busy schedules, including sports, extracurricular activities and family, students commonly fall into the trap of procrastination. Its trap is easy to fall into and may not be noticeable until the full impact has hit and past.
Despite receiving the notice to a project or assignment weeks beforehand, many put it aside to watch the latest shows on TV or partake in any activity that can quickly fill the time that should be well spent on homework. This initially takes time away from homework and can affect one’s sleeping patterns, forcing late nights of cramming for tests.
Waiting until the last minute to complete an assignment not only impacts students’ grades but also the physical state. Someone suffering from severe procrastination is often subject to irritable behavior and short attention spans. In addition, daily focus becomes much more difficult and stressful on one’s body.
Procrastination should not be taken lightly or dismissed as a common occurrence. The ramifications students think appear to be minor, are in fact severely consequential.
According to Better Health, students are required to sleep an average of nine to ten hours per night; students now a days are lucky to even fit in four hours of sleep.
Some of the effects of chronic sleep deprivation are memory impairment, depression and slower physical reflexes. These symptoms are often noticeable in any work or active place.
The thing about procrastination is that it only hurts the person who is exposed to it.; friends and teachers are not affected by the students’ poor choices. Choices that any student makes, determining whether or not to fall among the leghold that procrastination holds, affects the chooser.
Teachers or advisors are there to prepare students for their future but whether or not they take the lessons the teachers offer them, is on their own accord. Teachers are there to help students acquire the knowledge in order for them to succeed later in life. The only barrier that blocks a student from success is how they choose to manage their time.
Ways to prevent and overcome this possible habit are to leave a wide enough gap for students to finish anything that is needed to get done, but also have time after to relax before rushing on to the next task. Being able to finish on time leaves the person a feeling of accomplishment and relief, rather than the stress and pressure that usually is associated with assignments.
The Feather staff would like to encourage students to not be swept up in procrastination, but rather beat it by being prepared to take on a project right as it comes.
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For more opinions, read the Feb. 28 La musica es un lenguaje universal article.