EDUCATION

18 Tips to Overcome Laziness and Procrastination in School as a Student

Laziness can be a significant hurdle for students striving to excel in their academic pursuits. Overcoming laziness requires a combination of self-awareness, effective strategies, and consistent effort.

In this article, we will highlight the actionable steps that students can take to conquer laziness and maximize their potential in school.

1. Always Remember Your Primary Assignment.

One of the most effective tips to overcome laziness and procrastination is to remember your aim and purpose in school. Do not forget that your parents sent you to school to acquire knowledge and become the best version of yourself. When you employ “I want to make my parents proud” , your favorite quote, it will be easier for you to overcome laziness since your intention is to impress your parents with your performance. This habit will motivate you to overcome laziness.

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2. Make Friends with Serious Students.

As a lazy student, you need to make friends with the serious students who will help you academically, as you will learn a lot of positive vibes from them. During my undergraduate days in school, I was a lazy student who had little passion for studying, but the very moment I made friends with my colleagues who are serious students, they inspired me to overcome laziness, and my CGPA improved that semester.

If you want to overcome laziness in school as a student, then you must cultivate the habit of mingling with the serious students who will motivate you to study hard.

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3. Read 5 Pages A Day.

One of the common habits of a lazy student is to postpone things. Most of them won’t open their books until a few days before the exam, and whenever they do, they hardly read to understand. In order to overcome laziness, you need to cultivate the habit of reading at least five pages a day.

After lectures, bring out your notebook and read or revise them. You can start with 30 minutes a day or 1 hour a day and go through your textbooks and handouts. If you can make this your daily habit, you will surely overcome laziness in school.

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4. Study at Night or Early in The Morning Before Class.

Do you know that going through your books and course materials early in the morning can help you overcome laziness? Make sure you go through your notes at night before you go to sleep, and try to do the same in the morning before you head to class. It doesn’t matter how many minutes you spend reading; what matters is the motivation to overcome laziness and procrastination. You can start with an hour of study in the morning.

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5. Give Yourself a Challenge.

Most of us are lazy because we don’t have full control over our lives and are waiting for a specific time to do things. Overcoming laziness and procrastination can be achieved by challenging oneself. You can participate in a 4-hour read-a-thon. Challenge yourself to wake up at 5 a.m. daily and read your books. Punish yourself each time you fail to meet the challenge, and with time, you will overcome laziness and procrastination.

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6. Don’t Wait for the Exam Timetable or Test Before You Prepare.

Remember, proper preparation prevents poor performance. If you really want to overcome laziness and procrastination in school as a student, do not wait until it’s a few days before the exam before you start preparation. Let the preparation begin right from the first day of your return to school.

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7. Think About the Consequences and Motivate Yourself.

You should know that the consequences of laziness and procrastination are failure and voluntarily withdrawing from school. So think about what will happen if you succumb to laziness. Motivate yourself to put in more effort. Tell yourself, “I can do this. “Doing things on time makes me stronger.” “I have the motivation and power to do whatever I want to do.”

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8. Avoid Procrastination.

Procrastination comes in the form of laziness. If there are things that you are required to do, why not just do them at that moment? Do not postpone it. Do your assignment immediately and submit your coursework and practical book or logbook on time. Do your things as early as possible and at the required time. Do the chores on time, and attend the class on time. If you can stop postponing things, you will overcome laziness.

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9. Learn from Successful People.

Learn from successful people and watch how they do not allow laziness to win them. Learn from them and follow in their footsteps. If possible, make them your mentor, and you will overcome laziness and procrastination.

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10. Set Clear Goals.

Start by setting clear and achievable academic goals. Having a sense of purpose and direction can provide the motivation needed to combat laziness. Break down large goals into smaller, manageable tasks to make them less overwhelming. For example, if you have a goal to improve your math grade, break it down into studying specific topics each day, practicing a set number of problems, and seeking help when needed.

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11. Create A Productive Environment.

Your study environment plays a crucial role in your productivity. Designate a clutter-free and organized space where you can focus without distractions. Keep all necessary study materials within reach to avoid wasting time searching for them.

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12. Develop A Routine.

Establishing a consistent daily routine helps condition your mind and body for focused study sessions. Set aside specific times for studying, breaks, exercise, and relaxation. Over time, this routine becomes a habit, reducing the likelihood of procrastination.

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13. Prioritize Tasks.

Learn to prioritize tasks based on their importance and deadlines. Use techniques like the Eisenhower Matrix to categorize tasks into urgent, important, not urgent, and not important. By focusing on high-priority tasks first, you can prevent procrastination and address tasks before they become overwhelming.

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14. Break Tasks into Smaller Steps.

Large tasks can often lead to feelings of overwhelm, contributing to laziness. Break down complex assignments into smaller, more manageable steps. Celebrate your progress as you complete each step, motivating you to keep moving forward.

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15. Use the Pomodoro Technique.

The Pomodoro Technique involves working for 25 minutes and then taking a 5-minute break. After completing four cycles, take a longer break of around 15–30 minutes. This technique can help maintain focus and prevent burnout.

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16. Eliminate Distractions.

Identify and minimize distractions that hinder your focus. Turn off notifications on your devices, block distracting websites, and let others know when you need uninterrupted study time. Consider using productivity apps that track your online activities and help you stay on track.

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17. Find accountability.

Having an accountability partner, such as a study buddy or a friend, can provide the extra push you need to stay committed to your goals. Share your goals with them and check in regularly to discuss your progress.

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18. Avoid things that trigger your laziness in school.

There are some things that distract students from staying focused in school and influence their laziness. You need to figure out the thing that triggers your laziness. It could be your smartphone, social media, video games, social life, friends, or clubbing. By identifying the cause of your laziness, you can easily overcome procrastination and laziness.

If you spend more of your time watching movies than reading your books, you may have to delete those videos from your phone. If you are addicted to social media, put your phone on “do not disturb” when studying. This will enable you to stay focused and overcome laziness.

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