motivation help? - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

McFrosticles · 02-23-2006, 09:47 PM

I have got to tell you...I am a HUGE procrastinator.

Not only that, but I feel that laziness sometimes consumes my body. Sometimes I'm getting ready to go to class, but before I leave, something distracts me. Suddenely, I decide to skip class and do something else. This is NOT what I want to do though, I want to go to class because I know I NEED to go to class.

I tend to do all my homework at the last minute, and I hate it when I do that. I think my problem is motivation. I need to get motivated to do my homework and to get to class on-time.

Any tips for getting motivated? I would really appreciate it, I'd like to change my habits. I would hate to become a teacher and not be motivated!

abaya · 02-23-2006, 10:53 PM

Yeah, no advice here... just letting you know that I'm in the same boat, except I'm in my 3rd year of a PhD program. Makes you wonder, since I've never really been motivated to do schoolwork at any time more than 24 hours before it's due (more like 4 hours before), yet here I am going after another degree.

As it is, I have 15 papers to grade, a good 100 pages more to read, a short paper to write, and three discussion questions to e-mail... all before 10am (8 hours from now). Oh yeah, and I'd like to sleep at some point, too. Welcome to my world.

So I look forward to seeing if anyone has good advice... other than "GET OFF THE TFP!" (and the internet in general).

I do think some threads on this topic have been run before... did you search?

snowy · 02-23-2006, 11:29 PM

I used to have that problem, and then I went on depression medication (for other reasons). Believe it or not, the medication cleared up any and all of my motivation problems. Talking with my doctor about it, she said she believed that my procrastination/lack of motivation probably stemmed from my low-grade clinical depression.

The only time I've had the problem with motivation since is when I'm off my medication (usually because of lack of funds).

Furthermore--knowing you're a college student, USE YOUR RESOURCES. Go to the campus counseling center and see what kind of free sessions they offer--and I guarantee they offer workshops on everything from time management to depression to procrastination to relaxation.

When I lose my motivation, the biggest thing I do for myself is write it all out--I write down EVERYTHING I have to do into one big list, set dates/times by which those tasks have to be done, and then I do them. As I go along, I cross off what I've done emphatically so I can SEE I'm making progress. When I was taking classes I had a system for this. Basically, I'd take a sheet of notebook paper and write down all of the days of the week. Then I would write down what was due for which class on that day. Then at the bottom of the sheet would be my "To-Do" list, like laundry, cleaning my room, etc. For example:

MONDAY
ENG 485: pgs. 1-150, Fisher; Foucault selection, RP (reading packet)
ENG 416: pgs. 1-100, Dickens; two-page essay
HST 404: pgs. 1-30, History of Sex; pgs. 1-75, Sexuality; reading response

TUESDAY
WS 480: Meyerowitz selection, RP; four-page reading essay
PHL 315: pgs. 1-45, Diamond Sutra; reading quiz
(and so on...)

All the larger dates (tests, major papers, projects, etc) were kept on a monthly calendar on my wall where I could see what I had coming up.

Being a very visual person, SEEING where I had to be and when was huge.

You might also try setting an alarm for when you have to leave for class or whatever. I found alarms were also quite helpful in getting me off my duff, or having a roommate remind me that I had to go.

Good luck.

Pip · 02-24-2006, 08:25 AM

Back when I was a healthy person doing aerobics, I'd pick out a woman in the group who looked slightly below "my" level and decide I'd be better than her. I'd have more spring in my jumps, better defined moves, pushier push-ups and so on. It worked pretty good. I've found I do the same thing in school recently. I come well prepared to class, make insightful comments and ace the exams just to show off. So my advice is to find someone who is more of a procrastinator than you, and decide to be better than that person, and subtly gloat about it every chance you get.

alinn · 02-28-2006, 05:58 AM

The whole Visual thing helped me in my first year of a PhD as well. I had to put my schedule up as well as my list of ToDos each week. Now that I am on a computer fifty hours a week I thought I could manage it all with Outlook....but have recently resorted to my paper taped to walls again to keep me accountable

