Procrastination can be a difficult habit to break, but it is possible. By working with a therapist or counselor, individuals can learn how to overcome their fear of failure and procrastination. With the right support, individuals can achieve their goals and improve their academic performance.
Challenge
A sophomore college student labeled herself as being “lazy” as she was not motivated to engage in her academics. Her academic performance had altered as she began to cut class, did not complete assignments, and spent more time on other interests, such as hanging out with her friends, going on trips, and participating in other social activities and clubs. She began to think that she was lazy and wasn’t invested in her education, yet she would share that she was a good student when she was younger. She wanted to continue but felt that she needed to re-evaluate where she was to get to where she wanted to be.
After our initial conversation, the student and I identified some of her academic challenges and dived deeper into the root of what was driving her to feel “lazy.” From discussing her study habits to her feelings about completing tasks and/or learning new information, we identified the root cause of her procrastination: a fear of failure.
Background
The student struggles with staying focused, organized, and completing tasks on time. She wants to start strong, however, when presented with other tasks, she diverts to start them before finishing previous tasks. As she has tried to multi-task tasks, she becomes overwhelmed and loses focus on what she needs to work on and finish first. As a result, she has had to complete multiple assignments in one night, elevating her anxiety leading to withdrawal and avoidance.
Solution
Procrastination can mislead individuals into believing they are lazy. The stigmatization of being “lazy” can have implications that impact students’ personal, social, academic, and professional routines. At TLG, we guide students to overcome their fear of success or failure by evoking strategies that will get them to shift their thinking toward a more positive and realistic way. We work with individuals to create SMART goals and prioritize tasks so that it is manageable for them to take on and complete. Individuals will strengthen their organization and planning skills to stay focused using calendars and agendas to remind them of tasks to be completed.
Individuals will have the support and guidance to build confidence and overcome procrastination with the skills and resources to stay motivated and focused. They will reflect on the progress made as they continue strengthening these executive function skills to attain short-term and long-term goals.
Results
After working with TLG, the student was able to overcome her fear of failure and procrastination. She was able to set realistic goals, prioritize her tasks, and stay organized. She was also able to learn how to manage her time effectively and stay motivated. As a result, her academic performance improved, and she was able to achieve her goals.
Conclusion
Procrastination can be a difficult habit to break, but it is possible. By working with a therapist or counselor, individuals can learn how to overcome their fear of failure and procrastination. With the right support, individuals can achieve their goals and improve their academic performance.