Focusing on College work

[alb0zfinest]

I am not sure whether this has been discussed here before or not, but how the fudge do you guys, or did you guys, focus on your work in college? It's extremely difficult for me to remain on task. I don't just procrastinate, i procrastinate to the extreme. For instance, I recently was assigned an inquiry based research paper that had to be 14 pages minimum. Now the usual procrastinator finishes the assignment the day before its due. I didn't even do that. I began the assignment the same day it was due and finished it on that day. My teacher doesn't usually accept assignments after that class period is over even if its on the same day, but I told her that I had sent the assignment before but perhaps she didn't receive it. Of course I was lying, but at least she was convinced. To be fair I get many ideas, when I do assignments last minute, but I feel like this is just something I tell myself to excuse my procrastination. This doesn't happen rarely by the way, it happens consistently. I think its possible I might have ADD seeing that I match all of its symptoms.

[Proctor]

I have the same problem man, the toughest step is trying to actually start the work, once you get into the jive of things it becomes easier. Here's a tip: Try to make doing work a habit, preferably with a positive attitude as not to make it boring or tedious.

[Sippola]

Gotta tell you, I would have made a lot more money had I not procrastinated all my life.

[Tropico]

First I get the FUCK OFF this site.
Then I remember if I fail ill be the shame of my friends.
Plus no one likes being the dumb one of the group.
Those are basically my motivators.

[alb0zfinest]

I have the same problem man, the toughest step is trying to actually start the work, once you get into the jive of things it becomes easier. Here's a tip: Try to make doing work a habit, preferably with a positive attitude as not to make it boring or tedious.

No everything is tough lol. Even once I start, I can't focus on the work.
I mean eventually I might get used to it after some years of practice, plus I have boring courses now which also explains the lack of focus, but for the time being its going to be a serious problem.

[Loki]

College sucks.

[Proctor]

No everything is tough lol. Even once I start, I can't focus on the work.
I mean eventually I might get used to it after some years of practice, plus I have boring courses now which also explains the lack of focus, but for the time being its going to be a serious problem.

I see what you mean, for most people it can be out of their control, however there are ways you can slowly condition yourself to having a working mentality, it requires a lot of mental strength though. You could try listening to music while working, that usually helps, another thing is using a self reward system (however silly it may sound) in which you reward yourself whenever you complete any work that you are required to do, your brain over time picks up on this and adapts accordingly.

[Stanley]

Postponing unpleasant tasks until the absolute last moment they need to be done seems to be a pretty ubiquitously human thing. I suspect the vast majority of college students are rather into procrastinating. I know I was. There were a lot of times where I really dreaded doing an assignment and would hold off working on it until the last day, and when that day came I was still hesitant to start and it wouldn't be until the nighttime that I actually made any real progress. Something about the pressure of time really does force ideas out, I agree with you there.

So, the way I see it, you can either a) embrace your procrastinating tendencies, or b) make an effort to start working on things ahead of time. The latter is much easier said than done, I know. You could possibly set aside a specific time each day for focusing solely on schoolwork, or when you're bored just get into the habit of doing as much studying as you can squeeze in. Always think about how much your future self will love you if you just do shit now.

You just have to have the willpower, I guess. Pretending you're German might help.

[alb0zfinest]

College sucks.

I wouldn't go as far as saying that, but yes, there are some negative aspects to college. My biggest issue is that in college one is usually taught a plethora of facts, yet this isn't what learning is about. Also some of my teachers just bring one side to an argument, usually the side they support which defeats any sort of diverse thinking or some kind of debate which could actually make the class fun. Furthermore college seems to give this idea that anyone can become anything, which is true to an extent but not really. Some people that constantly struggle with the subject they are majoring in all of their 4 years, is a good indication that the job is not for that person. Yet in college this doesn't seem to matter. Its more about what you'd like to become then what you are good at, and what you can actually achieve.

[iNird]

Don't do it at home go to a library or coffee house. Changing your environment will help you mental state.

But you are doomed since you mouthsores have not evolved yet. You are still biologically focused on doing one task at a time. So if you are procrastinating you are doomed.

:p

[Colonel Frank Grimes]

Set a schedule and stick to it but yes college is a waste of time (unless you acquire a Masters) except that it shows potential employers you can finish what you start; that gets your foot in the door to many crappy office jobs. A doctorate degree is basically a waste of time and money unless you're doing it for yourself and not to make money in the long run.

[alb0zfinest]

Don't do it at home go to a library or coffee house. Changing your environment will help you mental state.

But you are doomed since you mouthsores have not evolved yet. You are still biologically focused on doing one task at a time. So if you are procrastinating you are doomed.

:p

Doing my homework in the library does help a bit, I might just stick with that.

Lol the "mouthsores" didn't do anything, let alone one task at a time. :D

Nah that's not really true now though. They might not have worked hard a few hundred years before, but that sure as hell changed now.

[Loki]

I am the worst procrastinator ever. I beat you all.

[alb0zfinest]

First I get the FUCK OFF this site.
Then I remember if I fail ill be the shame of my friends.
Plus no one likes being the dumb one of the group.
Those are basically my motivators.

