Do you often find yourself pushing back assignments until 11:59 p.m.? For many students, procrastination is an unavoidable part of school in general. An assignment is given days in advance yet somehow they find themselves doing it at the last possible minute. What starts as a simple phrase, “I’ll do it later” can quickly turn into staying up late until midnight trying to finish everything at once.
Procrastination can be an easy habit to fall into. Tasks like homework, studying and doing projects can be quickly pushed back by other distractions such as watching videos, scrolling through social media and talking with friends online. But research shows that procrastination is much more common among students than it might seem.
A 2026 study published in PLOS ONE surveyed almost 70,000 college students across 97 U.S. constitutions. Researchers found that 72.3 percent of students reported experiencing problems with procrastination, making it one of the most common issues that they reported. Even more significant, 45.5 percent said that procrastination impacted their academic performance in a negative way.
So why exactly does procrastination happen?
One reason is that starting an assignment can feel overwhelming to some. When a task seems boring or difficult or time consuming, naturally students may choose more entertaining activities over getting done with what they need to finish for school. Phones, social media, television and other distractions can make avoiding the assignment even easier. However, for some students, the hardest part isn’t doing the work–it’s getting started.
When interviewed, freshman Cataleya Billingsley says, “I’ve always tended to procrastinate or get distracted. Once I start my homework, it’s easy. It’s just hard starting.”
How can students stop procrastinating?
You can start small. Instead of setting a goal of finishing a whole assignment in a small amount of time, focus on starting and doing the first question, paragraph or five minutes of work. Starting can make the rest feel less overwhelming.
Break assignments into steps.
A big project can feel intimidating when viewed as one task. Dividing it into smaller parts or sections can make it feel more manageable and make it easier to begin with.
Reduce distractions.
Putting your phone away, closing unnecessary tabs on your computer or working somewhere quieter can make it easier to stay focused.
Procrastination may be a common problem for many students, yet there are efficient ways to reduce it from happening often. For many, the hardest part isn’t doing the actual assignment– it’s starting and taking the first step. Small changes can help students get started before the deadline becomes a main source of stress.
