I am at Uni doing Law and while I have done pretty well in terms of grades, some semesters I have had to drop a unit simply because of some personal problems but also because I am not a very organised person in general.

Which brings me to my question and search for answers. How can I stop procrastinating? How can I organise myself better? How can I deal with study better and treat it much more seriously than I do at the moment? I sometimes leave things to the point that the anxiety to complete assignments or to do exams completely overwhelm me into depression and become a serious barrier to me actually doing them properly. I was never a person like this as I was always generally confident in my own intelligence but that was until about 2nd year. Passing units in Law is simply not enough. You need very good grades to be competitive in getting jobs on graduation. While I have all these little worries that get my down, for some reason it does not entice me to worry enough to work better, harder and longer.

It's a real problem trying to start studying or do assignments weeks before they're due because I can't get focused and just leave it until urgency kicks me into gear. I know myself enough to know that if I gave the time and respect to my studies I know I should be giving them I would probably be in the top 5-10% of the class/course.

Anyway, I am trying to get better by curbing my impulsivity to pleasure (movies, music, news, forums), but I think I probably lack proper techniques when it comes to ACTUALLY studying. My parents are great wonderful and supportive people, but they have probably been a bane to my accepting responsibility and becoming disciplined. They just love so much that they give-give-give without maybe my sibling or I earning things.

I could probably change my course into something very casual like teaching or business management or things like that and still be lazy and comfortably pass but I want to do Law as I think my intelligence warrants good pay ;).

This is all in a heap and mumbled, but I am sure (or hope) a few of the mature members here have been through this and know what I am talking about. I hope I can get some valuable advice. Thanks.

Well, just stop playing around with women, get yourself down behind your desk and get on with it. ;) J/K

Well, somebody needs to tell me how to get motivated as well.

What pisses me off most is that I know my problem and acknowledge it. Yet still have a hard time doing the right thing. I am much better this semester than I was last, but that's still not where I want to be.

You problem is very common among college students or even young professionals. One way to get this under control is by getting some resources, either books, Internet or seminars on “Time and priority management”.

It works!:Notooth2:

I definitely have something to say about the procrastination issue Kazem jaan and I will tell you about it for sure, if not tomorrow, maybe the day after!!! :UniKia:

Joking aside... I'm glad you brought up the issue of your parents. You had mentioned that about them before, being a little too supportive and giving at times. But we can't really blame them for that - afterall they're Cancers and can't really help it. ;) So, this is your struggle and your struggle alone my good man.

To be honest with you, My parents were the exact opposite - extremely demanding and never happy with the extent of any accomplishment. If I came home with a 92% average, the reaction was always "why didn't you get a 100?!" Although, that "forced me" (I hesitate to use the phrase "taught me") to be very driven, it obviously created its own challenges - namely, I was driven, but lacked direction and a higher purpose.

You see, it was actually this lack of direction and higher purpose that made me a procrastinator - of a scale which I hope you will never have to deal with :Shush: I can't even tell you how many times I had to pull all-nighters to finish studying before an exam, sleeping on desks at university and still trying to cram information in as I was running to the exam! Needless to say, I ended up missing a few exams, being way too exahsuted to even sit through them, and failing a few courses before this taste of failure actually gave me a higher purpose - and that was that I didn't want to succeed because someone was forcing me too, but because I absolutely hated failing!!!

Of course, much like you, none of this stuff was an issue for me in 1st and 2nd year either and I was actually 2nd in my discipline with a 4.05 GPA (i.e. A-A+ range on the 4.33 scale)! It was toward the end of the 2nd year that I started questiong why I was doing all this. Was it going to be like this for the rest of my life? Did I have to work my a$$ off without having any fun, for how long and to what ends? Were my socially handicapped class-mates the people I had to work with for the rest of my life as colleagues?! Surely, I had not got to that point, pursuing a childhood dream of being an Aerospace Engineer, only to find out that life was - in the words of great Will, "full of sound and fury, signifying nothing".

