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!

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🔥 FINAL HSC STUDY BOOTCAMP
Finish your HSC campaign with zero regrets, knowing you gave it everything you had.
Our final Study Bootcamp of the year is all about making those last few weeks count.
🔥 Boost your productivity with focused, structured exam training.
💡 Stay motivated alongside other students pushing towards their goals.
✅ Get exam ready with unseen questions, practice under pressure and accountability to tackle those ‘frog’ subjects and tasks you’d rather avoid!
⏰ Four focused hours each day, supported by HSC CoWorks coaches who know what it takes to navigate the final stages of the HSC.
📅 Monday 28 September - Friday 2 October (ALMOST FULL) and Tuesday 6 October - Friday 9 October
⏰ 10am–2pm
📍Balgowlah, Bondi Jct, Chatswood, Mosman
For most Year 12 students, Trial Exams are officially behind you! 🎉 Take a few days to switch off, reset and enjoy the feeling of having made it through!
Then it’s time to turn your attention to the final stretch. Trials aren’t meant to be perfect. They’re exactly what the name suggests, a trial run for the real thing.
So embrace the mistakes. Look closely at where marks were lost. Get feedback. Work out what needs to change and adjust your approach.
The next few weeks aren’t about starting again. They’re about refining, improving and building confidence from everything you’ve already done.
You’ve come this far. You’ve got this. 💪
#HSC2026 #HSCTrials #HSCStudy #Year12 #HSCTips
Celebrating 30 years of HSC CoWorks! 💫 
In 1996, @fergusgardiner started working with a small group of HSC students in Bondi Junction. His ability to inspire a genuine passion for learning particularly in English quickly saw that small group grow through word of mouth. 
Fergus’ wife @carollgardiner alongside their son @jesseperformancecoach and his wife @sarahgards7 joined the business as it grew, helping to establish campuses in Mosman, Chatswood, Lindfield, Dee Why and Balgowlah. Jesse and Sarah now lead the organisation alongside an incredible team of more than 100 coaches, markers, teachers, an amazing Head Office and Web Development team, and also Emily and Nick who joined our team this year. There have been plenty of ups and downs, milestones, obstacles and lessons along the way, and HSC CoWorks wouldn’t be where it is today without the incredible people who have been part of it over the years.
And to every student who has walked through our doors and every parent who has trusted us to play a part in their child’s education, THANK YOU. Your support and trust over the past 30 years means more to us than we can say. We are so grateful to have worked with your child during the most important stage of their schooling career and thank you for championing our program as we strive to support young people develop the skills, habits and mindset that will support them long after their HSC.
And of course to our own family, especially our three children who put up with having both parents in the business and many weekends and evenings spent around the dinner table building new ideas, solving problems, packing study toolkits and everything in between!
We’re incredibly proud of what has been built over the past three decades, but even more excited about what comes next.
Thank you,
Jesse, Sarah, Fergus & Carol Gardiner
The HSC matters. But what students build along the way matters even more.
The HSC year is your training ground for life.. where you can develop skills like how to plan ahead, take ownership, tackle challenges, respond to feedback and perform under pressure.
These aren’t just skills for getting through Year 12. They’re the skills, mindset and habits that you will take with you into university, work and whatever comes next.
At HSC CoWorks, our role is to provide the structure, support, coaching and accountability that helps students develop these capabilities, while working towards their HSC goals.
#hsccoworks #hsc2026 #hsc2027 #hscstudyskills #hscmotivation