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Chủ đề trong 'Canada' bởi MrDickcutter, 06/01/2004.

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    khanhngd24 Thành viên mới

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    14/04/2004
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    Procrastination an motivation
    Introduction
    Most people procrastinate, that is, put off tasks until "tomorrow". You probably believe that tomorrow you''ll feel more like it. Sometimes this is true. It may be foolish to start reading very dense material late at night after a stressful day at work. This is not procrastinating but being realistic. An early night, or some relaxation, or some less taxing academic work (reviewing notes from a previous study session, perhaps) could be better use of your time.
    But what happens when tomorrow comes and you still say, "I''ll just do some shopping before I get started." But after you''ve done the shopping work around the house seems attractive and next thing you know you''re busy vacuuming or fixing that dripping tap. A phone call inviting a friend for dinner takes care of the evening. This really is sounding like procrastination, especially if it happens often. What can you do about it?
    Start by asking yourself some questions. Not everybody procrastinates in the same way or for the same reasons. It''s useful to examine the reasons why you procrastinate. You then need to work by yourself (or with a colleague) to change your behaviour patterns - and you will need to work. Changing behaviour isn''t easy; you need to uncover self-defeating beliefs that are stopping you getting on and then develop an anti-procrastination attitude. Reading these advice pages, thinking about your attitudes, and putting effort into changing them, will help.
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    What do you put off doing?
    Activity: Ask yourself, What kind of study tasks do I delay doing? Don''t just answer "everything" but try and work out if it is particular things.
    People vary in what they delay doing but some answers students give include: reading; research; reviewing and filing notes; things I find difficult, boring or don''t enjoy; tasks that won''t be marked; tasks that have no deadline; items that carry a lot of marks and are very important; starting a writing assignment; and completing a writing assignment. Are any of these familiar to you or did you come up with others?
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    Why do you put off doing these things?
    Next look at the tasks that you''ve picked out as problematic and try to think why it is that you put them off. Is it because:
    * you lack interest in the topic?
    * you''re not sure what to do?
    * you feel that you never do "very well" with this kind of task?
    * you really want this to be an excellent piece of work and are afraid that you can''t perform?
    Or what else? Be honest with yourself. Nobody else needs to see your answers!
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    What do you do instead of studying?
    Activity: Now ask yourself: what is it that I do with my time when I meant to be studying? Again, try to be specific in your answers.
    Here too there are many answers. Some common ones include: sleeping; watching television; reading novels and magazines; playing sport or going to the gym; spending time with family or friends; going out for a drink; helping other people (because I can never say "no"); doing housework or gardening, fixing a car or motorbike; cooking and eating; or doing nothing, because I know that I ought to be studying. You may have found your favourite among these!
    Now you have thought about the things that you put off doing and what you do instead, consider the advantages and disadvantages to you of procrastinating.
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    Advantages of procrastinating
    Yes, it may sound surprising but perhaps there are advantages:
    * You have time to do other (pleasurable) things.
    * You can rest.
    * You can prioritise other tasks: work or family and friends.
    * You have thinking time.
    * You can clear away smaller distractions so that once you finally start studying nothing will interrupt you.
    * The studying you need to do can be an excuse for not doing other things that you don''t want to do.
    * You avoid thinking about difficult issues that your studying brings up.
    * You don''t have to confront your fear that maybe you can''t do the task.
    Perhaps you can see now that there can be some advantages. Procrastinating has its purposes.
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    Disadvantages of procrastinating
    You can probably come up quickly with a list of these.
    * Your time is wasted.
    * Activities are postponed because studying hangs over you like a grey cloud.
    * Stress is caused because studying preys on your mind.
    * You can''t relax.
    * There may be adverse effect on friends and family.
    * When you finally do study you don''t have time to do it properly.
    * You may have to work through the night.
    * You let yourself down because you don''t produce your best.
    * You may miss deadlines and lose marks.
    * You might end up failing.
    It is unlikely that the seeming advantages of procrastination outweigh the possible disadvantages. People do not feel good about procrastinating. You may believe that you work best under pressure; many people say this. But think about it. Is it worth the accompanying stress? Do you really produce your best work when you rush to complete an assignment just before a deadline? Is it good to have to deliver a piece of work immediately after you finish writing? Wouldn''t it be better to set it aside and come back to it fresh, a few days later, to do a final e***?