That uncertainty and realization, that it had been go-go-go until that point in my life without actually having pondered the destination, that left me in a very bad and confused state in third year. I started slipping in my school work and started focusing strictly in my social life. I can tell you that there was no shortage of movies, intramurals, pub nights, other extra-curricular activiies and even dating that year! I was living the life... so I thought. It wasn't until I started missing these exams and failing these courses that I realized, I wasn't actually living "the" life, but living "a" life - a life which was completely disconnected with the one I had been living up to that point. A life of fun and failure! And let me tell you that it was no better than my previous life of solitude and success.

And that's when I realized that a happy medium must exist between these two very different life-styles which would include a lot of success and fun and very little solitude and failure. What a great realization, right? Of course it is. But, I'm not Tony Robins trying to sell you a bunch of inspirational crap without letting you know that turning realization into action is a life-long challenge. THIS is what will give you that higher purpose and provide you with the direction and inspiration you need to live a happy and fulfilling life. You will fail to strike the right blance and there will be tough times, there will be confusion, and there will be solitude. But through it all, what will give you the strength, is knowing that one small realization in each case, is all you need to be back on the path of fulfilling your purpose. Beating the odds, overcoming adversities and fixing your fuck-up's (excuse my blunt, but necessary use of the English language :meditate:) is the most satisfying and FUN thing you can ever do!

So, in case you're wondering how it all turned out for me after that realization, let me give you the "short" version... I could not simply drop out of school and start all-over again. I considered doing my MBA, but even that required me to finish what I had started. So, I bit the bullet, took courses in summer school to catch up again, worked hard in 4th year, while mainting a "perfect" balance with my social life. In fact, this was one of the most successful years of my life, one that I'm extremely proud of and still draw strength from, when faced with new challenges. I did write my GMAT and did extremely well and had to take some more summer classes after 4th year and even did a couple of night school courses in the 1st semester of what would have been my 5th year to fix my "fuck-ups" and finish what I had started. And it took me a year and a half to finally finish my thesis and get my degree! But I did it.. and like Frankie said (w/ compliments to Sharyar jaan - OA), "I did it my way" and I am damn proud of myslef for doing it that way, because it taught me to taste failure and appreciate success even more.

And while many of my classmates who had received their degree (including the guy who was on top of our class) spent that whole summer after 4th year looking for a job, I was enjoying my summer school classes and the '94 World Cup! And without a degree, but with an iron will and the great social skills I had picked up - compliments of my endevours into a life of fun and failure ;) - I manged to line-up 3 job offers within a week of starting to look for work!!! As I said, it wasn't for another year and 3 months before I finally managed to finish my thesis, all, while I was already working full time. And when I finally did get my degree, I jumped right on the pursuit of that management degree - which I gladly dropped after becoming a manager 3 days into my first course!!!

Of course, there have been many set-backs and failures since then and along the way - career wise, in relationships, as far as family's concerned, buying a house, investmes, yada, yada, yada. They have been some pretty huge ones that honestly make my 3rd year of university look like child's play! But I haven't slashed my wrist, am not living in a cardboard box and did not become a crack-head! Why?! Because through it all I knew that success is just a few steps away from failure... that confusion can result in the most profound clarity and great wisdom.. that if I don't give up and just keep looking for ways, I will find one... that no matter how long it takes, the sweet taste of success at the end is woth any bitterness I'm feeling now... that this is my struggle and my struggle alone and like I've got through it so many times before I WILL DO IT AGAIN & AGAIN. And I have and I'm even doing it now! :( :)

So my good man. With that long winded babble, which makes Kaddafi's speech at the UN seem short and to the point :meditate:, I hope I've caused enough confusion, for you to be at the point of clarity!!! If not, rinse and repeat... and repeat and repeat. I, as the master procrastinator, have absolutely no doubts in your intelligence and ability to get beyond this and know that one day, when we finally meet, you'll be telling me the story of how you were freaking out for no reason a few days after your B-day in 2009... along with the story of how you finally met "the girl with the painted toe nails" of course!!! :drinking47:

So my good man. With that long winded babble, which makes Kaddafi's speech at the UN seem short and to the point :meditate:, I hope I've caused enough confusion, for you to be at the point of clarity!!! :drinking47:

ROFLMAO, oh sweet Jesus, you got to switch to decaf for remainder of the day. :Notooth2:

A good thing is knowing and remembering what/why your doing it for, you need motivation, alot of smart people dont chose what they like to do, but what will make good money, bc they are smart they'r still able to perform, but bc they dont really have fun in what they do, it will lead to procrastination. Give yourself another reason to do that what needs to be done, think of the money, the future whatever works for you. Knowing what for results your actions will have and thinking about it should work, if your not really the studying type, its best to get it out of the way soon, lol, Im just saying think about it, you know what could get you motivated.

