[Spanglish]

Why do I procrstinate so much? I am a freshman in college, and I cannot make myself work on assignments until they are within a few hours of being due. I have had the whole day off from work and school for the first time in two months, I have an assignment due Monday, no time to do it Sunday, and I have not been able to make myself work on it. I hate that I procrastinate, and it has back-fired on me several times already. How will I get through college if I can't do my assignments?? I don't need more tips on how to manage my time wisely...my mom and sisters provide plenty of those. I need to make myself DO it!! Can someone help me????

[Maven]

I procrastinate, too, although I've done better as I've gotten older. With me, part of it is often my OCD, because I'm a bit uncomfortable touching "school stuff" so I put it off until I have to do it. Sometimes, though, I do the right thing and just get off my butt, grab the books and papers that I need, and make myself do it. I know it's hard to do, but if you practice forcing yourself to do stuff, you will get better at it.

But I'll tell you honestly now, I have a paper due Monday for drawing class. I was supposed to go to a museum or art center and find a painting to write a review for. My boyfriend was going to take me to the Philadelphia Museum of Art (I'd still love to go), but the last opportunity was last weekend, and I completely forgot that this weekend, he wouldn't be here (he's visiting family out-of-state for Thanksgiving). Because I have panic disorder, I was too scared to drive by myself to a museum (of another college) about 40 miles away, so I settled for the easy option, one that's about two towns over. I meant to go Thursday, then Friday, but I couldn't get my butt up early enough. Well, Thursday, it was actually that I hadn't gotten up early enough, had a psych appointment, and then it was dark out, and I didn't want to drive at night. I'm not really afraid of driving at night, but my mom doesn't like me to do it, and I don't like to be out too late. So, anyway, Saturday came and I had set my alarm and, since I couldn't get to sleep until after 4:30 a.m. (I laid in bed from about midnight, just tossing and turning), I couldn't drag myself out of bed at the time I'd planned--noon. I like to be up late, but I'm also up because I usually can't get to sleep until the wee hours of the morning, and I sleep into the afternoon, usually (I sleep around 12 hours a day; planning on discussing it with my doctor when I see her on Tuesday). I managed to get myself up around 1:30 p.m. and finally went to the arts district and did what I needed to do.

BUT I still haven't done the paper! I'm putting it off until today (now that it's Sunday), so I could relax last night. If I weren't confident that I can knock out the paper I need to do in short time, I'd have pushed myself to do it last night. But it's only 2-3 pages, and I have all the notes I need.

I've found, though, if you break the habit of procrastination (or at least half-break it, like I have), you feel better about yourself and more relaxed. My dad used to tell me I should do my homework right away and get it done, so I didn't have to worry anymore. If it was a weekend, then I could play all weekend after I finished the work. I now feel good when I get something done and then it's off my mind. Hope you can break the habit, too.

[Umbral_Seraph]

A big part of it is high schools do nothing to teach self discipline. That lack of foundation combined with a lack of maturity possessed by many college freshman can make starting college real difficult. I wish I had some advice for you. Hang in there, you will learn very quickly. It is likely to be painful getting there, but sometimes it's what's needed. I know from firsthand experience.

[feralkittymom]

Spanglish, I'm a professor, and I sometimes procrastinate!

It's not as bad as it used to be. What I found works for me begins with time planning. The trick to a good time plan is to be honest and realistic about yourself. It doesn't matter how pretty it is on paper if it doesn't reflect the realities of your life and who you are.

Decide how much time you need for each course's study time each week. Then get a weekly calendar--I think the desk blotter size ones work best. Enter all the commitments you cannot change: class times, job hours, etc.

Then enter when you best like to sleep. Note times needed for eating, showering, etc.

Enter relaxing fun time--yes, it's important!

Now--do you have enough hours left to match the time you need for studying? If not, go back and make changes.

Finally, if the # of hours works, divide the total by 5 or 6. The idea is to study for some amount of time 5-6 days a week. Frequency is more productive than length of time.

Now look at your class schedule, and enter study times for each course in relation to when the class meets. In other words, if a class meets on MWF, then you'll want study time for that class available before the class meetings.

Continue to divide the available time between your different classes.

Now the tough part: you must commit to spending that time for study. Even if you don't feel like it, are tired, whatever. Even if you don't accomplish anything but stare at the wall, spend the time--and don't extend the time. If you need more time, make notes and shift the task to the next planned study time. The idea is to separate the time commitment from the completion of the task. This undercuts the thinking of "I need to write that paper, but I don't feel like it." And if there's any underlying anxiety about the task, it will reduce that, too.

If you wait for the feeling before taking action, you won't take the action until all other choices are taken away from you.

Feeling doesn't motivate action; action motivates feeling.

Good luck!

[ECHOES]

Fear.

The point where you jump in and do the project is the point where the fear of the consequences of NOT doing it outweigh the fear of the consequences of doing it.

[Yoda]

Originally Posted by feralkittymom

Feeling doesn't motivate action; action motivates feeling.

.

[ECHOES]

Okay, but actually, procrastination IS an action - it is a decision to not act, and there is a reason for that. (What if I fail? What if I look stupid? What if I succeed? What if I don't do it right? What if I am shamed/embarrassed/humiliated/etc? What if I make a fool of myself? What if the teacher stops liking me? .... )

When the more clear consequence of not doing the work becomes more evident, more real than the worries, then action is taken to avoid that (certain failure, etc).

[feralkittymom]

Originally Posted by ECHOES

Okay, but actually, procrastination IS an action - it is a decision to not act, and there is a reason for that. (What if I fail? What if I look stupid? What if I succeed? What if I don't do it right? What if I am shamed/embarrassed/humiliated/etc? What if I make a fool of myself? What if the teacher stops liking me? .... )

When the more clear consequence of not doing the work becomes more evident, more real than the worries, then action is taken to avoid that (certain failure, etc).

This is all true, but it doesn't solve the immediate problem. Being "motivated" by fear isn't sustainable. A healthier and less painful approach is to undercut the fear.

Many writers have similar problems with "writers' block" despite past successes. One technique many of them use is to set a time for work and stick to it whether it results in productivity or not. This separates any anxiety about the task from the action of engaging the task. It breaks the connection between feeling and motivation.

Also, many use the trick of always stopping in the middle of something, while the ideas are still flowing. They make notes so that at the next work time, they can pick up where they were, rather than face the blank page.