Nope, nothing is wrong with you. Its called procrastination. Its a difficult skill to master. It takes lots of practice. But once you've got it down, its a thing of beauty.
You know who the world's most famous procrastinator was? Isaac Newton. Ya know how he discovered gravity and all by the apple falling from the tree. Ever wonder what he was doing under the tree? Yep, procrastinating.
I always love the essay topics they hand out in college (heavy sarcasm)! I too am sitting here looking at the pics, even though I should be in bed since I have to drive out pretty early tomorrow... Hope the essay goes well Osy!
It should be a relatively easy essay, however she wants us to use sources...I can't find a single source discussing gluttony in the film, all they say is "Augustus gloop represents gluttony." & move on.
I have a project due tomorrow for Drawing 1, i'll be doing it during my 5 hour space between classes. I'll more than likely end up just doing it within the last hour. Not sure why, professors tell me its not possible, but I write and draw very good under pressure. If I have a deadline, I'll do it an hour before the deadline. Thats just how I work. I wrote my week essay in the 2 hours before my class. Like I said, its just how I work.
I've done all my drawing assignments right before class, and i've gotten a perfect on ALL my homeworks so far. It's just a matter of being able to use your remaining time wisely. As for the time before, its long gone. I was too busy procrastinating with surfing the web, animating, drawing, taking photos, looking at dogs, starting at a blank screen, singing, watching tv, listening to music, and debating when i'll actually do my work.
Steph, I am the exact same way! I think I work best under pressure, if there's no pressure, or someone tells me "Just do it whenever" it NEVER gets done. With my writing especially, though I think comes from having to write 10 page reports every three days in 10thgrade. [ crazy! ] I think it helped develop me lol
Drawing, I'm not so good at doing fast yet :x But I'm SUPER out of practice. ;_;~
My procrastination is very well developed. I think of it as a type of art form.
Osy and Steph, I'm going to warn you now that procrastinating makes life a lot more difficult in university/college than high school. Maybe you guys will have a better time because you're Arts majors, but I really can't get away with doing things the night before now. Speaking of which, I have a research presentation due next week that I haven't started on yet. Hmm.
Ditto to what Kyla just said. The farther you get into your studies, the longer ahead of time you need to start things for them to be done well. In my fifth year of graduate school, I'm at a point where important things have to get started at least a week and a half before they are due, even if 100% of my attention will be focused on them the whole time. My first year of college, I could easily pull an all nighter to write a paper. Now, my papers are much shorter (usually 6 pages two column format) and it often takes me 3 or 4 all nighters (with brief naps) to get them done if I wait too long to start.
Also, I should point out a common misconception about procrastinating. Nobody does their best work under pressure. They may be most efficient, as in not waste much time, but it will definitely not be the best work they can produce. Now, there are always exceptions to this. The most influential research paper I've written went from the early conception of the idea to a submitted paper in just over 5 days. Its been published for a few years now and, to be brutally honest, I still haven't read it. I waited so long to write that paper I didn't even have time to proofread it before I submitted it. But in general, the more time I put into something the better it turns out.
*points up* Everything Dave just said. I totally agree. As much as I love procrastinating, I never do my best work. I always end up really unhappy with whatever I manage to churn out, and don't have enough time to fix it. It's usually acceptable to the profs and I mantain good grades, but I know that it's not the best I'm capable of. Plus, it can get really stressful. That's never fun.
As an arts major, procrastination is not any easier here than elsewhere. I majored in art and business in undergrad. Procrastination is sometimes possible occasionally, or at least in the first year or two in undergrad - I think it totally depends on the class and professor. What years in school are you two in? And do you have full class critiques?
Still in my first year!! I think it's because I took a year off before I started Uni so now I'm still not back into the gist of things
BTW, I think my English Professor is not the most clever. A few weeks ago I wrote a 1500 word essay an hour before class [ at the time I had so many work hours + school full time, it wasn't even funny, I barely had time to sleep! ] & I got it back today thinking I had completely flunked it...
only to have gotten a 98/100! Seriously. I think the Professor needs her head re-examined. Or I am a better writer than I thought. I think it's the professor...
I haven't taken any of my art classes yet. Which is sad. I think the other reason I've been struggling this semester is because all the classes I signed up for have a hefty work load. Humanities, Anthropology, English, & Algebra. Yuck. ~
Oh gosh no, nothing is wrong with you. You will get the fine art of procrastination down to a fine art by the time you graduate. It will come in handy for life long learning and should you decide to go to graduate school it will come in really handy (LOL).
