Wednesday, July 28, 2010

On procrastination

I lack motivation.

I have 5 class days left until the end of the second summer session. 5 days. That is it! However, I am currently sitting at the computer and writing to you, whoever you are, instead of writing a paper for my Contemporary Issues in Psychology class on the idea that some people are left-brained and others are right-brained. This paper, 5 single-spaced pages, is due Monday morning. Along side of this is a 30 minute presentation on the topic to be given on Monday, as well. For that class, I also have many readings to catch up on before the final exam next Thursday. Two hours of essay writing sounds like an excellent way to spend my morning.

My other class, chemistry, also brings assignments for me to do. I completed the quiz that was due tonight but I have yet to truly study for my exam in the morning. After I complete that exam at 8am tomorrow morning, I will still have 2 more quizzes and 2 additional exams before I get to the final exam next Thursday.

So, with all this work that I know has to be done, why do I continue to procrastinate?

I have thought that maybe I am not enjoying the classes and that might be a reason. Like most people, when I don't enjoy something, I run as far from it as possible. Rarely will you find me jumping into something I do not enjoy. This may be true for my chemistry class (I hate chemistry!) but certainly not for my psychology class. I am really enjoying that class. It is interesting to learn about different and controversial topics that are presented in there. Some of the topics we have covered are ESP, telekinesis, acupuncture and homeopathy.

I think I may have discovered my lack of interest in doing my psychology homework (since the "don't enjoy" doesn't apply here): I don't like reading. I get into these "moods" (as Jon can attest, I have many and sometimes strange and weird moods) where I want to read, but it is usually because I have found a new medical book that I want to read. However, even with the more interesting psychology topics, I often find it hard to read the assignments and focus on them. Perhaps they are dry and boring, perhaps it is because they go too far over my head (with my medical background, that isn't often, but it happens occasionally). Regardless, I get a few pages in and lose interest completely. (I am particularly good at falling asleep when I'm reading. This can prove to be a problem.)

With this in mind, I try to remind myself that if I can only get through these next 5 days, I will be able to reward myself with 2 weeks off! (Of course, I get to spend half of that time back on a rig. Far from a vacation but I still love it.) As Jon was telling me earlier today to get me through a different problem, "you can do one more of anything". That's what I have to keep telling myself. I can do one more day for this school week. I can do one more Monday for a summer session, one more Tuesday, one more Wednesday and one more Thursday for a summer session -- and then I am done! I hope never to attend another summer session as an undergraduate. Graduate is another story for another post.

For now, I shall attempt to work on this paper...

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