A new semester calls for a new mindset

By Annie Stotlar

Procrastination is a struggle for many high school students each year. This is no exception for students at BHS. With the addition of either hybrid or online learning models, it has become easier for students to become distracted.

As the first semester comes to a close, many students are cramming in last minute assignments that have been put off up until now. Without being in the classroom daily, it opens a door to more distractions and an easier mindset to finish assignments once back in the classroom.

With a fresh start next semester on the horizon, there are some ways to help fix the mindset going into new classes.

1. Minimize distractions:

Put your phone on “do not disturb” and place it on the other side of the room. Notifications are an easy way to get distracted from a task and can lead to a longer period of time that you are not working.

2. Reward yourself once you finish an assignment:

Before starting an assignment, determine something that can act as a reward after finishing. It can be as simple as 10 minutes of free time or indulging in a sweet treat afterwards.

3. Listen to instrumental music:

Sitting in silence while completing an assignment can seem to take forever for some, but turning on instrumental music with no distractions from lyrics can make the time go more quickly.

4. Begin with the assignment you dread the most:

By starting with the assignment you may not necessarily want to be doing will make doing the assignments that are easier go by quicker. The longer you procrastinate the assignment you do not want to do, the more you begin to dread having to do it.

5. Create a schedule and stay organized:

Having all your assignments on a calendar and knowing when they are due can make the work seem less stressful. This can also help set goals for when you want to have each assignment done so there will not be one to do one night and five to do another.

With any new semester, it is inevitable that problems will arise. But, by following a few simple steps, procrastination does not have to be one of those problems for the spring semester.

Annie is a staff writer for "The Growl."

This is her first year in publications.