"Procrastination is like a credit card:"

...It's a lot of fun until you get the bill" ~ Christopher Parker

If you were anything like I was in college or high school, then you may need to work on procrastination.  I mentioned procrastination as one of the 10 Sure Fire Time Management Pitfalls in a previous post. Procrastination is a defense mechanism people use to protect themselves.   Students notoriously use this defense mechanism to protect themselves from difficult assignments, lengthy study sessions, or subjects they dislike.  To fight your instinct to procrastinate (rather than hide from it) - consider breaking up large assignments or study sessions into smaller more manageable parts or simpler steps (called partializing).  Give those smaller steps short-term deadlines (false deadlines).  Keep the steps simple, so you don't overwhelm yourself.  As you accomplish each step, remember to reward yourself with small activities you enjoy a long the way.  Even a ten minute break may be something to look forward to when you are studying. 

You might also try increasing your interest by getting creative with your study habits.  Ask yourself if there is something you can do that would make the study session or assignment more interesting for your learning style (or at least less dull).  Use a colored pen or highlighter for different themes, or make up an acronym, draw a diagram, explain a concept to a friend, or if you are more auditory, try recording yourself reading a section of the material out loud.  Search for a video explanation by an expert in the field on Youtube.  Attend a study group or meet with a tutor.  Don't be afraid to get creative with how you engage with the information so that it becomes more interesting to you.

Finally, when all else fails - lower your standard.  Sometimes the hardest part is letting go of perfection so  you can get started or get it done.  Getting started may allow you more time to finesse your assignment later anyway.

(If you are attending COCC, consider the Procrastination and Motivation Course (HD100PM) for 1 credit.  This course if found under the Study Skills courses and is typically only a few weeks in length).