By Mason Vargas
Picture this: You have an assignment for your leadership class due at 11:59 p.m., _ pages of AP Psychology notes, and five math homework worksheets due the next day. You got home late after practice, and now, the rush to complete your homework sets in.
For many high school students, this is a familiar cycle. Procrastination—the action of delaying or postponing something—is a habit reinforced by the way our brains seek rewards. To outsiders, overcoming procrastination may seem simple, but in reality, our brains are tricked into feeling satisfied when we complete assignments “on time” while also indulging in distractions like scrolling on our phones or hanging out with friends instead of using that time to work. The short-term relief of avoiding tasks often outweighs the long-term benefits of finishing work early. This creates a loop where we continue to push things off, believing we can handle the pressure later. But as deadlines approach, stress levels skyrocket, making the process even more exhausting. Procrastinators find themselves stuck in a seemingly endless spiral of procrastination; however, although difficult, it isn’t impossible to overcome!