I'm a real procrastinator; I just call it, "I work best under pressure" and it usually doesn't cause me much harm academically, but putting so much stress on myself has definitely hurt me physically before.

Currently, I've got a paper due tomorrow night at midnight I'm sortofnotreally working on. I've sketched out my rough ideas, put together a brief thesis, got down some supporting details, about to make an outline. But it's so hard to motivate myself, knowing I have all of tomorrow to do it! I just keep refreshing tumblr, my forum pulse, watching John Green playing FIFA...

How do you motivate yourself?

I haven't turned in a paper for 2 years (college)...um....haha. I know the idea of finishing it is daunting. But normally when its a simple paper (I'm talking about 5 pages, not a 30+page like mine), I tell myself I get a treat when I finish. Such as, eat out the next day....or buy something I really want. Sometimes I say to myself, 'you can surf for 5min after you get a paragraph.' Or something along those lines....

That's how I get most of it done. I offer myself mini rewards throughout. Honestly, I'm amazed I've done this much so far! Just beginning to put words to paper is so...daunting.

Like don't let yourself not tumble, cause you won't have motivation.

But if you give yourself 30min to REALLY think about writing, you'll get into the zone. Once you get the ball rolling, it should be easy to write.

I do this exact same thing, although sometimes I do suffer academically because of it, or I have to devise increasingly complicated ways to finagle extensions from my profs or TAs. Right now, I'm staring at an outline I'm putting together for a paper I need to do, and instead of just getting it over with, I'm doodling on the outline and making it as in-depth as I can without actually typing anything. My outline is now 5 handwritten pages in small script, and my paper is only about 2500 words. And, if I don't get it done in the next 4 hours, I'll miss the event I want to go to tonight. Yet I'm still doodling away. :/

Re: getting a paper written, I usually do the following:

• Install a program like SelfControl (if you've got a Mac) or SelfRestraint (for PC and Linux). If it's actually impossible to get onto the websites you visit, there isn't much left to do other than just writing the damn thing. You can also set SelfControl to block all internet access EXCEPT for certain ones you allow, like your emails, online journal urls, library database, etc etc. I expect SelfRestraint would offer the same functionality.
• Split up the paper into various sections: Intro, point/discussion/paragraph 1, 2, 3, 4, etc..., conclusion, and I start a different word doc for each. For me, it's less daunting to know that I've got to write one or two pages than ten or whatever. Then, I just combine them all into one big paper when I'm finished. It's really satisfying to watch it come together.
• Put a determined, angry, triumphant, big ass strike through every point on your outline after you've written it in full. Also really satisfying.
• Take a SMALL break between each point/para/topic/etc. Aim for 15 minutes, but don't go more than 30 because then it'll be way harder to get back into writing. If possible, the only break you should take is to go for a pee, replenish a drink, eat a small handful of nuts/berries/trailmix/etc, walk around your house, stick your head out the window and take a deep breath or two, cuddle your pet for a moment. Avoid avoid avoid going on the internet between breaks.
• Before you start writing, wash your face, brush your teeth and hair, and put on deodorant. I find I work a lot better if I'm feeling refreshed and clean.

Re: the issue of motivation, I would try to ask yourself why you aren't motivated to do what you are doing, and be honest with yourself. (I'm assuming you're past high school, forgive me if I'm wrong; this may only apply to post-secondary education). I don't mean this to sound harsh, and of course I don't know your situation. But you are presumably studying to do something as a career, or at least for a significant part of your future life. If you don't love what you're doing now, and you're not willing to work past distractions and put effort into it, maybe it's not what you should be doing. If you have to force yourself to do something, it's generally not something you'd wanna do, right? And it's generally not something you're going to be happy doing for a long time after you're done with school. It often isn't too late to make a switch.

In my case, I know I have to force myself to finish my work precisely because I made the wrong choice in part of major and now I have to deal with my actions. I made a commitment to finishing this part of my degree so I will, but I completely regret not giving other options a bigger chance.

I hope any of this helped, and I hope you get the paper done tonight in time! Good luck!