To ask if anyone else self sabotages with constant procrastination when it comes to studying?

[NickiFury]

I've two essays due in by next Thursday. They are finals, so important and yet I have just twatted around for weeks, they'll get a passing mark, they always do but probably not nearly as good as it could have been. I've exams next month, again I will pass most likely but not nearly as well as I could have done.

I love the subject and achieving a degree means a huge amount to me (no encouragement or possibility as a child or teenager), I will always regret this if I screw it up, it's my last chance really, got transitional fees with the OU. I won't be as educated as I could be even if I pass simply because I couldn't be arsed.

So WHY? WHY? Do I do this? I have two autistic children, home educating one of them and am a single parent, it's hard, once they've gone to bed, I'm so knackered I just want to veg in front of the TV, but with self discipline I could easily find the time. Is anyone else like this? and if anyone could explain the psychology behind it that might help.

gymboywalton

Brilliant link, thank you.

Am about to try and out some of it into practice!!

My lovely sister has taken my dd out for the day. So this is the day I get this dissertation finished!!!!

Same here! Also have a child with SN (probable AS).

I think for me it's that I don't ever get me/ down time and so when it happens I twat around instead of studying. I frustrate myself sometimes!

Right, DH has taken the kids out for the day, I have forced myself up and got breakfast. I have hours and hours of kids free time, I'm going to put some of these ideas into practice.

Good luck to all the other procrastinators working today.

yes, yes, yes! I have a big assignment due at the end of the month and am going to have real trouble forcing myself to write a couple of thousand words per week so it doesn't become one insurmountable elephant. I also home ed a SN child but have several meetings with professionals this month - I find I can either prep for those, or do my Uni work, but not juggle both iyswim.

I'm totally gutted at present as I thought I'd found an activity DS could do for 4 hours a week while I sat in the coffee shop on site and got some reading done, but unfortunately I'm going to have to be his shadow.

Doing an OU course while home edding a special needs child as a lone parent with no respite is a challenge! It is frustrating as the OU is longer cheap by a long shot, and I'll be gutted if I fail or can't complete as retaking any modules isn't a remotely affordable option for me. It's pass or bust.

I can Mumsnet while he studies during the day but can't concentrate on my own studies as the constant call of "Muuuuuuuuuuum" always breaks my concentration at the wrong moment.

Just do your best OP.

Good luck wandering

I have a TMA due on Thursday too (A330) but every time I get my books out I get distracted by something, both my kids are at school so I have the house to myself during the day yet still find other things to do. I'm going to end up pulling an all nighter again to get it typed up in time.

The only thing I've found that helps me concentrate is to listen to music on my iPod as it blocks the background noises but isn't anything that catches my attention like the tv would.

Once I get started I'm fine, its the faffing about and procrastinating that prevents me starting.

I do this too! Have an exam on wednesday, spent ages making lovely pretty notes, with different coloured pens, highlighters etc. Have I actually sat down and learned the things? Of course not! Thank goodness it's a 3 day weekend.

I've finished an essay this morning, 2 (new) to write and a creative writing assignment due by Weds. If all else fails I'll pull an all-nighter Tuesday. Gulp.

I don't know how you do it with children around, you have my utmost respect.

Can I join the secret procrastinators club?

I'm a chronic procrastinator and I believe I self-sabotage. If I have a deadline that's ages away, I will always, always, procrastinate so that I'm left to frantically work into the night a few days before it's due.

I waste my time when I should be working doing pointless stuff, then I waste my evening when I should be relaxing with DH doing the work I should have done during the day.

I definitely think I could do better if I didnt do everything last-minute. I spend my life chaotically catching up. But, I must confess, that when things work out and I get a good result despite having done it last minute, I get a bit of a thrill and think "Hah, look what I can achieve with minimal effort". I think that's part of my problem.

I have the 'Wait but Why' link bookmarked, I identify with it completely. But I still procrastinate.

Why am I ruining my life like this?! How can I stop?

I'm also a terrible procrastinator and leave things until the last minute.

I'm thinking about starting a degree next year and am umming and ahhing as to whether I should do OU or in an actual university - OU is more convenient as with other stuff going on it's hard for me to commit to set days, but I know I'll do bugger all and never get it finished without the structure of actual uni.

