3 Powerful Study Habits for Students Who Procrastinate

Ever found yourself scrolling through Instagram, tidying your room for the third time, or even doing laundry, just to avoid studying? If that sounds familiar, you’re in good company. A study from 2004 found that around 70% of university students see themselves as chronic procrastinators. It’s more common than you think, but here’s the good part: with the right strategies, you can turn procrastination into a tool that actually helps you succeed.

Let’s look at three simple but powerful habits that can help you get back on track.

1. Break Big Tasks into Smaller Wins

Picture this: you’ve got a 3,000-word essay due, and it feels like a mountain. That overwhelmed feeling? It’s one of the biggest triggers for procrastination. Researchers call this passive procrastination – when fear or indecision keeps you stuck.

The trick is to shrink that mountain:

• Start with your essay title and jot down your initial thoughts.
• Create a rough outline with your main ideas.
• Write just one short paragraph or section a day.

Let’s say you’re writing about climate change. Rather than tackling the whole thing, focus just on “how UK agriculture is affected by climate change” today. Each mini-task you complete builds momentum and helps calm that anxiety.

2. Make Time Work for You with Smart Scheduling

As a uni student, you’ve got a lot going on – lectures, part-time jobs, social plans, societies. No wonder it’s hard to sit down and study sometimes. This is where the concept of temporal discounting comes in. It means we tend to choose immediate rewards (like a Netflix episode) over long-term ones (like a first-class grade) (Korstange et al., n.d.).

So, how do you stay on top of everything without burning out?

• Prioritise: Pick 1-3 key things you must get done each day.
• Balance: Mix study time with guilt-free breaks.
• Visualise: Use a planner or digital calendar to clearly see deadlines and study blocks.

Instead of saying “study chemistry,” try: “revise Monday’s lecture notes from 4 to 5pm.” And reward yourself afterwards with something you enjoy. That way, studying feels a bit less like a chore and more like a choice.

3. Turn Procrastination Into a Strength

Here’s something unexpected: not all procrastination is bad. In fact, there’s a type called active procrastination. That’s when you purposely delay work until a time when you know you’ll perform better (Chu & Choi, 2005). If you’re someone who thrives under pressure, this might be your superpower.

Here’s how to use it well:

• Know your rhythm: Are you sharper in the morning or at night?
• Plan around it: Save demanding tasks for your peak hours.
• Set mini-deadlines: Give yourself real, not-too-far-off targets to work towards.

Real-life example? If your brain kicks into gear after 7pm, don’t beat yourself up for not writing at 2pm. Just make sure your evening session is focused and distraction-free. Delaying isn’t bad if it’s done with purpose.

Let’s Beat Procrastination – Starting Now

The word “procrastinate” comes from Latin, meaning “to put off until tomorrow.” But you don’t have to wait until tomorrow to take control.

Try this:

• Choose one big task and break it into three small steps.
• Plan your week using a calendar that works for your style.
• Notice when you feel most alert and study during that time.

You don’t need to become a completely different person overnight. Just tweak your approach, bit by bit. Your future self will thank you.