Seriously, it comes with the territory. Possibly the topic is not really that interesting for you. Writers block it the worst! Maybe breaking up the boring tasks in bits and pieces would help you out.
Hey, at least you work well under pressure. I procrastinate and I hate working under pressure. Bad combination! Still, though, school is full of scrambling to get things done. I wouldn't expect it to be any other way! But hey, it's important to remember that just because you're not working doesn't mean you're not doing anything valuable. Leisure time is important, too. Not that procrastinating is the best way to do things (it's not), but don't feel bad about "wasting" time looking at shikoku pics. Everyone needs hobbies and interests!
I'm also in my first year. But, the thing is, I procrastinate, and I take things easy. I don't get worried about it.
On the other hand, my friends in my art classes worry about EVERY homework, and they try so hard to get it just right, and they still do bad. Me, I wait until the last minute and come out on top. Because I keep my cool ( versus me flipping out in the classroom ). I work soo much better by myself, so I don't have to pull my professor aside every 5 seconds to ask if it looks right. I'm super critical.
Procrastination only comes in handy to those who can master it. Otherwise, its not worth trying. I seriously have been a procrastinator all my life, so its not like I just started it. On top of being a procrastinator, I also have the great perks of keeping amazing track of my time, and getting to class super early.
If you don't have the ability to watch the clock while you waste your time ( or don't work well under pressure )... well, then obviously its not the thing for you.
Heidi, you make an excellent point. Hobbies are very important to your overall well being. Plus, just because you aren't sitting in front of a computer or drawing pad doesn't mean you can't be working on an assignment. Subconscious work time is very valuable too. I often figure things out while walking my dogs or taking a shower and then have to scramble to write them down before I forget. The biggest research breakthrough I've had in my career came while I was sleeping. I had been working on a particular problem for a long time and I sat down to finally try to solve it one evening. I spent hours working on it to no avail. Finally, I went to sleep and slept for 4 hours. When I woke up, I walked down the hall to my home office, erased the white board, and wrote out the solution in about 30 seconds.
So, the moral of the story is don't confuse procrastination for subconscious work time. There's a big difference!
I'm a bit of a procrastinator but I'm also a Type A control freak. So, I write down a due date earlier than the actual on big projects. It allows for that effective use of time that procrastinators love and for the control freak side to fix stuff after it's done. Once you get out of college and are in the professional world, it's not at easy to procrastinate - or at least in my line of work there isn't. There always something waiting to jump in and add to the load.
Osy - I went straight to undergrad out of high school, so I never knew the difference. However, I took a few years off before heading to Grad School. Whew - that was hard to get back in the swing!! It takes a little bit to get readjusted!
LJ - I would agree it is harder to procrastinate in the professional world. There are typically other people involved - it's not just your grade/position you may be effecting.
I think going to a small college made it harder to procrastinate, particularly in the art department, because people knew when you were in and out of the area. And the group critiques could get a bit brutal. We all pushed each other hard to do better/be better. It really did not matter where you were in comparison to anyone else, only where you were in comparison to yourself - which sounds funny, but it works. We always knew who had more talent than others, but you could always tell who was progressing/pushing and who was just getting by on their laurels. Business was also difficult to procrastinate in once i passed the entry levels because there was a ton of group work. Procrastinating on your own stuff can be fine if you work well under pressure and know your limits/capabilities (like Steph ;-) ). Procrastination in a group can kill your grade and your friendships. I like to work under pressure occasionally, but my biggest problem in college had less to do with procrastination and more to do with over-involvement. I have since learned some boundaries.
Enjoy undergrad!! It is a great time in your life! If you get a chance to procrastinate and can make it work, have fun! I purposely staggered my entry level courses throughout my four years so I never took a semester load which was all upper-level. This gave me a bit of breathing space, though it is hard to do.
Grad School is wonderful as well, but different in so many ways. And I agree, there does seem to be more procrastination here, SNF, primarily because there are several other things in your life which seem to be a higher priority (like adorable, fluffy Shiba puppies).
Comments
You know who the world's most famous procrastinator was? Isaac Newton. Ya know how he discovered gravity and all by the apple falling from the tree. Ever wonder what he was doing under the tree? Yep, procrastinating.
So you're in good company. ;-)
I've learned something new
Does this mean I will discover a fourth law of motion? Or maybe a way to pluck the nihon ken from my computer screen and into my living room?
Ah, but seriously, the theme of Gluttony in Charlie & The Chocolate Factory Movie...what type of college level essay is that? lol~
It should be a relatively easy essay, however she wants us to use sources...I can't find a single source discussing gluttony in the film, all they say is "Augustus gloop represents gluttony." & move on.
