Procrastination: How to Flip the Switch

Do you know why most Year 12 students have to struggle and stress so much just so that they MIGHT get into their ideal ATARs and get into their preferred course and university?  

Low momentum and sloppy cadence.   

It’s not obvious at first, and most parents simply put it down to laziness because it looks remarkably similar… finding your child too distracted by their phone, picking at their assignment (but not really getting it much done) or choosing to hang out with friends instead of getting work done.  

They are literally wasting time and energy to avoid schoolwork – it’s a very labour-intensive kind of procrastination.  

If you’re wondering how you can help your child get out of that unproductive yet exhausting cycle, here’s the secret. Give them a way to balance their academic productivity with their wellbeing in proportions that make sense, given their current ability and their future post-high school aspirations they have. 

Because if it doesn’t make sense, then they’re probably just winging it. That makes it so easier for them to ‘abandon the ship and sail away’ to what’s more convenient: not studying and doing whatever they want.  

In this article, we explore our top three tips to help you guide your child in achieving that balance, so they can boost their ATAR results to get into their first choice of university. 

How Kira Got Back on Track to Attain a 95+ ATAR 

When Kira was in Year 10, she felt very anxious about going to school and Year 12. She actually avoided doing any work because of it.  

Kira’s coach asked about what makes her feel nervous about school. Kira told us that she knew she was avoiding work because she hated the feeling of uncertainty. She didn’t know exactly what she needed to do. She couldn’t even start an assignment without a teacher’s aide. 

Our education strategists showed Kira techniques to flip her procrastination and take advantage of school to build up her future career opportunities rather than feeling like she had to ‘get in’. We helped her build a positively energised motivation system that made it easier to stay focused and get the work done.  

Kira did this in Year 11 and not during her HSC.  So, she was able to test and select the strategies that worked best for her. Soon after, Kira started to work on assignments earlier and more consistently, which left plenty of time for practising. Within a year, Kira has improved her marks from Band 3/4 to Band 5/6 across all subjects.   

Kira is now ready to start her Year 12 strong, carrying across top Year 11 rankings in English, Design and Business. She is also on track to attain the 95+ ATAR she needs to guarantee entry into her course.   

Kira really did an amazing job pulling herself together and consistently sticking with her structured study plan to boost her academic results.  

Our Top 3 Tips to Flip Procrastination 

Procrastination is a negative habit that has a far-reaching chokehold on your child’s potential well beyond school, spanning well into university and adult life. According to a 2022 report by the University of Melbourne, procrastination affects about 20% of adults and 50% of students in Australia.  

Here are our top three tips to help you do just that. 

1. Stick with a problem-solving approach.
   Students don’t like failing or getting low marks. If they’re struggling, it’s best to remember that it wasn’t their intention and it’s often due to a lack of necessary study skills.

   Before you correct your child’s habits – connect with them. Be proactive to know what exactly it is about studying a certain subject that makes them want to avoid it. Is there anything that they’re worried about? Listen and collaborate on finding solutions together that would help make studying easier for your child.

2. Make time visible.
   According to our friend Amanda Lecaudé, an expert in organisation and time management, students often struggle with time management because they can’t ‘see it’ among distractions.

   First, you can make clocks visible for your child at home. Second, let them make their schedule with you. Then, if your child struggles with overwhelm, you can help them organise their tasks and break them down into manageable chunks in a timeline.

3. Encourage their independence.
   It’s important for you to know when to step back for your child. Parents have an innately wired instinct to protect and make things easier for their teens, but students need to learn to take responsibility in a safe setting, and that starts with the small things.

   You can teach your child to think for themselves by asking questions like, ‘Where do we need to be?’ or ‘What do you need for this assignment?’ Consistently building this habit will help them develop the skill to do things when they need it and catch themselves when they’re distracted. 

At Kalibrate-Ed, we’ve created a Procrastination Focaliser that helps them remain focused and productive even around distractions. A key skill is how to be self-motivated and be more proactive around schoolwork, even when they don’t particularly like the subject they’re studying. 

On Wednesday 25th September, we’re going to talk more about how to deal with procrastination and flipping it to achieve your child’s desired ATAR results for a successful university entry. We’ve invited three of the biggest experts on neuroscience, ATAR calculations and academic productivity to join us in the session.  

The session is going to be recorded, so you don’t have to make it live but you will need to register for the session to get the links, complimentary resources, and a planning call. Check out the details here: https://studyresources.com.au/your-choice-of-university.