Look over your assignment and discover the steps it will require you to take in order to complete it. Find the most appealing and personally interesting steps and work on those first. By doing the parts of your assignment that you like the most, you will be more inclined to get started and see the rewards of working rather than procrastinating. For example, you might research areas of a report that you find most interesting before moving on to other areas. If your math assignment has different types of questions, try doing those that you enjoy the most before moving on to the others. You might also try tackling smaller or easier tasks first so you can cross a few items off your list. Seeing that you've already made progress may help you feel motivated to continue. The biggest challenge in overcoming procrastination is often taking the first step. To help you get started make it a goal to start working and only work for five minutes. Doing this will help you take the first and most difficult step, allowing you to build momentum and view the assignment as a much easier task than you may have originally thought. Promise yourself that you will meet your goal of working for five minutes on the assignment. Once you get started, you may find that you don't want to stop working. Otherwise, you can take a break and come back to the assignment, knowing you're at least five minutes closer to finishing than you were before. Looking at your assignment as one large task can make it seem more intimidating. The same thing occurs when you look at the time it will take as one solid block. Instead, try breaking your work up into manageable blocks that seem more easy to tackle. Try to set reasonable periods of time that you know you can meet. For example, you might set aside two hours on a Friday to dedicate to your assignment. If you don't have that much time all at once, try to carve out a few 20- or 30-minute blocks. You may or may not wish to continue working after your time limit has gone by. Have a realistic understanding of how fast you can write and plan your schedule accordingly. Again, just getting started can often be the most difficult part of the process, but you can't get anything done until you sit down and do it. So stop cleaning, stop emailing, stop making lists, stop worrying or thinking about the assignment or feeling bad that you haven't gotten started. Just start working on it. Now. To successfully restructure your assignment, you should fully read and understand it. While it might seem simple, properly understanding your assignment will allow you to effectively break the assignment down and meet it's requirements. It can also be an easy step to get you started on your assignment and overcome procrastination. It can help to read the assignment as soon as you get it and then ask any questions you might have. If you're not sure if you understand the assignment, try rewriting it in your own words or explaining it to someone else. If you find you can't or have a lot of questions, you may need more information. You should have an overview of the assignment, understand the main task, and understand the technical and stylistic requirements. Look for important words in the instructions to understand the assignment. These words might include define, explain, compare, relate, or prove. Keep your audience in mind and write a paper that would best deliver information to them. Most assignments can seem like a lot of work when viewed as a whole. Viewing your assignment in this way can make it seem daunting and difficult to complete, resulting in procrastination. Try breaking the assignment down into smaller goals that you know you can achieve to make it seem more manageable right now. Goals that are too big or not well defined can be difficult to start working towards. Smaller and well defined goals can seem easier to achieve than larger ones. For example, you could break a research paper down into several smaller tasks: 1) do preliminary research, 2) write an outline, 3) draft an introduction, 4) draft body paragraphs, 5) write conclusion, 6) revise. Each of these is much more do-able on its own.
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One-sentence summary -- Tackle the most enjoyable parts first. Start working for five minutes. Break up your time. Get started. Be sure you understand your assignment. Make sure your goals are manageable.

Changing your life for the better can be challenging. It is important to take care of yourself and make sure you don't burn out and give up as you embark on the journey of changing your life for the better. Honor yourself because you are brave just for entertaining the idea of change, especially since it is never easy. Learning about yourself and finding your ability to be courageous, responsible, and empowered can be daunting. Being honest about your personality, not only how you perceive yourself but how you think others perceive you, can be emotionally wearing. Making choices about what you want to change in your life can be scary and change itself is exhausting. Be proud of yourself for even attempting to change your life for the better. Life is hard, and becoming proactive in who you are and what you are capable of takes strength. If you are feeling overwhelmed by all the changes you are making, take a break. Watch a movie or a TV show, read a book, or play a game with a friend. Go for a night out with your friends to unwind and relax. Talk to a friend that always makes you laugh. Take a hot bath or shower to relieve some of your tension. If you want, talk about the changes you feel in yourself with your friends and let them give you advice or support. There are points in the day where everything may seem too much. When this happens, remember to breathe. Take ten minutes out of your day to sit with your hands on your belly and just breathe all the tension and changes out. Remember that changing your life does not mean being perfect. Every day is a journey, and even the days that make you feel stuck and frustrated are still a part of the strive towards a better life. As you progress through your life changes, take time to reward yourself. Eat some of your favorite candy, go out or cook yourself a nice meal, or buy a new shirt, video game, or other prize you've been eyeing. Try to remember that you are on a journey and that you are amazing for continuing on the path. Reward yourself for embarking on the challenging voyage to changing your life for the better. If you are also stressed, treat yourself to a massage or ask someone you love to give you a massage.
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One-sentence summary -- Be aware of how you feel. Reduce stress in your life. Stay calm. Reward yourself.

Have a forthright and tactful conversation with your vet to encourage them to see a professional for PTSD. You might say, "Hey, I've noticed you startle easily and seem to avoid crowded places. Those are both symptoms of post-traumatic stress. Have you talked to someone about it?" If they become defensive or resistant to your suggestions, don't pressure them. Say something like, "I just wanted to tell you what I'd noticed. If you decide to get help, I'm here if you need me." If you know a veteran who has trouble driving or lacks transportation, offer to take them to their doctor's or therapy appointments at the VA. Some communities offer shuttle service to transport a group of veterans back and forth. If you have some free time, offer to drive the shuttle. A wide collection of non-profit organizations offer services to veterans with PTSD or to people with PTSD in general. Pass along these resources to help your vet get the support and treatment they need. Some helpful resources include: The National Center for PTSD at https://www.ptsd.va.gov. The Veterans Crisis Line at 1-800-273-8255. If the vet would prefer not to go through the VA, connect them with veteran-run resources, like Vet Centers where counseling is provided by veterans. Start Your Recovery, a program designed to help those struggling with substance abuse issues. Visit the website at https://startyourrecovery.org/who/veterans-military. You can also look for other veteran-run recovery centers, like Dry Hootch. If you are the close friend or family member of a veteran, support groups might help you to better understand what your loved one is going through. These groups may provide veterans and their families with practical coping strategies and encouragement for dealing with PTSD. Contact your local VA for information about support groups in your area. You might also find general PTSD support groups by reaching out to mental health clinics in your community.
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One-sentence summary --
Show concern if they aren't getting treatment. Provide rides to appointments. Connect them with PTSD resources. Attend PTSD support groups for veterans.