|
I've had this problem all my life...
Every time I HAVE to do something, I can't do it. I just can't. I sit down, try to do whatever it is, then give up, and start playing SC or doing something else that I shouldn't be doing.
Why is it like this?
I mean, I could understand it if it was something that I didn't like to do. Like in school, when you have some subject that you don't like, and you don't want to do it, it's perfectly fine to just do something else like browse the web or whatever, but why am I like this when it's about mathematics(which I personally love)?
I'm just so tired of this. I've tried doing mathematics all day, and have constantly just procrastinated. Then, at the end of day I get angry at myself for not doing all the things I'm supposed to do.
How come I can do something for hours if I don't have to, but whenever I have to, I can't do it?
How can I stop this?
Sorry for raging, but I'm really angry right now...
 
|
Too many distractions, go outside and do it.
|
United States1307 Posts
Everyone procrastinates brohan, don't feel so bad about it. Later tonight I have to do an essay for class when all I really want to do is watch last nights GSL. Just make sure you know your time limit, and also how much stress you are going to be under once you actually begin doing it within a time frame. It's especially bad if a lot of stuff starts piling up - so just try to avoid it happening. There's no way around it - you just gotta do what you gotta do.
|
On November 03 2011 03:55 Torte de Lini wrote:
Too many distractions, go outside and do it.
What if there is girls/boys distracting you?
|
On November 03 2011 03:59 Grettin wrote:Show nested quote +On November 03 2011 03:55 Torte de Lini wrote:
Too many distractions, go outside and do it. What if there is girls/boys distracting you?
Masturbate before going outside.
|
I'd say that if you can't sit down and do what you need to then you probably don't love the subject. I've found that in the classes that I really enjoy I can't wait to crack open the book and do the problems. Just because you love math in general doesn't mean you like every subject.. I know I am this way. I love math but I hate analysis.. It happens.
|
Go to the library or somewhere else where all you have is your hw/study materials and a desk. It helps a lot imo because you don't have distractions so nearby.
|
You're spoiled and lazy. Videogames, smartphones and TV have decimated your attention span.
Just a guess, but this is usually why.
|
That's not true at all.
Maybe he likes games more than a subject.
Maybe he doesnt like the topic of the subject.
Maybe he likes the discipline, but hates a particular subject (I love psychologically, but I can't stand the biological side of it)
|
On November 03 2011 04:12 Torte de Lini wrote:Show nested quote +On November 03 2011 03:59 Grettin wrote:On November 03 2011 03:55 Torte de Lini wrote:
Too many distractions, go outside and do it. What if there is girls/boys distracting you? Masturbate before going outside.
What if you get easily aroused despite all the preparations?
No but joking aside, i have similar problems sometimes. For example, If i want to read something interesting (maybe not that important, but still), i very often decide to read it after i'm done with the thing i'm currently doing or just leave it for later. After a week or two, i realize that is still haven't read it after trying couple of times already.
But i think it's just because of the things around you. What if you do your stuff elsewhere when and if possible? (homework, studying and whatever)
ps. Lack of discipline & being lazy is actually pretty good answer IMO.
|
you lack discipline, you're lazy. your sub conscious thinks it can get away with whatever it wants and there arent any real consequences for your actions. that's probably because you're still in school. my advice is to force yourself to do whatever you have to do even if you think you can do it later. it's your own fault that you don't finish your work and your parents fault for not disciplining you at a young age, don't worry you just have to realize what's important in life. you say you can't do it, but you just don't feel like doing it, there's a difference. shape up bro.
|
On November 03 2011 04:18 Grettin wrote:Show nested quote +On November 03 2011 04:12 Torte de Lini wrote:On November 03 2011 03:59 Grettin wrote:On November 03 2011 03:55 Torte de Lini wrote:
Too many distractions, go outside and do it. What if there is girls/boys distracting you? Masturbate before going outside. What if you get easily aroused despite all the preparations? No but joking aside, i have the same problem sometimes. For example, If i want to read something interesting (maybe not that important, but still), i very often decide to read it after i'm done with the thing i'm currently doing or just leave it for later. After a week or two, i realize that is still haven't read it after trying couple of times already. But i think it's just because of the things around you, in my case - computer. What if you do your stuff elsewhere when and if possible? (homework, studying and whatever)
My biggest issue is that I can't see projects as parts, so I try to do it as a whole or I get so overwhelmed by the amount of work that needs to be done taht I end up never doing it.
|
The only thing stopping you from doing what you need is yourself. Isolate yourself from any potential distractions and do it. It's not a very difficult thing. Thinking about it only makes it more difficult. Really, it's as easy as just going and doing it.
