Waiting to the last minute to finish your term paper is not a very smart thing to do.  A lot of things can happen when you are under pressure such as the printer not working, you forgot to save the document, or your computer crashed on you. Procrastination is a bad habit to break. It is a sign of laziness or incompetence. Usually, the person looks for whatever excuse to avoid getting the activity done. The longer that you postpone it, the more worry and stress you will experience as a result. So what are some ways of dealing with procrastination?

• Prioritize your time. Get a note pad and write down your goals. What am I responsible for doing today?  This is something very effective that I learned in the business world. When you write your goals down on paper, you are more likely to achieve them.
• Plan ahead.  Before you go to sleep, put a check mark next to all the tasks completed. If there’s anything that you didn’t get a chance to finish, that will be your goal for the next day.
• Buy a desk calendar.  Office Max, Staples, Office Depot sells them for $4.99. Buy a few highlighters and write down or circle important dates. Place the calendar on your desk or wall.  Write down all of your appointments, if you have bills to pay, write down their due dates. You will never have to worry about a late payment again unless you are broke.
• Set a schedule and stick to it.  Don’t waste your time arguing, complaining and doing insignificant things. For example, If you have to study for an exam, write down: I will study for chemistry for 4 hours. So, from 9am-12pm, you will be studying chemistry. What am I doing next? After chemistry, I will be having lunch. Take an hour lunch break. The key is to stick to a schedule and be consistent. Consistency is the key to dealing effectively with procrastination. If you plan ahead, you won’t have to be cramming for that exam on Sunday night when you could be watching a Football game.
• Write down your goals:  Not only should you write down your goals, but you should write a date next to the goal you are trying to achieve. Goals should always be written down in the present tense. I will get fit by Dec, 2009. 
• Practice affirmations. There are a number of affirmations on line that you can write down on index cards and tape them on your desk to remind you of your intended goals.
• Surround yourself with positive people: You have a better chance of working to become the very best if you are surrounded by people who will encourage you and motivate you than by hanging out with those that will bring you down.
• The Success Principle: By Jack Can field and The Winning Attitude by John C. Maxwell. These two books are great books to help you become a winner.