Overcoming Procrastination Essay

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The student has two weeks to complete his essay, and he is aware that the essay accounts for 40% of his total grade. Each time he sits down at the computer, something distracts him from the task. There is always something more important to do. He continues to procrastinate until there are only three days left to complete the paper. He works furiously all weekend, and on Monday hands in the finished product. On Friday, he receives the graded paper back; his grade was a D. Putting his paper off until the last minute did not allow him the time to turn in a well-written essay. Procrastination affects a person 's life negatively, but discovering why one procrastinates and finding ways to prevent it is the first step to overcoming it.

Procrastination has a negative effect on one 's life; those around them can feel the effect as well. Putting things off until the last minute causes people to rush to complete assignments; therefore, the work is often incomplete.
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A person needs a strong resolve to break the cycle of procrastination. The person can create a procrastination profile to determine why they procrastinate (Kurtz, 1990, para. 14), or keep track by taking note of when he or she procrastinates. Some people use a calendar to schedule repetitive tasks and keep track of appointments. If a person has a smartphone, there is a reminder feature that one can use to track due dates and deadlines. Another tactic is to use sticky notes to write reminders and post them around the home and office. Viewing the task in a positive light can change one 's outlook on the task. Some people create a reward system to motivate them. If the person goes a week without procrastination, he or she might treat himself or herself to a night out, or splurge on something that one would not normally buy. With so many things one can do to break the habit of procrastination, one can begin to overcome it by choosing to make one simple

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