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procrastination
Dec. 16th, 2003 11:42 amWhat is it that makes us procrastinate? If I'm going to spend approximately the same amount of time doing something, either way, why do I wait until just before it HAS to be done? Wouldn't I be a more relaxed and happy person if I did it immediately and got it over with? And yet, it never happens that way.
This is, of course, in reference to schoolwork. I admit, I have atrocious study habits. Always have. I barely take notes, I don't do the readings, I put off term papers until the weekend before they're due (and in one memorable case, 24 hours before). Thank goodness I'm fairly smart and I'm an auditory learner, so I actually retain quite a lot from lecture. Otherwise, I would have had horrible grades. As it was, I believe I was the epitome of the teachers' assessment "not working to her potential."
This is one of the reasons I never actually intended to go to graduate school. But I had to pick a profession in which it is pretty much mandatory.
So, I had asked for tomorrow off so I could go to the Return of the King, but it turns out it's the day before my oral presentation and my short paper are due. I'm torn. It's only three hours. If I can *make* myself *work* for the rest of the day, it won't take any more time than I would manage to waste if I spent the whole day at home. And I have actually managed to prepare rough drafts of both items already, they just need some additional material. If I were starting from scratch there would be no question.
I think I'll go. I haven't done anything fun in a while. And I have the option of calling in sick Thursday to finish - class isn't until 6:40.
This is, of course, in reference to schoolwork. I admit, I have atrocious study habits. Always have. I barely take notes, I don't do the readings, I put off term papers until the weekend before they're due (and in one memorable case, 24 hours before). Thank goodness I'm fairly smart and I'm an auditory learner, so I actually retain quite a lot from lecture. Otherwise, I would have had horrible grades. As it was, I believe I was the epitome of the teachers' assessment "not working to her potential."
This is one of the reasons I never actually intended to go to graduate school. But I had to pick a profession in which it is pretty much mandatory.
So, I had asked for tomorrow off so I could go to the Return of the King, but it turns out it's the day before my oral presentation and my short paper are due. I'm torn. It's only three hours. If I can *make* myself *work* for the rest of the day, it won't take any more time than I would manage to waste if I spent the whole day at home. And I have actually managed to prepare rough drafts of both items already, they just need some additional material. If I were starting from scratch there would be no question.
I think I'll go. I haven't done anything fun in a while. And I have the option of calling in sick Thursday to finish - class isn't until 6:40.