I turn on my laptop. I contemplate opening Netflix. I resist the urge and instead go to Blackboard to start my homework, but 10 minutes letter, I find the red "N" appearing on my screen.

For me, the hardest part about homework is starting. Nine times out of ten, procrastination gets the best of me. Staying focused and organized with schoolwork is a crucial skill I have learned through trial and error. I go through each class and break down the assignments I need to do for the upcoming class, and the longer-term projects I should begin thinking about.

Syllabi are a necessary evil. Looking at the breakdown for each class is one of the most overwhelming tasks, as it shows an entire semester's worth of work. The biggest thing with staying on top of your work is to start and finish one assignment at a time instead of jumping back and forth between derivatives, a Spanish handout and an English research proposal. Once I have one thing done and over with, it's much easier to finish other assignments.

Staying organized goes hand in hand with staying focused, but there are things that help me stay on track. In high school, I never kept a planner. After the first week of college, I realized a good planner was essential. Since you only have your classes a few times a week, no one is there to constantly remind you of due dates or exam dates. Mapping out future assignments on the month view helps me stay prepared.

We all know how it is the night before a big test or paper is due. We're either trying to perfect it (or maybe even start it). Most of the time, that exam or paper doesn't go too well. Everyone tends to put off things they don't want to do or think are difficult, but that almost always ends up creating excess stress. Defeating procrastination must be done by tackling it head-on and slowly, but surely, working through those daunting tasks.