Taking Initiative to Complete Assignments
It is hard not to procrastinate. The want to put off work, especially when you know you have ample time to do it, is hard to deny, but the consequences can be more significant than some expect. Sometimes we do not do assignments because there are other things we want to do, such as watching a new Netflix series, while other times we simply do not know where to start. This feeling of a greater want or one of an assignment being too hard makes it easy to push things off. Yet, if we continue to refuse to complete the task, it does not make it go away. Rather, it only gathers with other assignments we still have to do, making the stress and workload much greater than it was initially, which is why it is important to have a good habit of taking initiative when it comes to deciding the best time and way to complete and assignment.
Taking initiative means that you are able to initiate things by yourself, such as sitting down to do work, but this can be hard in more ways than one. For some, it is simply knowing they have more time to do it, therefore they will not use that time to do so, while others have a hard time completing the assignment at hand. When trying to work on something that is hard to understand, it can be discouraging. Knowing you have no idea what you are looking at can make the process of finalizing whatever it is you are working on so disheartening, and can even cause an individual to no longer want to complete it, or any assignment that comes from that class, which leads them into a bad cycle. If it is not this, some feel as if they have better things to be doing with that time rather than work, which causes procrastination. According to a survey, “80% to 90% of … students procrastinate, particularly on course work.” (Prout, 2021). This habit can cause work to build up before becoming a huge stressor in their life, especially if all the work aligns with one another since college requires a lot of your personal time. According to college students themselves, they “spend about 17 hours each week on homework, reading, and assignments.” (Riddle, 2018). Trying to cram all this in the same few days is practically impossible, and so is trying to pass without putting in the work. Although some classes are easier than others, they still require dedication, and without initiative, assignments would never get completed, and all it takes it learning, but for some, learning this process is much harder than for others. That is why learning how to master these skills before entering college is so essential.
Those with learning differences such as ADHD, Autism, Asperger’s, Learning Disabilities, etc. may have a more difficult time becoming initiators because of the stress and push it takes, but thankfully, it is easy to learn. Knowing that it is not the end of the world if you do not know something, or that missing a social event or party isn’t going to destroy your social meter is important. School is supposed to come first seeing that is what you are there for, and creating things such as a schedule of when to work and when to socialize are habits the Support for Students Growth Center, can help teach those who have a harder time in this category become better at managing it. With the help of Support for Students Growth Center, you or someone you know can become pros at taking initiative in not only starting assignments but completing them, making the school including college experience that much better. Enjoying things stress-free because you know you got done what you needed to is liberating, and although it is a hard habit to break, it’s not impossible, especially with the help of Support for Students Growth Center.
Dr. Eric J. Nach, Ph.D., M.Ed., A.S.D.C., is a Developmental and Behavioral Specialist who specializes in Autism, ADHD and related disorders. Dr. Nach is the founder of the College Life Skills Program where he and his team of professional’s help develop the Emotional Maturity, Executive Functioning, Life Skill and Social Abilities of college students and those high school students preparing for college. The CollegeLSP is a subsidiary program of the Support For Students Growth Center, located in Boca Raton, FL and providing services nationwide.
Prout, T. (2021, July 6). Helping students overcome procrastination. National University. Retrieved May 15, 2022, from https://www.nu.edu/resources/helping-students-overcome-procrastination/#:~:text=According%20to%20the%20American%20Psychological,of%20every%20five%20students%20in
Riddle, R. (2022, March 14). How much homework is too much? Duke Learning Innovation. Retrieved May 15, 2022, from https://learninginnovation.duke.edu/blog/2018/10/how-much-homework-is-too-much/
