It’s a common high school problem: procrastination. With new technology, laziness, social media and other distractions booming, it may be hard to find some quality time for school work or studying. Particularly with midterms approaching, it’s crucial to use your time wisely. With these strategies to help battle procrastination, you will soon become an expert in time management.

Isolate yourself from social networks: You saw this one coming. Turn off all social media networks completely to combat procrastination. You might go on Facebook solely to “ask for homework,” but then end up staying there for hours on end. To avoid this, make sure to write down all your assignments in your planner.

Use reminders: Set a reminder, either every few hours or daily, to make sure you don’t forget or stray away from the tasks at hand.

Split up work: If you have a planner, schedule or even a smartphone, make sure to plan on splitting up the work and using your time wisely. Imagine being able to go outside and play or relax and watch TV the day before that paper is due instead of being stressed out of your mind.

Time yourself: Along with setting reminders, time yourself while working. This will reflect how productive you are. Also, take breaks in between tasks; it’s a good incentive to keep you working. There are even apps that can track your productivity!

Create a playlist: Even though homework may be tough, playing some of your favorite music may soften the load and make the time go by quickly.

Work with a friend: Get a motivation buddy to make sure you’re on task. They can also help you with work, but make sure your friend won’t be distracting!

Go to bed early: Being tired is a huge motivator to keep procrastinating. Make sure to get enough sleep and recharge so that you’re not groggy in the morning. Being well-rested will also help you focus more on the tasks ahead.

Make a schedule and set goals for the day: It’s really helpful and efficient to know what you’re doing beforehand so that you can organize and prioritize certain tasks. It’s easy for work to pile up quickly, and schedules will help make sure you won’t be staying up working on that English project in the entire night before it’s due.

Just do it: It’s time you stopped making excuses. Your homework isn’t going to finish itself. Better finish it early instead of cramming it in at midnight.

Use the reward system: When you accomplish your goals, reward yourself. It can also help relieve stress. There’s nothing wrong with kicking back and watching Netflix or playing a game or two after doing your homework. You deserve it for the hard work you’ve done!

I hope these tips help, and good luck with upcoming tests and midterms!