[PonyPeep]

I just hit the halfway point in my 8th grade year. I was homeschooled for 7th grade. Lately I have not been able to make myself work. I can do the work, but it's incredibly hard to motivate myself to do it. I truly put the pro in procrastination I've never blown off a homework assignment - my assignments are mostly turned in on time (our English teacher gives us passes that let us turn in work one day late with no penalty) and I have no missing work. I do it, but it would be nice if I could motivate myself to do it. I'm thinking of getting a picture of me and my lease horse, framing it, and putting it on my desk so I can look at it as I work. It's come to the point where I'd gladly clean the kitchen or my room instead of doing my homework

Any tips...suggestions...? I know that I will HAVE to be able to motivate myself for high school.

[IronwoodFarm]

My guess is that you are bored with your school work. It isn't interesting or challenging enough. Can you get work from your teachers that would be more interesting for you? Maybe a special project on a topic you like?

BTW, procrastination is a normal part of human nature. I can procrastinate a long time over something that doesn't interest me. You just have to learn tricks that get you though it. If you can't make it interesting, then try breaking it down into smaller units and do a little at a time.

[AKB]

Try to break it down into manageable pieces and set time goals on it. For example, if you have a large paper to write, create a time table. Introduction, (first draft), to be written by Monday am at 11. If this is done, you then can relax for a few hours to reward yourself. Chapter 1 to be done by Monday at 7pm. Reward yourself with a movie if it is done. Chapter 3 and conclusion to be done by ...

[Lone]

I've found that planning ahead and setting a goal for each day helps me stay on top of my assignments. I did that to a small extent when I was in high school, but in college and grad school I've found it to be incredibly helpful.

I have a planner that I use for school stuff and at the beginning of the semester I map out all my big assignments, tests, papers, etc and then schedule mini-deadlines for myself- deciding when I want to have a rough draft done, or a study guide for my exam, etc. Then, working about two weeks in advance I schedule what I'll do each day. So on Monday I might get two chapters of reading done, on Tuesday I'll write at least 2 pages on a paper, etc. Then I can schedule is a day off for myself every now and then. It still requires some self control to actually complete your daily tasks, but I've just set a rule that I can't go to bed until I've crossed them off. Sometimes it's hard to hold myself to that, but after being strict with myself for a couple nights I'm getting better!

[ManyDogs]

I used a kitchen timer when the house needed cleaned and I didn't want to do it. Usually when the bell rang I kept working. Set the timer for 15-20 minutes and see if that helps.
Get used to boring assignments :-) all through high school and college. Oh, and then there's work. :-) :-) But at least work=$$$.

[Emryss]

My older son just piped up:

"Do it. Less stress. Fewer late nights. Take 10 - 20 minute breaks each hour."

This is from the kid who could have given you lessons on procrastination. Actually, he still can...

[onelanerode]

Procrastinating and having a bad work ethic aren't the same thing, at least not to me. Procrastinating is waiting until two days before your 20-page paper is due to start doing research. A bad work ethic is turning in four pages when each group member was responsible for 10 pages.

[kateh]

I magically find a work ethic when I get super busy. It started in high school when I was in the school band, indoor drumline, a flute quartet, and taking riding lessons. The busier I am the better I plan, but as soon as my activities drop off, so does my work ethic. Like right now, when I'm laying at home supposed to be polishing grad apps and am instead watching Glee and reading COTH

Soooo I guess my advice would be to go do something interesting with your time, and then schedule your work time. I always scheduled in breaks too, about 5-10 min/hour, or I'd say "when I finish this chapter I get x minutes off."

[catosis]

I just hit the halfway point in my 8th grade year. I was homeschooled for 7th grade. Lately I have not been able to make myself work. I can do the work, but it's incredibly hard to motivate myself to do it. I truly put the pro in procrastination I've never blown off a homework assignment - my assignments are mostly turned in on time (our English teacher gives us passes that let us turn in work one day late with no penalty) and I have no missing work. I do it, but it would be nice if I could motivate myself to do it. I'm thinking of getting a picture of me and my lease horse, framing it, and putting it on my desk so I can look at it as I work. It's come to the point where I'd gladly clean the kitchen or my room instead of doing my homework

Any tips...suggestions...? I know that I will HAVE to be able to motivate myself for high school.

I have this issue. It turns out that I have ADD. Who would have thought?

[PonyPeep]

Thank you guys! I actually think the work is plenty challenging enough, it's kind of why I procrastinate doing it I might try the break thing - the problem with that is when my timer for the break goes off, I think "Oh, just 5 more minutes" which turns into another 5....and another 5....and another 5...

But all these suggestions are great, thank you

[MyssMyst]

Try to break it down into manageable pieces and set time goals on it. For example, if you have a large paper to write, create a time table. Introduction, (first draft), to be written by Monday am at 11. If this is done, you then can relax for a few hours to reward yourself. Chapter 1 to be done by Monday at 7pm. Reward yourself with a movie if it is done. Chapter 3 and conclusion to be done by ...

This is how I did it, lol.

[RiderInTheRain]

I'm like kateh - the busier I am, the more productive I am and the less I procrastinate. I think it is because when I get really busy I try to schedule breaks for myself. Somehow it is easier for me to buckle down and work really hard on stuff that might not be terribly fun from 2pm-4pm when I know that I have "take the dog for a hike" or some other fun activity penciled in at 4:15pm. Maybe try making some plans to do things you enjoy, but make them conditional on you completing x amount of work?

[Bacardi1]

I totally agree with breaking it down (even though I haven't been in 8th grade since dinosaurs roamed the earth). Unless I was really interested in a topic, I always left things till the zero hour, which never worked out well in the long run.

There are a couple of ways to do this. Either set a time limit (that never worked for me), or try setting subject/section limits. It can sound sort of OCD, but for some folks it works. For instance, I'd say - I'm going to read one chapter & outline it. Then I'm going to take a reasonable break - read a chapter of a book I'm reading, look at just ONE internet forum (a distraction I didn't have back when dinosaurs roamed the earth - but you get the idea). Then I'm going to read TWO chapters & outline them, or whatever. Again - you get the idea. It really is a simply psychological premise of work & reward. If it works for dogs - lol - it can definitely work for people!!!

And when you're completely done with the "work", the feeling of accomplishment erases the feeling of having done "work".

[Arcadien]

I read some where once that self discipline is like a muscle - don't use it, it gets weak and flabby. If you are out of shape, you can't expect yourself to just go out & run a marathon. You have to get fit little by little.

Same with self discipline - practice using it a little more each day or each week. Set little goals first, then as your self discipline "muscle" gets stronger, you can handle bigger goals.

Thinking this way helps me start working when I feel lazy or blocked. I tell myself, just do 15 mins, then rest. Then try for 30 mins straight work. Use a watch alarm or timer, promise to give yourself a break when it goes off after the time you said you'd work. Don't let yourself stop working until the set time is up.

But start with smaller goals - when you achieve them on the schedule you set, you'll feel your self discipline/work ethic "muscles" bulking up!