Are you a parent who has been trying to determine how to help your teenager overcome procrastination? If so, you may be pleased to know that there are several steps that you can take in order to help encourage proper time management in your teenager’s life. It has been estimated that approximately 90% of all students procrastinate at one point or another. While in his statistic he was highlighting students in college, this is a common figure when it comes to high school students as well. This psychologist was named William Knaus. In this educational time management how-to guide, you will learn about how to help your child overcome the burden of procrastination.
Tip 1 – Recognize It:
The first step to helping your teen overcome the issue of procrastination is to recognize it. You may find that your child knows that they need to do something, such as their homework, but they seem to avoid it altogether. Eventually, it will come to the point where they have very little time left to do what is needed. In turn, this results in a variety of potentially devastating emotions and feelings. These include feeling guilty, feeling as if they are not good enough and even depression in severe cases.
Tip 2 – Identify It:
Now that you know what procrastination is and how to identify it, it is important to learn about why this sort of issue may be affecting your teen. The main culprit, of course, is the lack of skill when it comes to time management. Students should be taught to prioritize their time so that it is as productive as possible. This may include setting goals and even certain objectives each day prior to going to school. You may want to get them a nice personal planner to motivate them to make use of their time. By managing the time that they have appropriately, procrastination habits will quickly be eliminated.
Tip 3 – Look for personali difficuties:
The next culprit when it comes to procrastination may be personal difficulties that the teen is experiencing. This may be as serious as coping with the death of a loved one, or as simple as a low level of self-confidence. Peer pressure, divorce, drug abuse, social problems, alcohol abuse, pill abuse, financial problems in the home, and many other events may result in instability in time management. If your child is experiencing anything that could hinder their ability to be timely, you should support them and help them overcome those things.
Tip 4 – Look for Distractions, stress or anxiety
Difficulty in the ability to concentrate may be another reason a student procrastinates. This may result from too many distractions, stress, anxiety, and even medical problems such as Attention-Deficit Disorder and basic hyperactivity. If you feel as if your child may be distracted, simply eliminate those things that you feel are causing the problem. If you believe that there may be an underlying medical complication, be sure to set up an appointment with the child’s pediatrician to have testing done to confirm if there is a diagnosis to be made.
Tip 5 – Encourage and Motivate
In order to help your child overcome procrastination, encourage and motivate them as much as possible. Work with them to set goals and stick to them. As they achieve certain goals, put some type of reward in place for their diligence and excellent efforts. It is essential to establish a certain amount of discipline when it comes to helping your child succeed in time management. Be sure to structure the home and be supportive in every way that you are able to. It is then that you will be able to help your high school student overcome procrastination.
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How can I help my teen overcome procrastination?
Table of Contents
Start by recognizing it and identifying why it’s happening, then look for underlying causes and finally encourage and motivate your teen. Work with them to set goals and stick to them, reward their diligence as they hit those goals, and provide a structured, supportive home. Teaching solid time management is at the heart of it.
What causes procrastination in teens?
The main culprit is usually a lack of time-management skill — not knowing how to prioritize. But personal difficulties can also be behind it, from low self-confidence to bigger struggles like peer pressure, divorce, or the loss of a loved one. Trouble concentrating from distractions, stress, or anxiety can play a role too.
Could my teen’s procrastination signal a deeper problem?
Sometimes, yes. Difficulty concentrating can stem from too many distractions, stress, anxiety, or even medical issues such as Attention-Deficit Disorder and hyperactivity. If you suspect an underlying medical cause, it’s worth setting up an appointment with your child’s pediatrician to have it checked out.
How do I motivate a teen who keeps putting things off?
Encourage and motivate them as much as you can. Set goals together, then put a reward in place for their effort and diligence as they reach them. A bit of healthy discipline and structure at home helps, and something as simple as a personal planner can make it easier for them to use their time well.
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