Listen Here
By Tristan Cross
crosst2@findlay.edu
Procrastination is rarely a sign of laziness, experts say. Instead, it often serves as a kind of self-protection a way students avoid the anxiety of being judged and campus resources and simple strategies can help break the cycle.
“Procrastination is often a self-protection strategy for students,” Dominic J. Voge wrote in Research and Teaching in Developmental Education, explaining that delaying work lets students blame lack of time if they fail, protecting their sense of ability. Voge’s research argues that awareness of those underlying motives and breaking tasks into manageable pieces are key to change.
“I tend to look at procrastination from the perspective of a behaviorist,” said Jacob Burmeister, associate professor of psychology and chair of behavioral sciences at the University of Findlay. “That is, I think in terms of rewards and punishments and how these impact behavior. Behaviors or any action, thought, or feeling that is followed immediately by something pleasant will happen more in the future. Procrastination is of course bad for students’ success, but because the immediate feeling that comes with saying ‘I’ll do this later’ is relief and relaxation (both pleasant), the procrastination occurs more and more in the future.”
Burmeister warned that small delays can grow into larger problems.
“I think a little procrastination is a small problem to be fixed and a lot of procrastination is a big problem to fix,” he said. “One way to tell if it is harmful is to note whether it leads to increased stress. Another is if it creates a dislike of a course. Most severe is if it leads to late assignments and failed classes. Procrastination as a habit tends to generalize to other life domains such as with chores around the house, tasks at work, and anything a person might find a little unpleasant.”
Campus support staff point to practical tools that pair with that psychological insight.
“The Academic Support Center offers free peer tutoring across a range of subjects writing, math, chemistry, biology, physics, animal science, accounting, economics, finance,” said Edris Afsharkohan, assistant director of the Academic Support Center. “It also delivers study skills courses that focus on study strategies and self-management and provides individual study-skills counseling covering time management, note-taking, memorization, test-taking and test-anxiety reduction.”
Afsharkohan added the Oiler Success Center coordinates advising, outreach and the Starfish early-alert system to connect students with help.
“Repeated missed deadlines or chronic procrastination behavior, early alerts through Starfish, observed declines in academic performance or disengagement during advising, and self-reports of stress or feeling overwhelmed are all indicators a student may need extra support,” she said.
Voge’s recommendations line up with campus practice: build awareness, set realistic goals, “Swiss-cheese” large tasks into small chunks, and reward progress. He warns against rigid schedules that heighten anxiety and suggests flexible plans that include breaks and enjoyable activities.
For students juggling heavy schedules, accountability and small daily goals help. Sam Weihrauch, a nursing student and starting football player, says switching between academic and athletic demands can make falling behind easy.
“Honestly, the hardest part is switching between student mode and athlete mode,” Weihrauch said. “If I don’t stay organized, everything can pile up really fast. I’ve learned to set small goals for each day like finishing one assignment before practice or reviewing notes right after class instead of waiting until the night before an exam.”
Weihrauch said accountability plays a major role in keeping him on track.
“My teammates and classmates help keep me on track,” he said. “Sometimes just having someone to check in with makes a difference.”
Burmeister urged students to start on an assignment the day it is given.
“Even if it’s just opening a Word document or writing down ideas, start every project the day it’s assigned,” he said. “Small actions build momentum, and momentum beats procrastination every time.”
With an understanding of why they delay, and with campus support and manageable strategies, Findlay students can reduce stress, protect their grades and build habits that carry beyond college.
