It is 6:30 on a Wednesday night. Suddenly, I remember the 300 page book I am supposed to have read by tomorrow morning. Unfortunately, this has happened many times before. As technology has increased, it seems that every day distractions have multiplied and procrastination is overwhelming more and more teenagers each day.

1. Phone off, Computer off.

I can still think back to the old days of my freshman year when I did not have the constant inquiry of who posted on my Facebook wall, who was texting me, and what was the new drama on television, on my mind. For most of my freshman and sophomore year, I swore off the Internet, deleting all Facebook, MySpace, and AIM accounts. The minute I sat down to tackle a mountain of homework each night, I made sure the phone was not within earshot or shut it off. I got my work done and fell asleep at a reasonable time. In fact, because you won’t be distracted by your own happenings in the extremely artificial Internet world, you will be more aware of what’s happening around you, actually finding more time with friends and more REAL interaction.

2. Reward Yourself

Maybe you just need a little bit of motivation besides “getting good grades.” I prefer M&M’s or Skittles. Throw a handful on your desk and reward yourself one M&M after you complete each math problem. You’ll feel motivated to do the next after tackling around 2 pages, you may associate math with something a little sweeter than silent boredom.

3. BALANCE

Although it’s certainly important to get your work done, it’s just as important to get some relaxation in. Breaks are essential to working efficiently, but make sure that they are at reasonable intervals: a five-minute break every 15 minutes or a ten-minute break every half hour.

4. Set Goals

According to certified Executive Coach and owner of From Dreams to Reality Success Coaching Norma Reid, statistics show people who write down their goals have over an 80 percent higher success rate of achieving them. That is why planners are spectacular. Write down what you need to do and cross off each assignment as you finish it. This little task will help in so many ways.

5. Prioritize

You may want to listen to the voices in your head, that reassure you of all the hours you have left. Ignore them. Do what you need to first. Stop assuming you can guesstimate how much time you’ll need to complete your work, and actually start on it. Leave yourself extra time, because you’d rather be safe than sorry. 

Alex Bahr can be reached for comment at [email protected]