As to the lazy stuff, I don't know that's really a valid concern. I'm pretty freaking lazy, but if I have to do it, then i'll get it done. I've learned very early in my adult life that when you've got something to do and you have the means to do it, get it done, because you never know when you're going to get time / resources to do it again.
|
On November 03 2011 04:22 Torte de Lini wrote:Show nested quote +On November 03 2011 04:18 Grettin wrote:On November 03 2011 04:12 Torte de Lini wrote:On November 03 2011 03:59 Grettin wrote:On November 03 2011 03:55 Torte de Lini wrote:
Too many distractions, go outside and do it. What if there is girls/boys distracting you? Masturbate before going outside. What if you get easily aroused despite all the preparations? No but joking aside, i have the same problem sometimes. For example, If i want to read something interesting (maybe not that important, but still), i very often decide to read it after i'm done with the thing i'm currently doing or just leave it for later. After a week or two, i realize that is still haven't read it after trying couple of times already. But i think it's just because of the things around you, in my case - computer. What if you do your stuff elsewhere when and if possible? (homework, studying and whatever) My biggest issue is that I can't see projects as parts, so I try to do it as a whole or I get so overwhelmed by the amount of work that needs to be done taht I end up never doing it.
Oh man i had similar issues. I NEVER did any projects assigned in parts when i was studying/in school. I ALWAYS did the whole thing immediately or left it hanging till very late. But i always took hold of myself and finished those despite being very lazy and unwilling. I can't stand the workload if i don't do anything as a whole pretty much right away. ^_^
Well said:
On November 03 2011 04:28 turamn wrote:
The only thing stopping you from doing what you need is yourself. Isolate yourself from any potential distractions and do it. It's not a very difficult thing. Thinking about it only makes it more difficult. Really, it's as easy as just going and doing it.
|
On November 03 2011 03:55 Torte de Lini wrote:
Too many distractions, go outside and do it.
To me this came as really funny _
TdL telling people to go outside
|
United States5162 Posts
I don't get this attitude. If you need to do something, FUCKING DO IT.
I'm one of the laziest people in the world. Given the choice, I would sit around and do 'nothing' all day every day. Because of this, I'm a horrible procrastinator. Hardly ever does anything get done before the last minute. But I still fucking do something when it has to be done and don't understand how you couldn't. If it's not life changing, and you choose not to do it, it must not have been that important to you.
|
If I need to be effective and not dick around on the web, I usually go to the library and sit in the study hall. No fun distractions there really.
|
I'm the same as OP. I'm terrible.
|
On November 03 2011 04:37 HwangjaeTerran wrote:Show nested quote +On November 03 2011 03:55 Torte de Lini wrote:
Too many distractions, go outside and do it. To me this came as really funny _ TdL telling people to go outside
You insult my amazing talent to manage my time efficiently (I'm going out in about an hour) + I am a full-time University student.
|
I do the exact same. In fact, i post on TL almost exclusively when i have more important stuff to do.
This:On November 03 2011 04:17 Zorkmid wrote:
You're spoiled and lazy. Videogames, smartphones and TV have decimated your attention span.
Just a guess, but this is usually why.
is pretty much spot on. Chucking out my pc and pmp out of the window would probably fix it, however sometimes i'd rather just stare at my table instead of memorising that fuckton of german.
|
yeah usually I just end up getting insanely distracted whenever I try to accomplish something especially on my computer, I usually end like doing one question then 1v1 to try and get at least some work done.
|
That's what we call procrastination. It can be very difficult to stop. It is best to just suck it up and do what you have to do. you may not want to do that Honor's Pre-Calculus homework, but you still have to.......so i'm going to go do that now...
|
I have exams tomorrow.....must....stop....reading...TL.....
|
On November 03 2011 04:12 Torte de Lini wrote:Show nested quote +On November 03 2011 03:59 Grettin wrote:On November 03 2011 03:55 Torte de Lini wrote:
Too many distractions, go outside and do it. What if there is girls/boys distracting you? Masturbate before going outside.
has that ever helped....
|
I think i enjoy distraction better than anything else.
example: I wrote this post when I have a fourth year engineering midterm tomorrow.
when its a project that has a reachable ending I am much more motivated then when I am studying or general homework.
this translates into doing things like dishes and errands more than general tidying or upkeep.
maybe the internet decimated my attention span.
|
On November 03 2011 04:17 Zorkmid wrote:
You're spoiled and lazy. Videogames, smartphones and TV have decimated your attention span.
