(Sorry if this has been done before)
Everything has been done before during a previous iteration of the universe, no apologies needed!
A quick heads up, my advice is usually (a) very direct, and (b) from the perspective of "if this were happening to me, how would I deal with it?' - so please (1) don't think I'm being snipey, if anything I write comes across that way that wasn't my intention, and (2) don't think of my replies as me telling you what to do - I'm not that way.
I'll gladly share what I've learned about managing my time, overcoming procrastination, and learning to schedule and prioritize my assignments with you, because it's been a lifelong battle for me and if I can spare you any of the grief I caused myself with similar experiences that will make me happy.
Here we go!!
Chanaynay said:
It's getting to the point where I'm turning in really low quality work for my classes because I spend so much more time goofing off that I start it really late and only due to a sense of urgency that I won't get enough time to sleep if I don't finish it right then and there.
At your age I had the same problem.
20 years later I still have the same problem.
This shit happens to me even if I have Adderall in my system!!
Regardless, have no fear. There are ways to develop the discipline and time management skills that you need to overcome your issues with procrastination. Everyone had to learn this at some point in their lives, Bro.
You are not defective, you're human and 20 years old - alot of life and the world in general are new to you, and thus a myriad of interesting experiences are constantly enticing you to delay fulfilling your responsibilities. That's how it felt to me anyway.
Chanaynay said:
Even when I tell myself that I have to focus this time so I don't screw up, I checking back in on somewhere that I'm engaged in to see if anything new has happened (here, Facebook, Tumblr, YouTube, etc).* Then I end up thinking that doing one little thing won't hurt but eventually it piles up and then I'm up late at night miserable and stressed.* And then I stay up even later to finish the work and sleep deprive myself by doing so.
My advice:
(1) Disconnect your PC from the Internet. I'll bet you can do alot, if not most if your assignments without a web connection. Draft it in MS Word and/or MS Excel, and copy it into whatever you need to later in order to submit it. You can even do your research online, save your works cited + the URL where you found it in a MS Word document, and then you can refer to it OFFLINE and work without distraction.
(2) Turn off your smart phone. Seriously. You will get any and all important texts, voicemails, emails when you're done with your homework.
Chanaynay said:
It's especially bad on YouTube because I'll suddenly remember a video (usually Kelly Clarkson-related) that I wanted to look up a while ago but forgot to and then I spend time watching videos.* Today I spent time watching this really funny and cute couple playing video games.* It was fun to watch but now I'm kind of regretting it.* Also I'm taking time out of my work to make this thread haha...
Ummm, yeah - disconnecting your Internet connection when you need to work is probably full of WIN.
Chanaynay said:
Also this is kind of more of a 7 so/sx-ish question because of the 7 soul child) but how do you pass up on social activities even though it could cause you inconveniences in the future?*
A few things help me in this regard:
(1) Understand the concept of "opportunity cost"
(2) Recognize that there is always something going on/fun to do, but that your assignments are of very specific scope, and have s non-negotiable due date.
(3) You're a 7, Bro, you can make fun shit happen anytime, anyplace - "it's what we do."*
Chanaynay said:
On Sunday I turned in really horrible work because I got a last minute invite to go with some friends to visit the Metropolitan Museum.*
Learn from that.
The museum is open all the time.
Your friends would likely go again later, and if not that's Ok too.
Chanaynay said:
On a much smaller scale, even someone messaging me on Skype or on the phone can be distracting (damn you but I don't want to log off or turn off my phone because I might miss out on something important.*
Your priorities are inverted:
(1) Your school work is your top priority.
(2) Turn. Off. The. Fucking. Smartphone!
Chanaynay said:
So the whole social realm of my life can be really pulling me away from responsibilities I should really be taking care of.
You are in control of that, that is your choice to make.
Honestly, if you are totally not into school right now, consider taking a semester off. Don't tank your grades by excessively socializing, seriously.
