5 Steps to Help Your Child Stop Procrastinating and Get Organized

Are you worried about your child's motivation or ability to manage school demands? Do homework and daily tasks lead to endless conflict at home? You're not alone.

Many parents feel overwhelmed trying to support a student who struggles with organization, follow through, and getting things done.

The good news is that with the right tools, your child can learn to take charge of their responsibilities. Building a foundation of strong executive function skills is the key to helping them move from feeling stuck to feeling confident and in control.

Here are five practical steps you can share with your student to help them set goals and follow through.

What Are Executive Function Skills?

Executive functions are the mental processes that allow us to plan, focus, and manage multiple tasks effectively. For students, these skills are crucial for everything from completing homework on time to managing chores and preparing for life after high school.

When these skills are underdeveloped, it can lead to procrastination, missed assignments, and low motivation. This is where learning practical strategies becomes essential for both students and parents.

Step 1: The Brain Dump to Overcome Overwhelm

When your child's mind is cluttered with assignments, chores, and other tasks, it's hard to know where to start. The first step to gaining clarity is a Brain Dump.

How to do it:

• Set a timer for five minutes.

• Use a piece of paper or a digital note taking app.

• Write down every single thing on their mind. Don't worry about order or importance, just get it all out.

This simple exercise helps to clear the mental clutter, making the list of tasks feel less overwhelming and more manageable.

Step 2: Plan and Prioritize for a Clear Roadmap

Once the brain dump is complete, the list might look long. Now it's time to bring order to the chaos by making a plan.

Here’s how to prioritize:

• Pick the Top 2: Look for just one or two tasks that are the highest priority for today.

• Group Similar Tasks: Are there several small errands or assignments that can be done together? Grouping them makes the process more efficient.

• Break Down Big Tasks: A large project can be intimidating. Help your student break it into smaller, more manageable steps.

By organizing the list, your student can focus on a few key actions instead of feeling overwhelmed by everything at once.

Step 3: Get Organized and Schedule Your Tasks

A list is just an idea until you give it a place in your schedule. If a task isn't assigned a specific time, it's easy to put it off.

How to schedule effectively:

• Time Block It: Encourage your student to treat their priority tasks like appointments. For example, “4:00 PM - 5:00 PM: Work on math homework.”

• Use Small Gaps: Even a 20 minute gap between classes or activities can be used productively. By scheduling these small tasks, your student can make the most of their time.

Step 4: The 5 Minute Rule to Beat Procrastination

The hardest part of any task is often just beginning. The "5 Minute Rule" is a simple trick to overcome procrastination and build momentum.

How it works: Commit to working on a task for just five minutes. Tell yourself, “I only have to do this for five minutes, and then I can stop.” Often, once you've overcome the initial hurdle and started, you'll find it's easier to continue. This strategy lowers the barrier to entry and helps your student transition from thinking about a task to actually doing it.

Step 5: Motivate with Rewards

Building in a reward system can make even the most tedious tasks feel more manageable and enjoyable.

Ideas for motivation:

• Small Incentives: Reward yourself for completing a task. If your student finishes their homework, they can treat themselves to a favorite snack or a quick game.

• Check It Off: The simple act of crossing an item off the list provides a satisfying feeling of accomplishment. This visual progress can be a powerful motivator in itself.

Professional Support for Lasting Success

These tips can help, but building lasting habits often requires consistent effort and support. If you are tired of daily conflicts and are looking for expert guidance, professional coaching can make all the difference.

The Student Program is our specialized executive function coaching program designed to help students build practical skills for school success and life readiness. It provides your child with personalized tools and coaching to manage daily tasks, get organized, and feel confident about their future. It also reduces family stress by taking parents out of the "nagging" role, helping your student reach their full potential with less conflict at home.

Discover how our program can provide the support your family needs to navigate school and beyond with more confidence.
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