Ah well. ~
I have a project due tomorrow for Drawing 1, i'll be doing it during my 5 hour space between classes. I'll more than likely end up just doing it within the last hour.
Not sure why, professors tell me its not possible, but I write and draw very good under pressure. If I have a deadline, I'll do it an hour before the deadline. Thats just how I work. I wrote my week essay in the 2 hours before my class. Like I said, its just how I work.
I've done all my drawing assignments right before class, and i've gotten a perfect on ALL my homeworks so far. It's just a matter of being able to use your remaining time wisely. As for the time before, its long gone. I was too busy procrastinating with surfing the web, animating, drawing, taking photos, looking at dogs, starting at a blank screen, singing, watching tv, listening to music, and debating when i'll actually do my work.
Drawing, I'm not so good at doing fast yet :x But I'm SUPER out of practice. ;_;~
Osy and Steph, I'm going to warn you now that procrastinating makes life a lot more difficult in university/college than high school. Maybe you guys will have a better time because you're Arts majors, but I really can't get away with doing things the night before now. Speaking of which, I have a research presentation due next week that I haven't started on yet. Hmm.
Also, I should point out a common misconception about procrastinating. Nobody does their best work under pressure. They may be most efficient, as in not waste much time, but it will definitely not be the best work they can produce. Now, there are always exceptions to this. The most influential research paper I've written went from the early conception of the idea to a submitted paper in just over 5 days. Its been published for a few years now and, to be brutally honest, I still haven't read it. I waited so long to write that paper I didn't even have time to proofread it before I submitted it. But in general, the more time I put into something the better it turns out.
*gets down off soap box*
BTW, I think my English Professor is not the most clever. A few weeks ago I wrote a 1500 word essay an hour before class [ at the time I had so many work hours + school full time, it wasn't even funny, I barely had time to sleep! ] & I got it back today thinking I had completely flunked it...
only to have gotten a 98/100! Seriously. I think the Professor needs her head re-examined. Or I am a better writer than I thought. I think it's the professor...
I haven't taken any of my art classes yet. Which is sad. I think the other reason I've been struggling this semester is because all the classes I signed up for have a hefty work load. Humanities, Anthropology, English, & Algebra. Yuck. ~
Seriously, it comes with the territory. Possibly the topic is not really that interesting for you. Writers block it the worst! Maybe breaking up the boring tasks in bits and pieces would help you out.
Good luck!
Snf
On the other hand, my friends in my art classes worry about EVERY homework, and they try so hard to get it just right, and they still do bad.
Me, I wait until the last minute and come out on top. Because I keep my cool ( versus me flipping out in the classroom ). I work soo much better by myself, so I don't have to pull my professor aside every 5 seconds to ask if it looks right. I'm super critical.
Procrastination only comes in handy to those who can master it. Otherwise, its not worth trying. I seriously have been a procrastinator all my life, so its not like I just started it. On top of being a procrastinator, I also have the great perks of keeping amazing track of my time, and getting to class super early.
If you don't have the ability to watch the clock while you waste your time ( or don't work well under pressure )... well, then obviously its not the thing for you.
So, the moral of the story is don't confuse procrastination for subconscious work time. There's a big difference!
LJ - I would agree it is harder to procrastinate in the professional world. There are typically other people involved - it's not just your grade/position you may be effecting.
I think going to a small college made it harder to procrastinate, particularly in the art department, because people knew when you were in and out of the area. And the group critiques could get a bit brutal. We all pushed each other hard to do better/be better. It really did not matter where you were in comparison to anyone else, only where you were in comparison to yourself - which sounds funny, but it works. We always knew who had more talent than others, but you could always tell who was progressing/pushing and who was just getting by on their laurels. Business was also difficult to procrastinate in once i passed the entry levels because there was a ton of group work. Procrastinating on your own stuff can be fine if you work well under pressure and know your limits/capabilities (like Steph ;-) ). Procrastination in a group can kill your grade and your friendships. I like to work under pressure occasionally, but my biggest problem in college had less to do with procrastination and more to do with over-involvement. I have since learned some boundaries.
Enjoy undergrad!! It is a great time in your life! If you get a chance to procrastinate and can make it work, have fun! I purposely staggered my entry level courses throughout my four years so I never took a semester load which was all upper-level. This gave me a bit of breathing space, though it is hard to do.
Grad School is wonderful as well, but different in so many ways. And I agree, there does seem to be more procrastination here, SNF, primarily because there are several other things in your life which seem to be a higher priority (like adorable, fluffy Shiba puppies).