Students Are Victims of Procrastination Sanvi Prashant | IBDP 1

28 Jan Students Are Victims of Procrastination Sanvi Prashant | IBDP 1

Procrastination, a common behavior among students, is highly detrimental impacting not only academic performance, but also mental health, and overall well-being. It can lead to stress, underachievement, and long-term symptoms of low self-esteem in adulthood due to always identifying as individuals that

can’t get work done. Understanding the causes of procrastination, in behavioral and social terms along with scientific terms, helps combat this counterproductive behavior.

Primarily, procrastination is due to the overwhelming pressures of modern education, including academic performance, extracurricular activities, and social commitments. While students juggle several responsibilities and obligations, they’re also constantly trying to meet all sorts of expectations promptly—forgetting to tend to their mental well-being. Adults around students repeatedly await perfection in all aspects of a student’s life and rarely accept flaws, causing severe cases of anxiety.

This anxiety leads to avoidance, often involving distractions like social media or video games, may it be intentional or not. At these times, it feels as if everything that can go wrong is going wrong, which in turn exacerbates this anxiety as deadlines approach. Students’ perceptions of procrastination are also influenced by the social stigma associated with it. A lot of students absorb unfavorable perceptions about procrastinators, which can elevate feelings of inferiority and guilt. The cycle of delay and worry may be prolonged if they are discouraged from asking for assistance or using techniques to overcome procrastination due to this internalized shame.

Influencers on the internet constantly promote various methods to combat procrastination, but their popularity is not solely due to how social media is operated, or any sort of algorithm, but rather because certain individuals have found effective ways to overcome procrastination. And that’s due to the knowledge about the brain, and its definite facts. Neurologically speaking, procrastination is determined by the brain’s renowned process known as the reward systems as well as the emotional regulation processes.

The prefrontal cortex (the orange part in the image), the section at the forefront of the brain; in charge of decision-making and impulse control, is often underdeveloped in adolescents. This immaturity can impair their ability to prioritize long-term goals over immediate rewards, making it difficult to resist distractions. Simultaneously, the amygdala—the brain’s most interconnected region also the emotion center—importantly tied with pubertal hormones goes through substantial change. Unfortunately, the prefrontal cortex can’t perform efficiently during the teenage years, subsequently, the large pieces of information are instead passed onto the amygdala as it contains the most links, causing heightened emotions for even minor situations, resulting in numerous times of going through stress or anxiety.

Sharanya Narayani International School (SNIS), one of the best international schools in Bangalore, actively addresses procrastination through engaging awareness sessions, including TED Talks and presentations. Being one of the top IB schools in Bangalore, SNIS emphasizes organization with multi-purpose folders and planners which are emphasized by the teachers and counsellors. As an IB school, SNIS uses the the ‘ManageBac’ platform which streamlines assignment management, providing clear instructions, deadlines, and resources, fostering accountability, and motivating students to enhance their performance. As one of best boarding schools in India, SNIS teaches the importance of completing tasks and organizing themselves in their day-to-day activities by regularly counselling them and providing them with motivation to adhere to their goals with positive reinforcements.

In conclusion, addressing procrastination in educational institutions involves creating a supportive environment, teaching effective study techniques, setting realistic goals, and providing mental health resources. A work-life balance culture can also help students prioritize their mental health while managing academic responsibilities. By understanding procrastination’s roots and implementing supportive strategies, both students and educators can break the cycle of avoidance and stress.