“What’s one thing you’ve been putting off this week?”
That was the question that opened this week’s Stage 6 study skills workshop. Students were asked to write down something they had been avoiding. An assignment, exam revision, a difficult conversation, or anything else that had been sitting on their to-do list longer than it should.
For many, simply naming the task brought an immediate sense of discomfort. As students discovered, that reaction was an important clue.
The workshop explored a common misconception about procrastination: that it is simply a time-management problem. Instead, students examined how procrastination is often driven by emotions such as anxiety, uncertainty, frustration or fear of failure.
Together the group unpacked four common reasons people procrastinate. Sometimes it is perfectionism, where a task feels as though it must be completed perfectly, making it difficult to start at all. Other times it is a skill gap, where uncertainty about how to begin is mistaken for laziness. Students also discussed overwhelm, when a task feels so large that there is no obvious starting point, and misaligned goals, where the purpose of the work feels disconnected from something personally meaningful.
For each barrier, students brainstormed practical strategies. These included intentionally writing a (very) rough first draft, breaking tasks into the smallest possible first step, and using the Pomodoro Technique to motivate them to get a start on those less motivating tasks.
At the end of the workshop, students returned to the task they had identified at the beginning of the session. This time, however, each student left with a specific first step and a deadline for completing it. Many also shared their plans with a peer, adding a layer of accountability.
Rather than focusing solely on productivity, the workshop encouraged students to better understand the habits and thought patterns that can make progress difficult. By recognising why procrastination happens, students are better equipped to move forward when they encounter it.
Enabling and encouraging students to grow and learn is at the heart of the College’s Learning Framework: The Stage 6 Study Skills Workshop is one example of an outstanding resource available to students to encourage them to grow and reach their personal best. The Stage 6 study skills workshop runs every Thursday at lunch in the library. All Stage 6 students are welcome to attend.
Natasha Mercer
Director of Teaching and Learning
