We've all been there; the homework is staring at you, you're staring at the homework wondering when it's gonna get done. You know you don't want to do it because that means putting your phone down and using your brain, but by not doing it you're just stressing yourself out even more.

It's a constant, annoying cycle and we do it to ourselves every time. It's time to break the habit. No more, "I'll do it later."

Start out with some small steps. First, ask yourself what type of learning environment works best for you. Do you need peace and quiet, or do you learn better with noise? I always find that sitting at a desk in a rolling chair, specifically a chair that rolls and swivels, with no noise, allows me to actually focus on my work and do it for longer periods of time, but it's always different for everyone! I know it might sound weird but don't let yourself be too comfortable. If you're snuggled in bed, surrounded by blankets and pillows with fuzzy socks on, you're more than likely going to want to either fall asleep or scroll through your phone again for the next two hours, don't let it happen!

Always try to give yourself breaks, and no, I don't mean doing five minutes of homework and then stopping for the next four hours. Try it more like this: come up with a goal for yourself to accomplish before giving yourself a break. Whether that be reading and annotating an entire chapter or finishing 10 sets of math questions before stopping, having a goal in mind is key. Once you reach it, give yourself a 15-minute break and then go right back to it. This is what I tend to do most often because I know how easy it is to get tired of staring at a laptop screen or textbook for hours. Giving yourself a homework routine is a huge help, so try making one that fits for you.

I am begging you, please, put your phone away! Throw it on top of the highest shelf, lock it in a cabinet, have your friend or family member hide it, literally do anything to get it away from you. It's not a shock that our phones are the biggest distraction that stops us from doing work, so keep it out of your sight and reward yourself with some phone time when you've accomplished what you wanted to get done. It'll feel so much more rewarding to know that you can use your phone without having to stress about that essay that's due tomorrow.

Giving yourself goals, small or big, is so important. Tell yourself what you're going to do, how you're going to get it done, and how relieved you're going to feel once it's done.

Remember that what you're doing now will only benefit yourself in the future. Getting those good grades, making those deadlines, and pushing yourself to learn the material are the steps that lead you to that diploma. It's a hard path, I know, but your future self will thank you for all the hard work you put in, trust me!