Posted by tkmphd on March 21, 2005, at 11:41:03
In reply to I wish it was as easy to joke about this IRL, posted by rainbowbrite on March 21, 2005, at 10:32:17
hey, maybe we should all swap homework! i could use a break from statistics. anybody like math? who's working on postmodernism?
as far as feeling far behind and stuck, i've been there. in fact, i think i am always there. i have gotten through a MA and 2 years of a phd being the most last minute, procrastination-ridden student i have ever known. i have, however, begun to realize that people who do things on time and by the book often lack creativity. i have dubbed all of my procrastination time as "processing" time. in all my years of school, i have learned to incorporate my oftentimes lazy, distracted, overwhelmed feelings into producing some pretty abstract and non-traditional approaches to my work.
i'm not sure what level you are at, but, at a lot of levels, professors are pretty understanding if you are honest. tell them that you are feeling overwhelmed and tell them that you need some time. i think you will be surprised to find out that some profs are reasonable and sympathetic.
it took me a long time to realize that professors oftentimes don't expect you to read every single thing that they assign. i had to be in my 7th year of post-secondary education to figure out that part of conquering this college thing is to figure out how to survive in college. it is not about making sure that you read every last page of every last assignment. it is figuring out how you best do your work and it will not be like everyone else. i personally have to sit around and watch about 10 episodes of the iron chef before i'll get an idea. that used to make me anxious, but now i kind of realize and accept it as part of my process.
if you can relax and not worry about the production of stuff, you may actually feel like doing some of the work. i would suggest talking to some of your profs and see if you can find one or two sympathetic ones. realize that you have to get through your courses, but it sounds like you are beating yourself up about not being able to get into the work when, with me at least, if i stop thinking about it, i'll usually want to start working on it.
am i making any sense or just talking in circles.
why don't we discuss some of our work on this site? what are some of the papers about that you are trying to write? i have a background in anthropology and sociology and all that theory crap. i may be able to help you throw around some ideas. sometimes talking/bitching about your work may spark some interest!
good luck.
poster:tkmphd
thread:472085
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/studs/20040420/msgs/473585.html