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Can't ever seem to get organised

  • 31-12-2010 7:57pm
    #1
    LegacyUser
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 166,026 ✭✭✭✭


    I can't ever seem to keep track of stuff. I procrastinate until it's almost too late and end up making a half arsed attempt at a project or report or studying etc... and just scrape by when I should be getting 1st class honours.

    I've been to counsellors in college and learning support and I can't seem to shake myself from this rut. I'm given a deadline months away and I'll do nothing at all until the last 2 or 3 days and then its just cram, cram, cram and I submit a half-arsed attempt at a project or whatever and end up with 50% or so when I know if I gave myself a decent run at it, I could easily get a 1st.

    I do this time and again without fail. It's a joke at this stage. Self sabotage. Only person I'm hurting is myself and I can't seem to stop it.

    Does anyone have any advice?


Comments

  • #2
    Gazzumped
    Closed Accounts Posts: 11 ✭Gazzumped


    suchamess wrote: »
    I can't ever seem to keep track of stuff. I procrastinate until it's almost too late and end up making a half arsed attempt at a project or report or studying etc... and just scrape by when I should be getting 1st class honours.

    I've been to counsellors in college and learning support and I can't seem to shake myself from this rut. I'm given a deadline months away and I'll do nothing at all until the last 2 or 3 days and then its just cram, cram, cram and I submit a half-arsed attempt at a project or whatever and end up with 50% or so when I know if I gave myself a decent run at it, I could easily get a 1st.

    I do this time and again without fail. It's a joke at this stage. Self sabotage. Only person I'm hurting is myself and I can't seem to stop it.

    Does anyone have any advice?

    My suggestion for things like projects or reports is to break up the big goal/deadline into smaller ones. It can be very daunting and off-putting if you have one huge thing to do and it sets up barriers in your head that are nearly insurmountable. It isn't until the discomfort of the potential consequences of doing nothing outweighs the discomfort of doing anything that you find yourself forced to act, often with no real time to perform well. Interrupt that cycle!

    For example, say you have an essay to do - what is it really but a series of paragraphs on a number of identified issues drawn from the title/question? Sit down at a designated time (VERY shortly after you get the assignment) and decide what you need to write about. Factor some reading time or research into the equation, but don't let the vagueness of the initial work distract you from DOING something. This is the most crucial part of the plan of action.

    Brainstorm and use mindmaps (if they help) to formulate a plan - use a diary, a journal or some written record. Write up the plan before you do anything else. Then break up the remaining time you have until the deadline into blocks of hours, days or weeks with a small subset of the assignment to be done as mini goals. Tick off these targets as they are achieved - this is very satisfying and creates good feelings to reinforce your progress.

    Only you can commit to doing this OP - no amount of other input, classes, counsellers or coaches can make you DO this. You know you have the ability to produce first class work - so prove it! Best of luck.


  • #3
    Distorted
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,064 ✭✭✭Distorted


    suchamess wrote: »
    I procrastinate until it's almost too late and end up making a half arsed attempt at a project or report or studying etc... and just scrape by when I should be getting 1st class honours.

    This is the key statement for me. Why should you be getting first class honours, which is damned hard to get and only awarded to the best students? No-one has any right to a first. Talent won't take you very far if you don't have knowledge, and knowledge is acquired by studying. Particularly when you move on from school level. Theres no such thing as deserving a first, you have to earn it. I think you need to drop the notion that you are super-talented, and be more realistic and face up to the fact that you need to work just as much as anyone.

    I do some university teaching and marking, and it is always patently obvious when marking a paper of a student who hasn't done the work, and is just filling in the gaps, or describing when they don't have the breadth of understanding to critically analyse. Its not school any more, and only you can do the work and rectify the situation.

    You need to be more self-disciplined, make sure you put the hours in and find a method of doing so which works for you. Have a look at what the students in your class who are getting firsts do.


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