Procrastination and Motivation

Having trouble getting started can happen for many reasons. Stress, anxiety, perfectionism, feeling overwhelmed and other concerns can all make it harder to start or finish academic work.

What It Can Look Like

You Might

• Put off assignments even when you know they’re important
• Have trouble getting started
• Wait until the last minute to study or complete assignments
• Feel overwhelmed when you think about everything you need to do
• Avoid work because you’re worried you won’t do it well
• Have difficulty concentrating or staying focused
• Feel less interested or motivated than you used to

Things You Can Try

• Make the first step small. Instead of “write my paper,” start with “open the document” or “find three sources.”
• Commit to working on something for just 10 minutes. Once you’ve started, you may find it easier to continue.
• Decide exactly what you want to accomplish during a study session rather than simply planning to “study.”
• Put your phone away, close unnecessary tabs or find a place where it’s easier for you to focus.
• Ask yourself what’s making the task difficult to start. Are you overwhelmed? Worried about doing it perfectly? Unsure what to do? Identifying the barrier can help you decide what to try next.

Talking With a Counselor

Procrastination, difficulty concentrating and low motivation are all things you can talk about with a counselor.

A counselor can help you explore what may be getting in the way, understand patterns and identify strategies that work for you.

Get Support From CMHC

Call CMHC at 512-471-3515 and select option 3. You’ll have a brief conversation with a counselor about what’s going on, and we’ll help you figure out what kind of support may be helpful.

You can also connect with your school or college’s CARE counselor or schedule single-session counseling at CMHC @ WCP.