Comments | academics_anon: Motivation

srichard in academics_anon

Motivation

Dec 05, 2006 17:41

It's that time of year, and I have three seminar papers due in fifteen days (curse you, coursework, when will you be done?). I'm maybe a third of the way done, and am putting off doing any more substantive writing until the end of this week, when classes will be finished ( Read more... )

grading-student-writing, writing, grad-student-life

Comments 73

poldy December 6 2006, 01:48:57 UTC

Don't shower until you have written 2-5 pages.

I haven't showered in years.

firewhiskeybomb December 6 2006, 01:52:21 UTC

my god you must smell.

poldy December 6 2006, 01:54:36 UTC

In fact, I have a hard time smelling anything anymore. I should go see my doctor about that.

firewhiskeybomb December 6 2006, 01:56:06 UTC

If your doctor's willing to go near you, that is.

Thread 8

firewhiskeybomb December 6 2006, 01:51:28 UTC

Have a beer or two- enough to make you want more, but not enough to affect your judgement- and then tell yourself that once you finish X, you can't have any more beer. So then you go into writing mode, and by the time you finish, you may no longer want your beer, but you're finished, which is almost as good.

This strategy has some major flaws but it's helped me write several papers this semester, so I'm stickin' with it for finals.

firewhiskeybomb December 6 2006, 01:53:02 UTC

that is, UNTIL you finish X, you can't have any more beer.

I haven't had any beer yet either...

srichard December 6 2006, 02:03:35 UTC

Otherwise, would be very bad motivation...except it might work for me, as I hate beer. *g*

in_da_lifeworld December 6 2006, 10:03:31 UTC

i second this. most of my procrastination is due to anxiety and silly perfectionism. a tasty beer takes the bitterness out of the writing and calms my nerves.

Thread 5

kelaina December 6 2006, 01:52:02 UTC

Hi! I do actually plan rewards for myself. (I'm an undergrad...I've read the rules and all...I hope it's okay that I'm here.)

What works for me is either a) food, b) a long soak, or c) a particular book or movie I want to read/see.

The last presents a bit of a problem, because I'm tempted to toss aside that fifteen page exegetical and go straight for my lovely new first edition Phantom of the Opera, or whatever it is that just came in.

What you might want to do is test yourself. See how long you can concentrate on editing and writing your papers before your brain starts wandering. Set that as your guideline. If you can edit and proof for fifty minutes before you suddenly get an insane urge to watch House, then make it your goal to work for fifty minutes. Then reward yourself.

I hope this helped...but I've been awake for about thirty hours now (exam time) and I may not make much sense.

rabswom December 6 2006, 01:55:42 UTC

It's perfectly okay that you're here. Just no grade grubbing, ok? ;p

kelaina December 6 2006, 02:00:14 UTC

*grins* I hate grade grubbing. I'm actually interested in sort of..watching you guys, as most of you are either TAs, have Masters, or are professors with PhDs. I'll just have to be careful not to ask stupid questions.

poldy December 6 2006, 02:16:59 UTC

Goodness, I am always asking stupid questions. I always say, there is no such thing as a good question.

Thread 11

melsmarsh December 6 2006, 01:57:41 UTC

I do the rewards system.

I have to write a minimum of 3 pages (750 words) a day, 5 days a week unless there is a death in the family or a suicide attempt. I do however give myself 5 additional personal days every three months as a mini-reward or vacation.

I put a certain amount of money aside. It is $2.50 a day when I am having a boring semester and $5 when I have a very busy semester. If I don't do the writing, I give the money to a charity I hate. I've been doing this for 4 semesters now and so far I have not had to write a check to a charity. If I do the writing, I put the money to the side and save up for something I really want. My latest reward was a science-themed necktie that I had been wanting for a long time.

srichard December 6 2006, 02:01:02 UTC

Are you at the dissertation stage? Just curious, because my brain would fall out if I tried to write on weekdays when I have classes. If this were during dissertation, however, sounds like a really sensible approach.

Also, I hope the charities you hate aren't evil charities?

melsmarsh December 6 2006, 02:12:16 UTC

I'm in a masters degree program right now and writing my thesis while still doing coursework. No one understands why I am still doing coursework other than I like doing it.

The charity I threaten to donate to is the Christian Coalition which to me is evil. So far however they have yet to get a dime of my money. I hate them so badly I assure I finish even if I am cutting it very close.

Today is a good day, I only have 250 more words to write and they are already outlined. I'll be done within the hour. :)

homericlaughter December 6 2006, 02:20:48 UTC

I love it! Hate as motivator!!! :)

Your system actually is a really great one. I'm definitely thinking of adopting it.

Thread 28

Not a licence for repressed pyromaniacs... sensaes December 6 2006, 02:01:59 UTC

The semi-ritualistic burning of "To Do" lists (for when ticking items or crossing them out just isn't enough...) is a particular favourite.

Re: Not a licence for repressed pyromaniacs... jaralith December 6 2006, 05:28:49 UTC

I finished my MA about the same time one friend finished his BSE and another finished her first year. He paints Warhammer figurines, so he painted two up to represent what we were happiest to leave behind and we burned them in effigy. (Turns out Warhammer dudes actually just collapse, and a silver puddle runs out the bottom. It was cool enough for me!)

We burned them in a pyre made of rejected drafts and problem sets. It felt good.