Last Minute Papers

Every term I think I will get my homework done and even turned in early. 

Every term I am up late the night a paper is due and I end up banging it out in one super stressed out, very focused work session. 

I do pretty good on my papers too as I am writing about topics I enjoy and am studying specifically for.  BUT-- I do not like the stress.  In fact, I dread it... I spend weeks sitting around looking at empty pages and reading and rereading the assignments and brow beating myself because I haven't sat down and actually worked on the guts of the project.  As I am taking harder and harder classes, its getting harder and harder to do. 

What to do?  Should I stop torturing myself and realize I am just going to wait until the last minute and not worry until that day arrives?  I am not sure-- but I am exhausted, my lips have broken out in cold sores.  I am not in a good place. 

But I know it will get better-- like the day after my last paper is due.