You sit at your desk, staring at a pile of work that you haven’t started. Instead of grabbing your pencil, your hand finds your phone, and then you’re on YouTube watching videos of cats or Old Spice ads. Half an hour later, you’re not quite sure what you’re doing, but you know you’re wasting time, and your homework hasn’t even been touched yet.

Procrastination isn’t always harmful, but it can easily get out of control. While some people who procrastinate can get all the work done quickly, others cannot, and end up with their work unfinished or hastily done.

There are a lot of main reasons why some procrastinate. The good news? All of them can be easily solved.

The simplest reason is simply that you are hungry, tired, or otherwise uncomfortable. Sometimes, taking a quick snack break or short nap before or during homework can be incredibly motivating. However, sometimes we just don’t feel like doing it. No matter how many times we read and re-read the directions, our mind wanders and we cannot focus on the question in front of us. In that case, one could try listening to music, or perhaps making a game out of studying. Some suggest gathering up some small treats, and setting goals for yourself; saying, ‘If I can read until page 14, I will have one piece of chocolate.’ Other people say that coming up with a new way to study can be helpful: sometimes, lack of motivation can actually be helped by studying in a different (or better) way than previously.

Perfectionists are more common to procrastinate than others. Their logic is that if they can’t do it perfectly, they shouldn’t do it at all. However, sometimes it just takes patience to either better comprehend the material, or figure out a way to complete the assignment as best as you can. If you’re having trouble understanding what is being asked of you, or just the general information, taking some time to look over the material, or find other sources that may provide you with some extra information can be very beneficial.

It is often said the first step to getting something done is planning. For some, that can mean making lists, or organizing the work into some kind of order. For others, it can mean making a schedule, using only a specific time allotted for each assignment. Whatever makes one feel more comfortable with the workload while, at the same time, making it seem less daunting can be used for step one. (Tip: if you go with the to-do list, it often helps to put something very easy at the time, such as ‘get a snack,’ because sometimes knowing that a task has already been completed can also serve as a good motivator).

Step two would obviously be to follow the plan. The process will naturally be different for each person, but it is important to keep motivating yourself. Playing music softly can be good to drown out background noises, as long as it’s not distracting. Perhaps you aren’t comfortable where you are sitting; in that case, perhaps move to a different chair, or table, or lie down on the couch.

Even if you still can’t get yourself to turn away from your computer or phone or whatever it is you use to stall before homework, don’t worry. Don’t let yourself panic, or get stressed out, as both can also lead to procrastination. Play calming music, and encourage yourself. Do the best you can, and it’s okay to take breaks. It’s okay to not finish things occasionally, and it’s okay to have trouble understanding something. The important thing is that you always come first, and also that, because you know yourself best, you are the most aware of what you require to focus and do your work.