Just a guess, but this is usually why.
I'm not spoiled nor lazy. BUT, videogames, smartphones and TV have decimated my attention span indeed. I know this. I just don't know what to do with that information. If my mind starts thinking about doing something else, it won't get quiet if I think "hey, that's just my attention span being short because I've been watching cartoons and playing video games all my life".
It's just really really frustrating. I'm thinking of ending my education(engineer), because it's such a struggle. Things that could be done in an hour take me 6-7 hours, and I just keep thinking about the fact that it will get worse next year, as it's progressively getting more and more to do when I study.
I've been talking to my doctor, and he says that I should consider taking medication for ADD, but I don't want to do that. I want to learn a method(s) to do this the natural way.
Does anyone know of any books or something that could help me?
Also, it's comforting to see that other people have problems with this as well
|
Well, it's because you don't want to.
If you want to study, you will. If you don't want to study, you'll fuck around and do whatever. There isn't really any excuses or anything that makes this any less true, and if you think otherwise, you're lying to yourself.
You don't need ADD medication or anything like that. Do you have any problems focusing on playing an SC game? It requires immense concentration for upwards of an hour for just one game. I'm sure you have no problems maintaining that. Why? Because you want to. Clearly you don't lack focus.
How to stop it? Well, this amounts to the same thing as "how do you start wanting it?" I don't think there's a universal answer for this, but for me it's very simple: make it non-optional. Everything else takes a backseat.There is always time, it's only a matter of you making it, so there's never any excuse.
For me it works. For you? You'll have to figure it out. Good luck.
|
Lol, my friend was telling me about this program the other day that blocks websites temporarily and can't be undone (not exactly sure how it worked, she just said she couldn't go on facebook even if she wanted to). So she would block facebook and gchat and stuff like that while she studied. I thought it was pretty funny at the time, but maybe it's actually pretty helpful for some people.
Along that line of thought, if you want something more extreme, I guess you could turn off your internet and uninstall Starcraft...
|
What we value determines our actions. If you do not value the activity that you have to do, you're less likely to do it on time, properly or adequately. If you're able to change your perception and values regarding things, you might be able to overcome this. However, this is not just something that you can simply do, but there are ways.
|
This strategy works for me. Eat a lot and don't go poop. When you need to go poop, make yourself accomplish something before you allow yourself to go. Your level of concentration will be over 9000. A couple hours later after you have done what you needed to, your poop feeling will go away, so feel free to surf the web, til you need to poop again, then go poop.
|
No one has mentioned this The War of Art. It is all about "getting shit done." That's my quote not the book's. It helps to identify why you are not getting done what you want/need to get done; and how to combat it. It's a short book (160ish pages, but has lots of half written pages). You should absolutely check this book out. It will help "rewire" your brain and get you accomplishing things you didn't know you could do.
Good luck
|
|
|
btw dont fool yourself into thinking you dont want to do something "enough" , like someone said
motivation and inspiration dont just grow on trees, they arent our natural state. they come AFTER you pursue them.
not only that, but its a lot better to have some achievements in life (eg your degree) than to have none (eg me) 
|
On November 03 2011 07:43 nOIZEbuddha wrote:Show nested quote +On November 03 2011 04:17 Zorkmid wrote:
You're spoiled and lazy. Videogames, smartphones and TV have decimated your attention span.
Just a guess, but this is usually why. I'm not spoiled nor lazy. BUT, videogames, smartphones and TV have decimated my attention span indeed. I know this. I just don't know what to do with that information. If my mind starts thinking about doing something else, it won't get quiet if I think "hey, that's just my attention span being short because I've been watching cartoons and playing video games all my life". It's just really really frustrating. I'm thinking of ending my education(engineer), because it's such a struggle. Things that could be done in an hour take me 6-7 hours, and I just keep thinking about the fact that it will get worse next year, as it's progressively getting more and more to do when I study. I've been talking to my doctor, and he says that I should consider taking medication for ADD, but I don't want to do that. I want to learn a method(s) to do this the natural way. Does anyone know of any books or something that could help me? Also, it's comforting to see that other people have problems with this as well
You're also under the impression that there's some simple trick that can help you. There isn't.
|
On November 03 2011 12:51 Zorkmid wrote:Show nested quote +On November 03 2011 07:43 nOIZEbuddha wrote:On November 03 2011 04:17 Zorkmid wrote:
You're spoiled and lazy. Videogames, smartphones and TV have decimated your attention span.