02-23-2006, 09:47 PM	#1 (permalink)
McFrosticles Tilted	motivation help? I have got to tell you...I am a HUGE procrastinator. Not only that, but I feel that laziness sometimes consumes my body. Sometimes I'm getting ready to go to class, but before I leave, something distracts me. Suddenely, I decide to skip class and do something else. This is NOT what I want to do though, I want to go to class because I know I NEED to go to class. I tend to do all my homework at the last minute, and I hate it when I do that. I think my problem is motivation. I need to get motivated to do my homework and to get to class on-time. Any tips for getting motivated? I would really appreciate it, I'd like to change my habits. I would hate to become a teacher and not be motivated! __________________ Good Grief

02-23-2006, 10:53 PM	#2 (permalink)
abaya Location: Iceland	Yeah, no advice here... just letting you know that I'm in the same boat, except I'm in my 3rd year of a PhD program. Makes you wonder, since I've never really been motivated to do schoolwork at any time more than 24 hours before it's due (more like 4 hours before), yet here I am going after another degree. As it is, I have 15 papers to grade, a good 100 pages more to read, a short paper to write, and three discussion questions to e-mail... all before 10am (8 hours from now). Oh yeah, and I'd like to sleep at some point, too. Welcome to my world. So I look forward to seeing if anyone has good advice... other than "GET OFF THE TFP!" (and the internet in general). I do think some threads on this topic have been run before... did you search? __________________ And think not you can direct the course of Love; for Love, if it finds you worthy, directs your course. --Khalil Gibran

02-23-2006, 11:29 PM	#3 (permalink)
snowy Kick Ass Kunoichi Location: Oregon	I used to have that problem, and then I went on depression medication (for other reasons). Believe it or not, the medication cleared up any and all of my motivation problems. Talking with my doctor about it, she said she believed that my procrastination/lack of motivation probably stemmed from my low-grade clinical depression. The only time I've had the problem with motivation since is when I'm off my medication (usually because of lack of funds). Furthermore--knowing you're a college student, USE YOUR RESOURCES. Go to the campus counseling center and see what kind of free sessions they offer--and I guarantee they offer workshops on everything from time management to depression to procrastination to relaxation. When I lose my motivation, the biggest thing I do for myself is write it all out--I write down EVERYTHING I have to do into one big list, set dates/times by which those tasks have to be done, and then I do them. As I go along, I cross off what I've done emphatically so I can SEE I'm making progress. When I was taking classes I had a system for this. Basically, I'd take a sheet of notebook paper and write down all of the days of the week. Then I would write down what was due for which class on that day. Then at the bottom of the sheet would be my "To-Do" list, like laundry, cleaning my room, etc. For example: MONDAY ENG 485: pgs. 1-150, Fisher; Foucault selection, RP (reading packet) ENG 416: pgs. 1-100, Dickens; two-page essay HST 404: pgs. 1-30, History of Sex; pgs. 1-75, Sexuality; reading response TUESDAY WS 480: Meyerowitz selection, RP; four-page reading essay PHL 315: pgs. 1-45, Diamond Sutra; reading quiz (and so on...) All the larger dates (tests, major papers, projects, etc) were kept on a monthly calendar on my wall where I could see what I had coming up. Being a very visual person, SEEING where I had to be and when was huge. You might also try setting an alarm for when you have to leave for class or whatever. I found alarms were also quite helpful in getting me off my duff, or having a roommate remind me that I had to go. Good luck. __________________ If I am not better, at least I am different. --Jean-Jacques Rousseau

02-28-2006, 05:58 AM	#5 (permalink)
alinn Upright Location: Oakton, VA	The whole Visual thing helped me in my first year of a PhD as well. I had to put my schedule up as well as my list of ToDos each week. Now that I am on a computer fifty hours a week I thought I could manage it all with Outlook....but have recently resorted to my paper taped to walls again to keep me accountable __________________ on the banister of life may all the splinters be pointed in the right direction...

02-24-2006, 08:25 AM	#4 (permalink)
Pip Likes Hats Location: Stockholm, Sweden	Back when I was a healthy person doing aerobics, I'd pick out a woman in the group who looked slightly below "my" level and decide I'd be better than her. I'd have more spring in my jumps, better defined moves, pushier push-ups and so on. It worked pretty good. I've found I do the same thing in school recently. I come well prepared to class, make insightful comments and ace the exams just to show off. So my advice is to find someone who is more of a procrastinator than you, and decide to be better than that person, and subtly gloat about it every chance you get.