All my life I've always struggled with homework. I'm 19 and still have trouble after flunking high school and getting my GED. 2 weeks ago I saw a therapist and he says the problem is probably ADD and this Friday I have an appointment with a psychiatrist or psychologist (I can't remember, whichever can prescribe medication). I've always known what I need to do to be successful, but I always think of other things to do, surfing the web is a biggie. I'm in my 2nd semester in college, only taking 9 credit hours, but am still handing assignments in late, or doing them at the last minute, I'd think I would've learned my lesson by now. I want to change this problem today, it's so frustrating and unbelievably stressful!

Welcome to the forums, doosky!

Meds should help you not be as distracted. As for procrastination, I think that's something that you have to change more behaviorially.

You could give yourself contingencies (if . . . then)
example: If I get my English homework done by Wednesday 7pm, then I get to go to the movies.

The then part should be something you REALLY want to do (like surfing the net), but it also means you need to deprive yourself of it unless you get done what you said you're gonna get done.

If you don't get it done, you need to hold yourself accountable .
For me, that's the hardest part!

Something else that helps me is to study for 30-45 minutes at a time, take 15 minute break and get back into studying for another 30-45 minutes. I use a timer to stay on track.

When I was in undergrad, I did a lot of study groups. That really helped me stay on track with assignments and such.

This has been a struggle for me (procrastination) and I continue to work on it because I sometimes get into funks w/ procrastinating.

I'm procrastinating right now!

Best wishes to you, doosky! I hope your appointment goes well!

wow, yup. i know exactly what you mean.

what i have found the absolutely most helpful (aside from medication) is to get someone who knows you, a friend or something (someone without ADD) and have them sit down with you once a week, you should have an agenda, like a day planner, and go through all your assignments and stuff for the week, and break all your work down into very specific segments, and plan all the work you have to do each day. but you have to treat the dayplanner like it is sacred. anything that is written in it, has to be just like a deadline. you have to plan to have things done when they are written in the book, not just when they are due.
for example, if you have a paper due friday, you have the rough draft done on tuesay, you print it off and edit it on wednesday, on thurday you rewrite it, and friday morning you look at it one last time.
all that would be planned out in your book. and your friend, they are like your teacher. they have to check with you that you have done things, and when they do, you had better have those things done...

anyway. its helped me. i love to float in random chaos, but if there has to be structure, it has to be given to me. i am hopeless at planning that stuff out.

I've found it really helpful to join study groups with other students. They help you stay focused. Also I did courses that had lots of group assignments - this also helps to keep on track.