Procrastination

**surfer** · 11th April 2007, 09:47

Good comments from mack the knife.

some simple guidelines;

*Make a time line for when each assignment is due. So you can plan your commitments and deadlines.
*Don't do everything at once. Spread it out over a few sessions and then it is not painful and you won't resent doing the work. nothing worse than looking out the window for six hours dreaming about being outside.
*Set time aside in a two week period for completion of your assignment, first session should be a planning session of what books, notes you need and going to get them from the library. Next seeion read some stuff and make an outline of what you intend to write about, next session do the work, last session write an intro and a conclusion and tidy it up. Spread it out over a two week period dude, then you can be out doing stuff and feeling good rather than guilty.

The reason why you leave it to the last minute is due to the pain of not doing it has exceeded the pleasure to be gained from doing other things. This is what is motivating you to complete your work at present, simply put it is fear.

Lecture over

**surfer** · 11th April 2007, 09:50

Originally Posted by BuFfY

Oh my god! This thread is exactly what I am like!!!
Every assignment I have done (I am now in my third year) has been a last minute one!
But I get good grades cause I am naturally awesome

Imagine what you could achieve if you were focussed and planned your work. The idea is to learn for yourself at university not coast along with D for effort.

You are paying for your education why wouldn't you want your money's worth?

**BuFfY** · 11th April 2007, 09:51

Originally Posted by surfer

Imagine what you could achieve if you were focussed and planned your work. The idea is to learn for yourself at university not coast along with D for effort.

You are paying for your education why wouldn't you want your money's worth?

I attend every single class... I contribute in every single class... and I do my assignments last minute, but well. Getting A's isn't something to be upset about... or something to make me change how I am studying

**surfer** · 11th April 2007, 09:58

Originally Posted by BuFfY

I attend every single class... I contribute in every single class... and I do my assignments last minute, but well. Getting A's isn't something to be upset about... or something to make me change how I am studying

I applaud your A grades and exeplary attendance your are doing very well. You sound like the ideal student in class.

However, that is not what i am talking about. What is an A grade? something the teacher made up. So why are you working inside the boundaries that are set up by the teacher? Step outside them. If you are coasting along and find the work easy my comment is imagine what you could achieve if you planned your work and applied yourself to it. They would have to throw away the A grade when it came to mark your work.

You are paying for your education so why wouldn't you want the most from it and the money that you paid?

**surfer** · 11th April 2007, 10:03

Originally Posted by BuFfY

I attend every single class... I contribute in every single class... and I do my assignments last minute, but well. Getting A's isn't something to be upset about... or something to make me change how I am studying

Here's something for a student teacher to go away and think about...what kind of teacher do you want to be, the kind that settles for A or the kind that motivates students to exceed A and be the best possible student that the person can be?

**surfer** · 11th April 2007, 10:05

I am passionate about what I do...i am a university lecturer

**Big Dave** · 11th April 2007, 10:19

Originally Posted by BuFfY

But I get good grades cause I am naturally awesome

There will be a management position in the new order for you too, girlfriend.

**SlashWylde** · 11th April 2007, 11:30

Originally Posted by surfer

Here's something for a student teacher to go away and think about...what kind of teacher do you want to be, the kind that settles for A or the kind that motivates students to exceed A and be the best possible student that the person can be?

Good comments surfer, I have lecturers who would share that view and they are the ones who motivate me the most.

I am a full-time adult student (30 yrs old) in the third year of a four and a half BE Electronics and Software engineering. Prior to embarking on this course of study I completed an NZCE and Dip Electronics straight out of high school, then worked for an electronics manufacturer for 8 years.

I scored some poor grades, some OK grades and some excellent grades over the three and a half years I spent at AIT (now AUT). However my study habits were poor, I procrastinated a lot and consequentially I didn't learn that much, and my retention of knowledge was poor.

My professional background has since taught me to have a focussed work ethic which means that I:

- Plan out all the assessments that are due in the semester on a wall chart so I know what is coming up and how much time I have to complete it all.
- Devote a suitable proportion of my time each week to each subject and keep chipping away at assignments, general revision and test preparation.
- I view my school work as my job and all assessments as deliverables to the customer (myself/my lecturers) and strive to deliver the best product I can on the due date.
- I allocate a few precious hours each week to reading up on areas related to and outside of the course syllabus to expand my knowledge of engineering.
- I work on my own projects and lab sessions (both simulated and practical) to expand my knowledge of engineering and the technology available.

Basically I am passionate about being the best all round engineer I can, to be better and more knowledgeable than my classmates, and to retain as much knowledge and skills as I can to make me a stand-out candidate for when I graduate.

You have to find what motivates you and decide what is most important. University life and Degree courses only last a few years, unless one becomes a hardcore academic and moves on to Masters and PhD level, so why not strive to be the best you can be with the short time you have available?

There are plenty of distractions to eat away at your time: internet, Playstation, motorcycles, friends etc. You just have to say "No, sorry, my education is more important to me right now. I'll catch up with you on the weekend"

**Macktheknife** · 11th April 2007, 12:06

Originally Posted by SlashWylde

Basically I am passionate about being the best all round engineer I can, to be better and more knowledgeable than my classmates, and to retain as much knowledge and skills as I can to make me a stand-out candidate for when I graduate.

You have to find what motivates you and decide what is most important. University life and Degree courses only last a few years, unless one becomes a hardcore academic and moves on to Masters and PhD level, so why not strive to be the best you can be with the short time you have available?

And that is the real 'secret' of success, be passionate and always try to exceed expectations, both your own and others.
Bling sent Slash, great attitude.

**Chisanga** · 11th April 2007, 12:19

Thanks for all the awesome feedback peoples. I just got back from town and handing in my assignment.

The reason why I am concerned with my procrastination is cause I will be doing Honours next year and NEED to be organised. Perhaps I will buy a book on time amnagement... maybe tommorrow

**Mr Merde** · 11th April 2007, 12:26

Originally Posted by Chisanga

Thanks for all the awesome feedback peoples. I just got back from town and handing in my assignment.

The reason why I am concerned with my procrastination is cause I will be doing Honours next year and NEED to be organised. Perhaps I will buy a book on time amnagement... maybe tommorrow

Nice one.

Why do today, what one can procrastinate about tomorrow?

Mr

**bugjuice** · 11th April 2007, 12:39

yeah, been thinking on procrastination and changing my mind on my original thoughts

**mstriumph** · 11th April 2007, 13:09

.......... i've been putting off responding to this thread .........

**Pwalo** · 11th April 2007, 13:09

Originally Posted by Chisanga

Thanks for all the awesome feedback peoples. I just got back from town and handing in my assignment.

The reason why I am concerned with my procrastination is cause I will be doing Honours next year and NEED to be organised. Perhaps I will buy a book on time amnagement... maybe tommorrow

Nah, you're a bloke and therefore pathologically unorganised.

Time management is getting the most out of your time, right? Stands to reason the less time you spend on assignments the more effecient you are.

See you're a winner already.