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    Recognising procrastination
    If you recognize that procrastination is a problem, you must find ways to change. Being a procrastinator is not a character trait (although it can run in families) but a learned behaviour that you can unlearn, with some effort.
    There are different kinds of procrastinators. Think back to the question about why you put off certain tasks. Recognising why you procrastinate can help you to change.
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    Addressing the reasons for procrastinating
    Lack of interest
    * You need to consider if it is just one particular task or whether you''re on the wrong course. Sustaining study is hard unless you are really self-motivated and interested in your subject.
    * On the other hand, there will always be aspects of a course that are less interesting and this is an easier problem to tackle:
    * If a topic bores you, find at least one aspect that interests you and explore it. Use this to get more interested in the topic. Don''t plan to spend too long on a "boring" subject. It''s better to spend half an hour, than plan to spend the whole evening but keep putting it off!
    * Look for books, articles or web sites that interest you and appeal to you (by their layout, arrangement of topics, focus etc). These may not be the required reading, but if they appeal to you they are a more sensible starting point.
    Not sure what to do
    * Are you unsure about how to approach the task and reluctant to start it? Make sure you re-read any information and, if necessary, take advice from other students or from your tutors. You will not be motivated to do a piece of work if you don''t understand what''s required.
    * Are you a worrier, afraid of failure and convinced that you can never do this kind of task very successfully? Do previous bad study experiences haunt you? Recognize that you have changed and that this is a new course, and a new start.
    Perfectionist
    Are you a perfectionist, reluctant to start or finish a task because you might not achieve your unrealistically high standard? You must accept that no piece of work is perfect. It''s better to complete a good enough piece of work on time, than dream of the perfect piece that you will never achieve.
    Last minute adrenalin
    Are you a crisis maker who actually "enjoys" declaring that you can''t get motivated until the last moment? Think about what you are doing to yourself and those around you.
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    More tips to improve your concentration and motivate you to study
    * Don''t plan to study one subject for too long: two hours is enough before moving to something different.
    * Break your time up into manageable periods. A concentration span is usually somewhere between 20 and 50 minutes. If you don''t take a physical break your concentration will dwindle.
    * If you are really short of time, use some "breaks" to do easy tasks or those you find most enjoyable.
    * Set yourself achievable tasks and reward yourself when they''re achieved. (Watch TV, go out for a drink, phone a friend, after you''ve achieved your goal, not before!)
    * Consider studying subjects you like least, or find most difficult, first, when you are fresh. Leave the things you like best or find easiest until last. (You may need to break yourself into studying by a brief spell of something easy but move quickly on to the problem subject).
    * View topics of learning as part of a bigger jigsaw. Make and look for links between one subject and another.
    * Relate your study topics to work you do or have done, and to the "real world."
    * Keep reminding yourself of your goals. Can you see why this particular (dreaded) assignment is necessary?
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    Next Steps
    Now is the time to act. Don''t leave it until tomorrow but decide right now on how you are going to tackle one study task that you have been putting off.
    Time management can help you to deal with procrastination. If you are putting off study because there are other things that you genuinely should be doing you need to make a plan to find more time for studying.
    Other advice pages related to procrastination and motivation are:
    * Concentration
    * Time management
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    Further Information
    For an introduction to the theory underlying issues of motivation, visit James Atherton''s ''Learners and Learning'' web pages. Follow the links to References and then to Motivation: http://www.dmu.ac.uk/~jamesa/learning/
    For an on-line workshop exploring motivation, visit the University of South Australia''s website:
    http://www.unisanet.unisa.edu.au/motivation/
    The Hertfordshire Integrated Learning Project, at the University of Hertfordshire, has valuable advice on:
    * Creative thinking
    * Evaluating information
    * Critical thinking
    * Working reflectively
    * Problem solving
    Once you have reached their website, follow the links to Graduate Skills, then to Skills Support Materials. Then see the index, and follow the links to the relevant topics.
    http://www.herts.ac.uk/envstrat/HILP/
    Longview Community College (Missouri, USA) also has a comprehensive introduction to critical thinking:
    http://www.kcmetro.cc.mo.us/longview/ctac/toc.htm
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    Recommended Reading
    Britton, A. and Cousins, A. (1998) Study Skills: A Guide for Lifelong Learners, London, South Bank University Distance Learning Centre.
    Jeffers, S. (1991) Feel the Fear and Do It Anyway, (Arrow e***ion), London, Arrow.
    Markham, U. (1995) Managing Stress: The Stress Survival Guide for Today, Shaftesbury, Element.
    This advice page was written by Alison Britton.

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