I've been putting off the decision for weeks

I'm currently doing a photography BTEC (which I need to finish as I need a certain amount of points in an arts based qualification to do the above mentioned degree), I've got loads of half started modules that I haven't quite got round to finishing yet and here I am messing around on here

The thing is, I actually find I work better if I leave it until the last minute. I can't get my head around doing things before they really, really need to be done.

So, I'll be up half the night the night before the deadline, instead of just getting on with it in plenty of time.

I waste hours of my life on YouTube, on here, whatever, rather than just doing what I'm supposed to be doing

Well, I have managed to put in several productive hours of work today. I didn't turn on my phone and although I was working on a laptop, I did not MN until the last five minutes! I now have a plan to complete the online lectures then work on going over things in my notes, the lecture notes and study text for the course. I have two mock exams to go before the real thing and just under a month to the exam.

The last module I did was no problem, but it was winter and the subject was something I could relate to. This one I would liken to learning a foreign language you never practice: and every concept is new to me. It is starting to come together in my head and I can see the light at the end of the tunnel.

The info on this thread has been really useful. I think that because what I am studying is all new to me and recognised as being quite tricky, I've been putting off having to deal with actually effectively learning something in case I can't do it as well as I would like.

I will now do the pile of ironing I've been putting off for weeks. But only after I've put some shelves up in my 'study'. That's another story - I couldn't study until my study was ready, even though I managed the last module sitting at the dining room table .

When I was an undergraduate, 'work avoidance' consisted of making endless teas and coffees for housemates and watching daytime telly. There are so many more far more interesting distractions nowadays.

I'm working my arse off so have finished one essay and am about to start another. :)

I do this. I always promise myself I will stop. For GCSEs I promised I would be better for A levels, for A levels I'd be better at uni, after uni I woulda better for job applications. Everything last minute and slightly botched. It's frustrating, I did well academically but know I could have done so much better. It causes me so much stress and anxiety but I can't seem to pull myself out of it.

whydoIbothersometimes has described me to a tee! I dilly dally making decisions and always get them wrong/wish I had gone the other way. This then eats me up and I become obsessed and can think of nothing else even if it was never that important. I obsess over how much better my life would be over the stupidest little thing.

The 'gathering' of details: I would do enough research for a doctorate and still not write a 3000 word essay until the early hours of the day it was due. I am obsessed with spreadsheets to help me pick any thing new and still consistently get it wrong.

I have reworked four paragraphs until I am happy with them. That's out of 29 sadly. Added about five hundred words to my word count and inserted one page worth of quotations and notes.

There has been some procrastination, but not as much as normal.

Ds is out for the day with his dad. So I have:

Been to the supermarket
Made chocolate brownies
Made bolognese sauce
Spent an hour searching for properties in Yorkshire
Added three publications to my reference list

There is no hope for me at all.

I'm knackered but still so much to do! Taking a little break then back on it like a car bonnet.

Always attempt to do it as early in the day as possible. Tell yourself it will be got out of the way and then you can relax and enjoy as a reward. Short timed stints are not so daunting. Also, if you think about the essay subject while relaxing in the evening, then go off to bed, your subconscious will do a good job of sorting things out ready for the morning. Then again, try to feel competitive about yourself. Try to attach a fun element about trying to achieve a good result. I know these tips sound mad but I made them work some years ago when I was studying in a house needing cleaning, children, etc etc. ps never underestimate the effectiveness of your sub conscience. How many times do you wake up and a problem is resolved? Told this years ago while working for degree. Good luck.

happydays - I think you have a good point about early morning starts. I'm incredibly lucky in that I can work from home some days, so once I've dropped ds off at school I'm back home just after 8am; if I start then I can get a good few hours in no problem. But if I try to start in the middle of the day/evening, it's hopeless. I know that sounds like an excuse but I do think people have different times when they work best and mine is definitely early morning.

I do it too.

Housework as a displacement activity seems quite common...!

Agree with starting early if you can - definitely makes a difference. On occasion I have done an online lecture (short one as they vary in length) before work as I am usually awake early. Helps to feel you have achieved something before other distractions kick in.

I've done 7000 words and 2 1/2 assignments today so I think I will have a bit of mumnet now and a glass of wine or five.