It’s that time in the semester when I should be working on papers every second of every day, but, alas, I tend to spend more time reading online newspapers, watching television, and eating instead of thinking or writing. It has become a problem.
I certainly have other things I should be doing. I have 22 exams and essays that I need to grade, and more assignments will be coming in Monday. For class, I’ve got to write an abstract for a paper that I’ve done absolutely no thinking for. I just feel like I’m losing it and and that I really [*REALLY*] need a break. Have ya’ll reached that point? Am I just complaining into the eternal abyss of the Internet for the sake of complaining?
Anyway. Maybe after writing this post I’ll do some work. Well, probably not. I hope everyone’s semesters are wrapping up nicely.
karobison
DLewis
Jeremy
bdbascom
I feel exactly the same way–somehow I can’t muster the energy to really focus. Usually I have a good jump on my papers by now, but not this time. What’s funny is that it’s not so much that I’ve gone completely apathetic, but that I’m actually focusing on doing more of the readings for my classes. Usually I start to taper off while focusing on papers, but I’d rather just read than think/write.
End of the 2nd year, we’ve written a lot of papers for classes that we’d probably not care to write, I think it’s just natural to be tired of this. Though I feel bad for those with a master’s or two that have been doing this for years already.
I feel similarly. However, unlike Dallin and you ( Ben), I almost never have a handle on my papers by this time. I did, however, *attempt* to remedy this habitual problem by starting early! Despite my good intentions– after I got the books and the topics settled— I became quite involved in other time consuming projects: I single-handedly ran the in’s and out’s of a conference at Duke, I applied to three different positions (I didn’t get two, still waiting to hear back on the third [little hope at this point]. Boy, applications take a very long time!), sent two abstracts out, worked for my part time job, and had a time consuming independent study (I thought those were supposed to be cake walks?). Anyhow, these hiccups kept me from my *four* papers which are due unusually early this semester— a good two weeks (sometime three) earlier than last spring semester. I hope don’t sound like I’m complaining, but I am. I am complaining about myself and my inability to just ‘get ‘er done’.
Today, after I finish this comment I will be in the throes of a paper for Jameson (an ‘incomplete’ from last spring semester). I’ve put this paper off partly because of time constraints, but primarily the effect of sheer intimidation. Have either of you ever suffered from write’s block induced by fright?! Advice?
I’m also scared by two of my other professors for whom I am writing this semester. I have an awful problem dealing not only with the anxiety of having something to say, but of overcoming the intimidation of to whom I am saying it. Thoughts?
Yeah, usually my anxiety plays out in the seminar room. By the time paper writing comes, I’m so thoroughly in not-caring mode, that I can generally get by. Well, here’s for hoping!