I had a very similar conversation with my niece a few weeks ago. She is your age and going through the same thing. She told me something I didn't expect to hear. She told me that she "felt like she had to go to school" - that she "had no choice." There is alot of family pressure & societal expectation about young people going to school and getting a degree. The reality is though that everyone's path is different. So, pleasr think in terms of what you NEED to do for yourself, and ultimately for your education.
You can't just be enrolled. You have to go to class, you must take notes, you must fo your homework, and you must sufficiently prepare for your exams. You can't just "show up." You must commit to the work, and if you can't thrn you're wasting time and money, IMHO.
Chanaynay said:
Listening to music to help me zone out tends to work the opposite direction because I end up singing, dancing, or staring off into the night lights thinking my life, what I want from it, and what's in store for it.*
Ummm, no music for you!
*
Chanaynay said:
Welcome to my world... Muhaa haa...
so. hard.
headphones help me a lot, but not always.
I'm like this too.
Headphones help me when ambient noise is distracting.
My noise (music) is known to me and thus not a disteaction in these cases.*
five sounds said:
i go somewhere a lot of the time, to a coffee shop or something to do work. it helps me to be somewhere else all set up. um, turning things off actually does not help me because i start to feel like i don't have escapes if i need one. really just getting myself on a roll however i can, taking breaks to talk to people or do whatever throughout, and trudging through is the best i've got.
I've tried that too with varying success. I'm kind of large, and prone to "sprawling" across furniture to get comfy. At Starbucks that could get awkward/rude quickly so I usually go to a restaurant and get a booth, tell the server I'll be hanging out for a bit after my meal to study, and tip them $20 upfront for camping in their section. Then I'm comfy.
Have you seen the movie Braveheart?* I don't really know all of what went on in that film haha...but the end scene...* they have Wallace on the rack.* And there's a pause because the English councilmen believe they have convinced him to admit to treason.* What he actually says though is...'more weight.'* <-That's me.*
Most epic cinematic self-comparison EVARRRRR!!!
Starry said:
You should invoke the power of the Sun God though... and ask [MENTION=6109]Halla74[/MENTION] if he has any suggestions.* I've learned so much from his wisdom.
The Sun God always manifests when summoned by the Goddess of the Moon.
That's how the E7 sky rolls! Teamwork!!
Thank you for your kind words and support. I'm a big fan of your wisdom too, Starry. For all things you write about, you say it like it is, and your words are straight from your heart. You integrate so much content and so much reflection into writings that are cohesive, enjoyable to read and enlightening. Keep kicking ass and taking names, my friend!!
Starry said:
edit: I should say that I did go back to University and earned my degrees.* I just am one of those people...so determined not to have structure
I too avoid structure whenever possible. The one major exception is when I had professors who were great lecturers. I'm an auditory learner, and if someone is a good speaker, and delivering the course material in an engaging way - I'm there. I'd much rather be entertained while being educated, than be tortured with the drudgery of reading copious books, journals, etc.
Starry said:
...I think I just taught myself how to absorb learning.* I am one of those students that never studied or read or bought books even.* I excelled in learning environments.
I did that too, at least I tried to, all the time. Sounds like you have a natural knack for that, which is way cool.
Sometimes my attempts as such were fruitful
* - and other times they were - ummm - uhhh yeah, maybe not so good?
Starry said:
Just not in the corporate one apparently
I detest corporate environments too. I am way too direct and unable to hide the look on my face when I think someone is totally full of shit.
It's a daily battle for me, but I factor out the BS as much as I can by taking on assignnents that are creative and collaborative/inter-departmental. That way I get to set the agendas, run the meetings, and entertain the project team instead of bore them to death.
The cold hard truth though is that the only way I survive corporate environments is to find jobs in the the department of militant outcasts that no one wants to deal with, but everybody needs something from. Information technology, baby! YEEE-HAAAHHH!!!
:moonwalk:
LMAO!!
Chanaynay said:
Ahh, see my problem is that I do set mental deadlines for myself but I end up extending them due to laziness.
