by Brenna Gutwein, reporter

Procrastination is a delay or postpone action. Here, in the Jim Thorpe High School, senior students live and breathe procrastination. As seen on most social media sites, students splurge on how much they procrastinate until the last minute. When in reality, is delaying doing work really worth it?

Not every student practices procrastination, Gianna Santapaola, a senior says, “I am the type of person to finish my homework on time. I do not procrastinate with my classes because I like to have everything done and not have to worry about my work.”

Procrastination in high school students can, and does, jeopardize both student grades and health. As the work piles up and time dwindles away, students can lose important study time and rush through assignments, negatively affecting the overall quality of their performance. This accumulation of work weighs heavily on the shoulders of these busy students, increasing the pressure to complete and succeed in their classes. Not only does this pressure result in increased stress, research conducted by Psychology Today indicates that students who procrastinate catch more colds and flus and have increased gastrointestinal problems. They are also more likely to have insomnia, feelings of inadequacy, anxiety, and frustration. These effects are observable and predictable, yet students continue to procrastinate.

One of the biggest concerns with not doing homework on time is the distractions. The main distraction nowadays is electronic devices, poor time management, and laziness. Gianna Santapaola said, “It depends on how much homework I would have to do in one night if I were to procrastinate, but it does distract me from doing work but not for long periods of times.”

There are a number of ways to stop procrastination. One proven way is learning time management skills in order to complete assignments more efficiently and effectively. Another possible solution is removing all distractions, especially electronic devices. Other methods include setting goals to achieve within a certain time frame, and also playing music to help keep on track. What all of these techniques have in common is the idea of creating a space that encourages productivity instead of procrastination. Although there are potential downfalls to these solutions, each one of these ideas encourages the student to take an active role in decreasing stress and anxiety in school.