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sigersonHaving trouble with motivation.
I need to keep writing these papers; one has 6.5 pages done, and one is only 3 pages long so far. And both of those will eventually need serious editing and reference-buffing. Both are due on the 13th, and both *will* be ready by then.
Working at the school computer lab is sometimes extremely productive and sometimes a total waste: if I'm having trouble with a passage, I get distracted...so Mr. Swivels Around In His Chair Compulsively and Mr. Walkman While I Write end up being major obstacles. I can handle a fair amount of noise--it's the "single distraction in otherwise silent room" that drives me bananas. So today I tried working at home (that's how the three pages got written).
The apartment is a big ball of catwax, though. The tree needs to be taken down; M's been doing the dishes far more than he should; there's an Oob that wants to sit on my notes; and I've left so many things unfinished and out since Thanksgiving. And there's a bed with a warm comforter.
I need time to concentrate. I need to force myself to concentrate. "You can't revise if there is no draft!" I say to myself, so that I'll put something down on paper--including "Insert transition here" or "This needs editing." It has to
The problem isn't my research or my topics: I finally have two decent theses, a fair amount of research, and three or four page outlines. I'm *ready* to do these papers. They'll be okay, if not brilliant, and each has the potential to say something really cool about their topic.
The problem is that I'd rather just fall asleep right now, or prepare for New Year's, or cuddle the cat.
So how do you motivate yourself when your inner five-year-old is whining "Don't waaaannnna do it!"? (Besides backing away from LJ, of course. I'm disconnecting the computer in half an hour.)
Tomorrow I'm taking da Lappy and going to Dunkin Donuts in the morning, just to try a different work environment.
ETA: Another 2.5 pages, which are slightly more coherent than what preceded them. Yay?
I need to keep writing these papers; one has 6.5 pages done, and one is only 3 pages long so far. And both of those will eventually need serious editing and reference-buffing. Both are due on the 13th, and both *will* be ready by then.
Working at the school computer lab is sometimes extremely productive and sometimes a total waste: if I'm having trouble with a passage, I get distracted...so Mr. Swivels Around In His Chair Compulsively and Mr. Walkman While I Write end up being major obstacles. I can handle a fair amount of noise--it's the "single distraction in otherwise silent room" that drives me bananas. So today I tried working at home (that's how the three pages got written).
The apartment is a big ball of catwax, though. The tree needs to be taken down; M's been doing the dishes far more than he should; there's an Oob that wants to sit on my notes; and I've left so many things unfinished and out since Thanksgiving. And there's a bed with a warm comforter.
I need time to concentrate. I need to force myself to concentrate. "You can't revise if there is no draft!" I say to myself, so that I'll put something down on paper--including "Insert transition here" or "This needs editing." It has to
The problem isn't my research or my topics: I finally have two decent theses, a fair amount of research, and three or four page outlines. I'm *ready* to do these papers. They'll be okay, if not brilliant, and each has the potential to say something really cool about their topic.
The problem is that I'd rather just fall asleep right now, or prepare for New Year's, or cuddle the cat.
So how do you motivate yourself when your inner five-year-old is whining "Don't waaaannnna do it!"? (Besides backing away from LJ, of course. I'm disconnecting the computer in half an hour.)
Tomorrow I'm taking da Lappy and going to Dunkin Donuts in the morning, just to try a different work environment.
ETA: Another 2.5 pages, which are slightly more coherent than what preceded them. Yay?