*
Once the work is done, you are free. Start early and have the rest of the day to do as you please!
Chanaynay said:
So really the real deadline is when I realize it's late so I have to start my work to get the minimal amount of proper sleep.
Without sleep, your next day is half wasted. You are just not fully cognizant of what you need to be. I've fought this for years. I've had insomnia since my late teens. My brain is constantly thinking, and it's all good stuff, none of it is scary/anxious stuff it just WONT SHUT OFF.
Now I'm a big believer of sleep hygeine. You should check it out, it's so easy and works great.* offtobed:
http://umm.edu/programs/sleep/patients/sleep-hygiene
..and...
http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sleep_hygiene
Chanaynay said:
Focusing in my room can be so hard because there's so much at my disposal!*
I have the same issue.
My solution is to have a "man cave" (referred to by mortals as a "study") - that way my mind knows that space is for work, and tends to wander less...
Chanaynay said:
Wait, that's an AMAZING idea.* I'll have to have my friend do this for me and Tumblr/YouTube.* Thanks for the advice I'm totally doing this in the future!
Just turn off your wireless Internet adapter!! Aaaarrgghhhh!!
Chanaynay said:
And asking Halla's a great idea.* Waiting on his feedback now.
Sorry it took forever for me to reply!!
I've been busy and distracted & stuff, hopefully late is better than never!!
I know there are apps that you can program...that may in fact function similar to an ENFJ Mom (I believe they are for individuals with ADD maybe?* Have you heard of these?* Shit I need one.* Perhaps we should develop an app together called 'the ENFJ Mom.')
Hell to the yeah on that!!
Let's fire up a kickstarter fundraiser for research & development!!
It's easy, all I need is pressure and I focus.
I'm not necessarily the strongest horse out of the gate, but close to the finish line I always turn it on.
I relate to this alot too. When tine ia running out I get pissed, and fortunately I'm able to re-direct that anger into focus and motivation.
That's generally how I operate too.
Once I realize the deadline is in less than 24 hours I just focus and do what I can within that time frame.* But my work probably isn't as great of quality because I'm more worried about just getting it out of the way than actually properly finishing it.*
That's why I want to try to start finding new ways of working - to get better grades on assignments and also to snag me some relaxation time during the night.*
The bolded part is key, you have to try out different techniques, you have to ditch what doesn't work and keep moving forward with the tools you have that help you. AND - You have to keep doing this, not just in college, but all through yout life.
Dude, there are days when I've done everything I knew how to do right and still couldn't focus on jack shit. Even after eating Adderall like Pez my brain was not engaging with what I "had to be doing" at that time. There are alot of X-factors, or "unknowns" that can wreak havoc on your motivation and/or ability to focus.
An example of one of these that smacks me upside the head a few times a year no matter how hard I try to keel tabs on it is "being emotionally aware" - that is simply not easy for me. It takes me longer than the average person to "feel stressed" by most things, and so by the time it actually registers my stress level might have gone past the tipping point, and by the time I figure out "Oh shit, I'm stressed out right now!"
I might have gone DAYS not paying attention to shit and hardly been aware of it.
But like I said, you will find what you need within yourself to reach the level of motivation and productivity you need in order to achieve your goals. My two favorites so far as self-motivating factors are (1) doing thingd/work that allows me to usr my natural strengths, and (2) working on thingd that I identify with, and thay I believe in. Yeah, my job is in many ways a corporate IT job, BUT - it's one that allows me to use my natural strengths, and it also contributes to something I believe in, and that is ensuring that vulnerable people have access to good quality health care. So, I have created balance whete there was once chaos, but it's still a struggle each day to do all I need to do, and each day I wake up and plow forward, and try to make today a little more productive and focused than the day before.
I hope my ramblings made some sense.
Good luck, and have a great evening!!
-Halla74
Hopefully I'll be able to find a way that works.
But I love you for temporarily believing I was an upstanding citizen that actually owns some sort of timepiece 