Give yourself rewards/punishment for your work, this doesnt always work, but a good vacation in between studies helps too, also bc it works against it being a drag or you falling into a bad routine.

Creating a particular day schedule, creating a routine, will help as you have created a certain time of the day/week where your studying has a place. And the routine in turn takes away the need to make a choice as it should get to a point where its automatic.

Or just stay longer at school after classes, for me its easier to do something at school cause that is kinda the place for it, or get in a after class discussion/work group or something like that if that exists in your Uni.

But to be honest I'm not the best person to give advice as Im someone who has problems with it himself, I personnaly do the classes thing, its even better if it seems like it nescesarry as in you are forced to do it, eventhough you might not be. In the end its making a choice, its between the ears, you have the time, you have the skill, you know the problem, but its getting to a point where you say no more or just find the right combination that works for you, something that works for someone else might not work for you. Reading up in books, getting tips etc does help, but in the end its finding motivation and getting excited for it, getting better grades/results will help in continuing in the right direction, its really all in the head.

Again im not the right person and am hoping for good advice too, but I do know that just reading doesnt neccesary help, in the end YOU have to get the F up and do what needs to be done.

Kazem jan,
Motivation is just a mindset. No one knows you better than yourself and you know what motivates you the best. You just need to think about why is it that you are doing what you are doing and convince yourself that if you work hard you can be good at it.
Then you need to make a schedule for yourself and stick with it. If it takes a little less Football watching, so be it. Of course in your schedule you should leave time for socializing and going out with that blond you are dating. She might be able to help you with your task at hand. :NoTooth:

Being a professional procrastinator myself I don't believe I can be a bit of help in this thread.
For example I still need to do my taxes for past 2 years, got all my paperwork packed in 2 boxes sitting right by my desk at home, also I don't need to do the whole thing, I just need to organize them and pass them on to my CPA. He quit calling me with reminders 6 month ago.
Motor and forums are chewing my life away bit by bit. :D

Thanks guys, you answered my question in general but I was looking for specifics. Are there any exercises you guys did, or any tips or anything else in general that made you focus more. Simple time management techniques or brain-tricks to get you focused? Things done in Uni that may help, etc?

Dear Kaz,
Marry an Esfahaani girl. She'll straighten you out.;)

Dear Kaz,
Marry an Esfahaani girl. She'll straighten you out.;)

LMAO. Good one Mr. A. :Notooth2:

What I was trying to tell you Kazem jaan is that procrastination is a normal thing and rather than looking for a magic solution that will get rid of it, you just have to learn to live with it and minimize how it affects your life (school life in this case).

There is a magic pill that will straighten out everything in your head, but it's like the red-blue pill in the Matrix and there's no going back to the old life and how you perceived it before. So, I strognly recommed the solution in the 1st paragraph over this one! ;)

Kazem jaan,

This is a problem that i am very familiar with. One thing that has worked for me (off and on) is Calenders. Get a big one for each subject/class, and every Sunday (or whichever day you choose), split up everything that needs to be done for each class throughout the week so that you have a lite load of work for each day. Visually seeing the amount of work that needs to be done and by when will help you get on track.

For everyday you miss, punish yourself (i'm not talking about self flagulation or anything), but take away something important to you. And for every two successful weeks, treat yourself.

hope that helps

Damn. I just noticed this thread. I believe I have found the solution. The answer to your q is: get a study partner which is smarter then u and more organized. Preferably a girl with good looks. That way u have something to look forward to when u study and also gives u motivation to proceed. :)

The wise prophet Toofi has spoken!

Kazem jaan,

This is a problem that i am very familiar with. One thing that has worked for me (off and on) is Calenders. Get a big one for each subject/class, and every Sunday (or whichever day you choose), split up everything that needs to be done for each class throughout the week so that you have a lite load of work for each day. Visually seeing the amount of work that needs to be done and by when will help you get on track.

