Ms. Last-Minute: always putting stuff off? There's a name for your affliction. Procrastination.

It's normal to drag your feet sometimes, but do you put the "pro" in procrastinating? Can you even remember the last time you walked the dog when your morn asked you to? Is a clean room a distant memory? Cut it out right now. Here's how....

KNOW YOUR PRIORITIES

Your mom has begged you all week to give Sparky his heartworm pill but, somehow, you've managed to do everything--including arranging your socks by color--but take care of the dog. Part of growing up is learning to prioritize and take care of your important responsibilities first. Sparky's pills, which keep him from getting sick, need to be on the top of your to-do list. Footwear organization? Please, girl friend. Vow to tackle tasks in order of importance.

FORGET PERFECTION

Your art project is due tomorrow, and your still-life is, uh, still-not-finished. It's because you can't get it just right. Some procrastinators are really perfectionists in disguise. They expect only the best from themselves and delay completing tasks until they're totally satisfied with the result. But in the process of attempting to achieve perfection, they achieve nothing at all. We aren't advising you to slapdash your Bosc pear painting, but part of being successful is learning to do your best work while meeting due dates.

DELETE DISTRACTIONS

The leaves have been piling up for days, and that's how you're earning your allowance this fall. But just as you throw on your jacket to get rakin', the Laguna Beach theme song wafts in from the next room, calling your name. So, you watch TV all afternoon instead. Now your dad is home from work and mad about the yard. To keep from blowing off chores (or homework), minimize potential distractions. So, bag the tube and get on with bagging those leaves. A little MTV is the reward for meeting obligations, not something to get in the way of them.

GET IT TOGETHER

You and your sib alternate trash duty every week, but you often space on your turn (paper, bottles--who can keep track?). Sometimes, procrastination is nothing more than forgetfulness. We'd all like to think we can make like an elephant and never forget, but it can be tough to remember stuff. To keep on track, write important things on a calendar in your room, and check it as a daily reminder. That way, you won't find yourself doing everything at the last sec.

TAKE IT STEP-BY-STEP

You've been putting off cleaning your room for ages, and it's now officially uninhabitable. Piles of stuff are spilling out of your room, and the mess has taken on a life of its own. The problem is, you have no idea where to even begin.

It's easy to put things off when you feel overwhelmed. Instead of looking at a project as one big, daunting task you're sure you can never finish, break it down into smaller, more manageable tasks you can complete. On Saturday, tidy up your desk. Sunday? Tackle your dirty clothes pile. On Monday, put away all of your hair accessories and makeup. You'll have a clean, tidy room before you know it. Even if it takes you all week.

FEND OFF FEAR

You've worked hard to keep your grades up, then Teach assigns a large project that can make or break your semester. You're so freaked at the thought of failing that you pretty much pretend there is no project. Until, of course, the final second before it's due, when you'll have to throw together a half-baked report.

Here's the thing: Getting a head start on an assignment gives you time to talk to your teacher if you get stumped and need help. Less stressed already, right? Plus, teachers know when you've given a project your best effort, so they're likely to be more generous with the points if you don't flake. Now, get to work!