Procrastination Workshop on Thursday

Pulling all-nighters and hearing students brag about procrastinating has become commonplace on college campuses. Although many claim that they work well only under pressure, a workshop this Thursday aims to teach preventative measures for procrastination.

Counseling Center clinical services coordinator Leonard Kirklen, who holds a doctorate in clinical psychology, will be leading “Overcoming Procrastination,” one of the many Team Wellness workshops. The event is open to the public, and will be held in SVC 2126 from 2:00 – 3:30 p.m.

“The aim of the workshop is to distinguish between normal and problem procrastination, and recognizing that you are procrastinating before it gets out of hand,” said Kirklen.

The workshop is intended to shed light on the common reasons that people form these habits, be they a lack of motivation, disinterest, perfectionism or simply overachieving. The group will learn how to prioritize effectively, set realistic goals and manage a heavy workload.

“Stress can affect your health, grades, relationships and have a negative impact on college life,” said Kirklen.

Procrastination is most often associated with stress. The four techniques presented at the workshop will teach students how to recognize and change behavioral patterns that lead to high stress levels.

“The most common rationalization that I hear is ‘I just didn’t have enough time,’ an answer that students turn to instead of acknowledging their poor planning,” said Kirklen.

The success of the workshops stems from the heavy emphasis on interaction – this allows Kirklen to aid students in identifying and breaking down their specific habits.

“The most damaging effect of procrastination in the rush to get (assignments) done is on quality,” Kirlen said. “Most procrastinators don’t leave enough time for multiple drafts or revisions and turn in poor quality work. The poor results often lead a student to question their own abilities, a serious problem that could easily be prevented.”