Procrastination

[SarCaustic]

I have a serious procrastination problem. I am 17 years old and I am currently studying biology, chemistry, English language, maths and Spanish at AS level. The problem I've been encountering for the last 5 years is that I find it very difficult to start doing my work and once I've started working I get very easily distracted. It's not that I'm lazy, I really do want to do my work - I often plan it out and everything, but as soon as it comes to sitting down to work my mind goes blank and I get distracted. I'm an A grade student (always have been) and while I have gotten this far without addressing the issue I feel I will fail myself if I don't sort it out soon. In the past I always got through everything with top grades by relying on my memory. While I got a good string of A*s and As for my GCSEs I know very well that all of those could have been A*s (as my teachers predicted). It has steadily gotten worse and I'm at the point now where I rarely start my work before 11:00 pm and sometime I'm awake till 3:00 am. I want to resolve this problem before it gets anymore out of hand and affects my carreer prospects...does anybody have any advice? I really need some help, I don't want to disappoint anyone, but most of all I don't want to disappoint myself - I always set myself the highest standards and aim to be the best, but I need to because I want to be a doctor.

[redmug100]

Some people need that time preasure to produce their best work.

[advicegirl]

What you need to do is every 10 to 20 minutes take a break. Like stand up stretch, get a snack and walk around the house for a little while. Don't ove stress your self with all the homework at once. This process might take long to get you finish with your homework. but you can go see a doctor and tell them about it to give you a solution.

[powyco]

I'm a sixth form teacher, and often come across students who feel as you do. It sounds to me as if you are suffering from total exhaustion.I think you need to replan your life, making sure you are eating properly, getting some exercise, and getting to bed much earlier.I suggest working for short spells, say half an hour, then taking a break for fifteen minutes to have a coffee, talk to a friend or the family, walk round the garden, listen to some music. Then get to bed at eleven ! I have a feeling there's a bit more to this than meets the eye. Are you at all depressed ? Is the family concerned about you? Should you have a chat with your doctor ? There are few university courses more stressful than medicine, and you need to get this sorted out now, or you'll burn out in your first term. Do get back to me if you'd like to talk any more.I know that the lifestyle changes I've suggested are not easy to put into action, but please do give them a try.

[horsestache1]

Don't be so hard on yourself, you are probably doing much better than you think. Talk to your friends and you will find quite a few of them feel the same as you. The advice from powyco is very sound, so a chat with her/him may be a good idea. Good Luck

[heathfield]

Our local area Procrastination Society was going to have its 1998 Annual General Meeting in two weeks time. But they've postponed it.

[jump79]

Sarcaustic, I used to have the same problem in school as well and it was really frustrating at times. I think the reason you lose focus is when you are either stressed out and the work load seems too overwhelming. Or, you haven't given yourself a break (or done something different to break the routine) before starting work and so, lack energy and motivation.

If you find yourself procrastinating, you need to take a few minutes to reconnect to the greater purpose of your work. It may be only homework or assignments but you seem to already know what you want to do with your future.
Basically, to snap out of it you need to focus only on things you can control, which is how You respond.

Hth, and good luck!

[SarCaustic]

Thank you all very much for your advice, I will give it a try. Powyco, I'm not depressed at all. I'm always calm and ultimately to get my work done (often to the detriment of my sleep). I'm the kind of person who doesn't worry about exams: my general philosophy on the matter is "you get out what you put in, so ultimately you deserve what you get". A college report was posted home recently and all my grades and the comments that accompanied them were excellent so my parents aren't worried in the slightest bit.What concerns me is that what I put in, may not be what I could put in, so while the grades I may get might be good, they could be the best. I don't think for a minute that I would even stop to consider talking to my doctor - he's awful and part of the reason that inspired me to be a doctor.

My friends see that I'm concerned, but they dismiss it as they think I could get As without much effort anyway. I'd be wrong to share their confidence and I want to earn the right to be that confident.

Thank you all again for you're responses, it's been good to get some outside opinions - I'm going to do some work now...