Just a guess, but this is usually why. I'm not spoiled nor lazy. BUT, videogames, smartphones and TV have decimated my attention span indeed. I know this. I just don't know what to do with that information. If my mind starts thinking about doing something else, it won't get quiet if I think "hey, that's just my attention span being short because I've been watching cartoons and playing video games all my life". It's just really really frustrating. I'm thinking of ending my education(engineer), because it's such a struggle. Things that could be done in an hour take me 6-7 hours, and I just keep thinking about the fact that it will get worse next year, as it's progressively getting more and more to do when I study. I've been talking to my doctor, and he says that I should consider taking medication for ADD, but I don't want to do that. I want to learn a method(s) to do this the natural way. Does anyone know of any books or something that could help me? Also, it's comforting to see that other people have problems with this as well You're also under the impression that there's some simple trick that can help you. There isn't.
No. I think there is a simple method, yes, but not a simple trick. Think of it as doing push-ups. That's an easy method, but it still requires a lot of exercise.
I don't think that it's about the fact that I like StarCraft better than maths, because if I say to myself: "okay, I got one hour, and I'm gonna play StarCraft all this time" I end up not playing at all. It's just the same there as with maths/whatever else I want to do.
Thank you very much metbull and FFGenerations, will check it out after school! :D
|
Haha, I have the same issue. I can't even play games properly because I get distracted (I lose games in SC2, die in WoW and I can't even remember being aware of the big red alarm signs, they just never registered; I must have some of the most hilarious deaths possible in WoW raids).
I focus a bit better with some background noise (preff nothing that contains anything you might focus on, I suppose white noise would be best) though and weirdly the only time I really pay attention was during classes listening to the teachers, always found it weird that I actually managed to focus in class. And oh, while reading/researching, I could spend 12-16 hours to finish a book/series of books or gathering data for a project.
Like OP I always go do something else when I have something to finish but unlike him it doesn't even have to be SC2, I just get off the chair and walk around the room, get a drink and bam I forget I had work to do.
|
On November 03 2011 15:27 nOIZEbuddha wrote:Show nested quote +On November 03 2011 12:51 Zorkmid wrote:On November 03 2011 07:43 nOIZEbuddha wrote:On November 03 2011 04:17 Zorkmid wrote:
You're spoiled and lazy. Videogames, smartphones and TV have decimated your attention span.
Just a guess, but this is usually why. I'm not spoiled nor lazy. BUT, videogames, smartphones and TV have decimated my attention span indeed. I know this. I just don't know what to do with that information. If my mind starts thinking about doing something else, it won't get quiet if I think "hey, that's just my attention span being short because I've been watching cartoons and playing video games all my life". It's just really really frustrating. I'm thinking of ending my education(engineer), because it's such a struggle. Things that could be done in an hour take me 6-7 hours, and I just keep thinking about the fact that it will get worse next year, as it's progressively getting more and more to do when I study. I've been talking to my doctor, and he says that I should consider taking medication for ADD, but I don't want to do that. I want to learn a method(s) to do this the natural way. Does anyone know of any books or something that could help me? Also, it's comforting to see that other people have problems with this as well You're also under the impression that there's some simple trick that can help you. There isn't. No. I think there is a simple method, yes, but not a simple trick. Think of it as doing push-ups. That's an easy method, but it still requires a lot of exercise. I don't think that it's about the fact that I like StarCraft better than maths, because if I say to myself: "okay, I got one hour, and I'm gonna play StarCraft all this time" I end up not playing at all. It's just the same there as with maths/whatever else I want to do. Thank you very much metbull and FFGenerations, will check it out after school! :D
youre welcome, and what i wrote ARE actually "tricks" and might help you to start making progress and eventually snowball it into a new and more productive lifestyle . idk tho not many people replied and i was hoping others would be able to add to what i wrote really
i got that book the guy said to get, will check it out
|
|
|
|
|
|
EPT
