Fear, Fatigue + Failure: How to Overcome Procrastination 

If you are reading this because you’re procrastinating in writing a memo, starting an outline, or cracking open a casebook, you are not alone. Procrastination is a real part of student life for law students juggling intense workloads.  

Why does procrastination have such a hold on law students? It often stems from fear, fatigue, or a failure to plan effectively. The good news is that overcoming procrastination is well within your reach. With the right strategies, you can master time management, reduce stress, and make tangible progress in your academic life.  

Procrastination is Not Laziness  

It’s often a response to daunting challenges. For law students, these challenges might include fear of getting it wrong, mental or physical fatigue, and the absence of a clear action plan. Identifying your biggest obstacles is the first step toward beating procrastination. Here’s how each one plays a role: 

• Fear: Fear of failure or making mistakes can paralyze you. The more significant the task, the bigger the fear. 
• Fatigue: When you’re mentally drained, even minor tasks can feel insurmountable. 
• Failure to Plan: Without a roadmap, starting a project can feel overwhelming.  
   

Understanding the cause behind your procrastination can guide you in adopting effective strategies to move forward. Let's look at ways to reclaim your productivity and focus. 

4 Practical Strategies to Avoid Delays 

Break the Task Down into Actionable Steps 

Large projects like legal memos or case outlines can feel overwhelming when taken as a whole. The task won't be so daunting if you first break it down into smaller, more manageable steps.  

• Start with an overly detailed to-do list. Map out every task, no matter how small. You may not know everything you need to do to complete a memo (or outline or exam sheet) at that exact moment, but you likely know the next big step you need to take. 
• Use a project management tool like Notion to organize your workflow. For example, jot down tasks like “research case precedent” or “write introduction paragraph,” and assign realistic time estimates for each.  
• Tackle one task at a time and resist the urge to multitask. Focusing on smaller pieces of work makes your workload feel less daunting and helps build momentum. 

Timing is key to the success of this process. The Forest app is a valuable tool for staying focused and managing the clock. You may discover patterns in how long particular tasks take, allowing you to plan more effectively for similar assignments in the future. 

Set Specific, Achievable Goals 

Although you might be tempted to write your whole memo at once, your brain will likely have a different idea. Mental fatigue and burnout are inevitable in law school. Instead, aim to complete specific portions of your work during focused study sessions. 

Here’s a practical approach: 

• Dedicate a set time — say, 90 minutes — for uninterrupted deep work on focused tasks like drafting the memo's argument section. 
• Reward yourself after completing a goal, such as a 10-minute walk or a coffee break.  

By setting realistic expectations, you’ll avoid frustration and procrastination in the long run.  

Seek Feedback Early and Often 

If you’re a perfectionist who has trouble bringing unfinished products to professors for feedback, this tip is for you.  Remember that courageously presenting your drafts and seeking input earlier in the process will save you valuable time and energy in the long run.  

Here’s why: 

• Addressing mistakes early prevents time-consuming rewrites and keeps you on track to meet deadlines.  
• Professors and peers can offer insights that sharpen your understanding of complex concepts.  

Create Artificial Deadlines to Manage Fear of Failure 

Deadlines are a powerful motivator, but they’re also a source of stress when left too close to crunch time. Instead, trick your brain into thinking all is well by setting earlier, arbitrary deadlines.  

Here’s how it works: 

• Use an app like Countdown or even your smartphone calendar to create a custom due date 5–7 days ahead of your project’s actual deadline.  
• Treat this earlier date as the non-negotiable finish line. This builds in a safety net, giving you extra time to revisit or refine your project if needed, and helps you avoid the emotional toll of last-minute scrambles.  
   

By getting ahead of your deadlines, you’ll feel more confident and prepared for the next task on your plate. 

Make Productivity a Habit 

Law school is demanding, but procrastination doesn’t have to derail your success. By taking intentional actions and adopting simple habits to manage your time and mental energy, you can tackle even the toughest assignments with confidence — and watch your productivity multiply. 

Looking for tools to stay organized and reinforce these productivity habits? Explore West Academic’s helpful outlines, guides, and study aids that help you plan smarter and procrastinate less.