Yeah I might just request a long ban. Problem is there are other things to do on the internet besides the apricity lol.
I don't fail. Infact I do fairly well in my classes (A-'s usually). Problem is how I'm getting to that point. I might have been able to pull off decent scores with procrastination in the first semester, but I know later on that sure as hell won't happen.
Doing bad in college isn't an indication that one is dumb......

[Sehnsucht]

Pretending you're German might help.

In what way, may I ask?

[Stanley]

In what way, may I ask?

Freude durch Arbeit

[alb0zfinest]

Set a schedule and stick to it but yes college is a waste of time (unless you acquire a Masters) except that it shows potential employers you can finish what you start; that gets your foot in the door to many crappy office jobs. A doctorate degree is basically a waste of time and money unless you're doing it for yourself and not to make money in the long run.

Thing is the real world doesn't ask are you doing this for yourself. Right now its largely about what majors will help you have a stable job and decent income. If you are a philosophy major for instance you will make 3 times less money then someone who majored in computer science. So you are forced to stick with majors that involve math, science, or computers. I myself wanted to major in philosophy, but there isn't much you can become from that. So I'm majoring in computer science. I don't really have a problem with it since I did some programming in school and learned a great amount in high school about computers, infact i even like it a little bit, but it isn't what I really want to do.

[d3cimat3d]

I tried adderall but I felt too drugged up and the crash is terrible. I now take these pills used to treat Narcolepsy:

http://i40.tinypic.com/abpg83.jpg

F*cking amazing.

[Colonel Frank Grimes]

Thing is the real world doesn't ask are you doing this for yourself. Right now its largely about what majors will help you have a stable job and decent income. If you are a philosophy major for instance you will make 3 times less money then someone who majored in computer science. So you are forced to stick with majors that involve math, science, or computers. I myself wanted to major in philosophy, but there isn't much you can become from that. So I'm majoring in computer science. I don't really have a problem with it since I did some programming in school and learned a great amount in high school about computers, infact i even like it a little bit, but it isn't what I really want to do.

Many philosophy majors end up in advertising.

But I wish I had all that money back. If I could do it over again I'd use the money to produce pornos. I had the idea for alternative porn and some of my ideas I came up with aren't in use yet. I also had the idea for what is called "female friendly porn" which is basically porn where people have sex like most people do.

Why aren't multiple cameras used? You got to cover all those angles.

Why isn't there angry sex porn? Where the chick is just grilling the guy over being lame.

That depresses me; now I'm depressed. I blame my family for inadvertently causing me to not go down that road with their "morals.". I could have been the Orson Wells of porn. Family holds you back. They don't understand our will to power.

[alb0zfinest]

Many philosophy majors end up in advertising.

But I wish I had all that money back. If I could do it over again I'd use the money to produce pornos. I had the idea for alternative porn and some of my ideas I came up with aren't in use yet. I also had the idea for what is called "female friendly porn" which is basically porn where people have sex like most people do.

Why aren't multiple cameras used? You got to cover all those angles.

Why isn't there angry sex porn? Where the chick is just grilling the guy over being lame.

That depresses me; now I'm depressed. I blame my family for inadvertently causing me to not go down that road with their "morals.". I could have been the Orson Wells of porn. Family holds you back. They don't understand our will to power.

Lol.

[alb0zfinest]

The only thing I can think of is to fake mental illness to try to get social security disability income, although I don't want to take meds though. Eventually I might just go to jail idk.

Clearly I'm no expert in this but none of those seem like the brightest ideas. Don't do it bro, just don't.

[armenianbodyhair]

Adderal.

[Fear Fiain]

I find it easy to kinda just pay attention during classes, listen to what the lecture is, and float through with halfassed homework and doing well on tests.
what's hard is asshats who insist on way too much homework for the number of units, and navigating prerequisites and other beurocratic crap.
then again I'm aspie not ADD.

good luck either way man, I'd suggest green tea and other memory aiding supplements.

[alb0zfinest]

Adderal.

Fair enough.

[Loki]

Adderal.

You don't get that here in the UK.

[cally]

I can't procrastinate or else I get extremely stressed which makes me ill. It helps to work with others..find someone on your course and have occasional library sessions with them :)

[Loki]

find someone on your course and have occasional library sessions with them :)

Yes, and if it's a girl it's a plus ;)

[cally]

Yes, and if it's a girl it's a plus ;)

If you can concentrate on your work then why not ;)

[armenianbodyhair]

You don't get that here in the UK.

Cocaine.

[vibrant_]

Just think about what your ultimate goal is, and you have to love your major and field of study otherwise it's going to be super hard to even care enough to focus.

[alb0zfinest]

Just think about what your ultimate goal is, and you have to love your major and field of study otherwise it's going to be super hard to even care enough to focus.

I changed my major to Computer science, not much a fan of it, but its a job in demand, and I have some previous experience so I thought why not. Now its a bit harder to focus, but I think its mostly because my teacher is extremely boring.