For everyday you miss, punish yourself (i'm not talking about self flagulation or anything), but take away something important to you. And for every two successful weeks, treat yourself.

hope that helps

Thanks Ramin jan. I have started that funny enough and it has been helping more. I also have alarms set up on my iPhone calender to remind me when things are due etc, so it is a pretty good idea.

Damn. I just noticed this thread. I believe I have found the solution. The answer to your q is: get a study partner which is smarter then u and more organized. Preferably a girl with good looks. That way u have something to look forward to when u study and also gives u motivation to proceed. :)

The wise prophet Toofi has spoken!

I will try this too :D.

Damn. I just noticed this thread. I believe I have found the solution. The answer to your q is: get a study partner which is smarter then u and more organized. Preferably a girl with good looks. That way u have something to look forward to when u study and also gives u motivation to proceed. :)

The wise prophet Toofi has spoken!

If you have problem finding a female study partner, feel free to visit the jigarjoonism thread on IC and select the smartest one. Mr. Prophet will arrange the rest. ;)

If you have problem finding a female study partner, feel free to visit the jigarjoonism thread on IC and select the smartest one. Mr. Prophet will arrange the rest. ;)

I think the JigarJoonisme faith and threads alike might be the reason for the position Kaz is in now :D He's just calling it "Procrastination", just stay of the computer you :D

Toofans Idea is good too,find a semi cute study budy or just a bunch of them :DrEvil:, cute enough to keep you interested but not too cute to make you too distracted, got to find the balance, you'll manage. Seriously though a school study club or class might be a good idea.

I think the JigarJoonisme faith and threads alike might be the reason for the position Kaz is in now :D He's just calling it "Procrastination", just stay of the computer you :D

Toofans Idea is good too,find a semi cute study budy or just a bunch of them :DrEvil:, cute enough to keep you interested but not too cute to make you too distracted, got to find the balance, you'll manage. Seriously though a school study club or class might be a good idea.

it could be super cute as well. the cuteness will wear off after u shag! :D

With all this talk about study partner, even I am thinking of taking a couple of courses at the local community college. ;)

LMAO. You guys are hillarious. :)

Just thank God Mr. Kaz that you're not in engineering, otherwise the cutest study partner you could find would be no better looking than Mr. T ;)

it could be super cute as well. the cuteness will wear off after u shag! :D

LOL, the problem with that is that when the cuteness wears off, there is less stimulas to study with her and it might make things complicated, having said that I still prefer your suggestion over mine :D Altough it wont neccesary help Kaz with his grades :D

With all this talk about study partner, even I am thinking of taking a couple of courses at the local community college. ;)

LOL You see, it is a motivating idea :wavetowel2:

I enjoyed this thread a lot!!!

Behrou's post was very inspiring and the last few posts were hilarious!

Hamidjan, last time I tried it I ended up marrying the study-partner, so I suggest you give the kids a heads up about the new NANEH!

I enjoyed this thread a lot!!!

Behrou's post was very inspiring and the last few posts were hilarious!

Hamidjan, last time I tried it I ended up marrying the study-partner, so I suggest you give the kids a heads up about the new NANEH!

LOL, no need for a new Naneh.....I was just thinking of taking a non-credit course. :Notooth2:

LOL @ New Naneh. :)

I enjoyed this thread a lot!!!

Behrou's post was very inspiring and the last few posts were hilarious!

Hamidjan, last time I tried it I ended up marrying the study-partner, so I suggest you give the kids a heads up about the new NANEH!

BT jan, that is not fair. You are pushing our beloved RT towards such a dangerous path, the least you could do is to say whether you are happy with the result of what happened to you or not? :NoTooth:

I saw this clip on facebook and I thought it fits this thread very well.

YouTube- Jack Canfield explains: How To Accelerate Your End Result

Thanks PJ.

what a great thread ,kheyli cheezha yaad gerefteem va kheyli digge moondeh yaad begeerim ,az fardaa ishalla ...!

:chekerim:

what a great thread ,kheyli cheezha yaad gerefteem va kheyli digge moondeh yaad begeerim ,az fardaa ishalla ...!

:chekerim:

hahahah. good one oghab jaan.

Btt in honor of our anniversary comming up I'll try to randomly btt some threads this week.

Hows it been going kazem :D