How your child can avoid procrastination and feeling overwhelmed in their hsc year

Jun 10, 2022

For regular readers of my weekly message, you will be aware that I’m always going on about the HSC CoWorks student Key Behaviours as the path to overcoming any and every challenge associated with achieving a great HSC result.

As we always say, if the key behaviours are in place, everything else will take care of itself with both the HSC and for overcoming any other challenge in life.

This week I wanted to go through the signs to look out for if the first three key behaviours are NOT being applied outside of their CoWorks sessions.

Key Behaviour #1 – Engage your vision. 

If your teen is easily distracted, procrastinates or is only completing notes and homework outside of their CoWorks sessions this would suggest that they are not engaged with the benefits and rewards that will come from finishing their HSC with zero regrets.

Based on our experience over the last 26 years, we know that students who have their goals up in front of them every single day are much less likely to be distracted, procrastinate or only complete the bare minimum tasks each week.

Key Behaviour #2 – Plan

If your teen leaves tasks to the last minute, is overwhelmed with the volume of work during assessment tasks or rarely proactively takes action towards inevitable tasks, this would indicate they are not applying this key critical behaviour.

Students’ study time is extremely limited so they must make the most of every study session which includes proactively breaking tasks into smaller tasks and consistently eating frogs first (doing the tasks they don’t want to do first). If key behaviour #1 is being applied your teen will be a much better planner.

Key Behaviour #3 – Train. Daily

This key behaviour is the secret of top-performing students and is actually the easiest step to take towards improving performance across all subjects.

If your teen is vague and uncertain on any of their topics or texts this would indicate they aren’t doing the daily brain training that will give them the confidence and certainty to attempt more challenging tasks. Daily syllabus topic mind maps under exam conditions, writing out English quotes from memory and completing Maths exam questions every single day can easily be completed amongst the other tasks that need to be completed each day. 

In my experience of working with thousands of students, it’s these three key behaviours that very well intentioned students try and skip and are disappointed when their exam performance doesn’t match their desires. Without completing key behaviours 1, 2 & 3 moving into the key behaviours of Push your Comfort Zone (#4), Grit (#5), Own it! (#6) is unlikely to happen. 

Click here to view post on how the next 3 Key Behaviours will support your child to overcome the challenges of the HSC year.

“Let’s Talk About the HSC”

The ultimate podcast for students and parents navigating the journey of the HSC. Presented by HSC CoWorks, each episode dives into the challenges and triumphs of the HSC experience, offering expert advice, study tips, and insights into achieving academic success.

Whether you’re preparing for exams, managing stress, or looking for ways to stay motivated, this podcast is your go-to guide for all things HSC. Join us as we chat with educators, students, and professionals to help you thrive during this important academic milestone!

Instagram

So many students wait until they feel motivated or have a solid study plan before they begin 🙅‍♀️🙅
But in reality, motivation usually comes after the first action is taken. You don’t need the perfect plan. You just need the first step. 
Start small. Just start.
What does a week at CoWorks look like?
It’s not just one session. It’s not just one weekly touchpoint.
It’s a full system of support designed to build confidence and keep students consistently organised, proactive and motivated across the week.
We still have a few places available for Year 12 students across our campuses. If you’re interested, we’d love to invite you to a free 7-day trial so you can see why students choose CoWorks.
#free7daytrial #hsccoworks #hsc2026
April Study Bootcamp is coming...
The April holidays are a critical time for Year 12 students preparing for the busiest assessment term of the year. While a short break is important, using some of this time to get ahead can make a huge difference for Term 2.
At Bootcamp, students will:
✅ Build essays for upcoming texts and modules
🎯 Practice exam-style responses for completed topics
💡 Strengthen readiness for Term 2 assessments
For Year 11 students, one third of the year is already complete. With only two terms until the HSC year begins, this is the perfect time to consolidate preliminary topics and build strong foundations.
Across the 4-hour structured session each day, students tackle English and other key “frog” subjects to ensure meaningful progress before the term begins.
Link to book in Bio
We heard your feedback and we’ve made a change.
We’ve introduced an earlier Virtual Campus session time for those wanting the option to receive coaching support earlier in the evening.
🔥 Same coaches.
🔥 Same focus.
🔥 Just a time that works better.
Existing students - contact us if you’d like to try the earlier option. 
New students - book your free 7 day trial #linkinbio
Want an instant HSC advantage?
Stop taking random notes and start using the only document your exams are based on: the syllabus.
Your map up Mount HSC = your biggest weapon.
Not sure how to use the syllabus to elevate your study? Our latest blog shows you how! 🧗‍♂️📘🔥
#hsc2026 #hsccoworks #hscstudyskills