|
whatsmyname
|
 |
« on: February 08, 2010, 05:17:36 PM » |
|
I blocked off the entire afternoon for work. I have not done a thing so far, not even checked my mail.
I dread the work. Even though I'm interested in the topics, I dread actually going through the material and the activities involved. It didn't quite bite me in the butt either of the past two weeks, since I know the material, essentially inside and out.
I don't know what it is. I think it's the monotony of re-teaching the exact same material from the previous term. I don't quite know.
I'm going to stop writing this right now, as it's not making me feel any better.
|
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
|
|
|
|
alto_stratus
|
|
« Reply #1 on: February 08, 2010, 05:43:19 PM » |
|
Make a checklist? Promise yourself some kind of treat afterward? Turn on some great music and try to make it fun?
|
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
|
|
|
|
whatsmyname
|
|
« Reply #2 on: February 08, 2010, 10:19:47 PM » |
|
Got nothing done today. Hopefully tomorrow will go a little better. This is all a bit depressing. Already looking forward to summer vacation. Seriously.
|
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
|
|
|
|
high_energy_photons
|
|
« Reply #3 on: February 08, 2010, 11:51:59 PM » |
|
Do not block off an entire afternoon to work. Try blocking off 10 minutes. Be good to yourself when you accomplish the 10 minutes. The boost for success in the little things can provide the motivation to do the bigger things. I have plenty of motivation issues, and this tends to work well for me. Maybe it might help you...
|
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
|
|
|
|
whatsmyname
|
|
« Reply #4 on: February 09, 2010, 06:46:31 PM » |
|
Still struggling with that prepare in advance thing. Never seems to work for me. Right before I need to works for me.
|
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
|
|
|
|
whatsmyname
|
|
« Reply #5 on: February 09, 2010, 11:35:05 PM » |
|
I'm almost fully prepped. It took me about 15-30 minutes to prep for two classes for the entire week.
However, I stressed about it for nearly 72 hours. That's not good.
I'm beginning to figure out what's at the root of this. I'm not sure if the problem is solvable at this level. In the past, I dealt with unethical admin's who were more concerned with bean counting than with education. I'm dealing with better people now, but the nasty bitter taste of the scum I was previously associated with lingers.
We really need to band together and recognize what's going on here: higher edu is turning into mcdonald's.
|
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
|
|
|
|
verbena
|
|
« Reply #6 on: February 10, 2010, 12:51:36 AM » |
|
I'm almost fully prepped. It took me about 15-30 minutes to prep for two classes for the entire week.
However, I stressed about it for nearly 72 hours. That's not good.
That doesn't sound like flagging motivation to me. You just have to figure out how to stop beating yourself up for not doing something that, in fact, you don't need to do. |
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
"My kind of paper, into lots of fiber."
|
|
|
promovenda
Just thrilled to be a
Senior member
Posts: 938
Lost in the library
|
|
« Reply #7 on: February 10, 2010, 04:35:01 AM » |
|
I do something like this. For me I think it's related to perfectionism; i.e., the task looks unbearably large when in reality "good enough" will take a reasonable amount of time. I don't know if that resonates with you, whatsmyname.
|
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
"You're a wonderful bartender, Promovenda. The hamster bestows one of his special nibbles on your ear."
|
|
|
|
alto_stratus
|
|
« Reply #8 on: February 10, 2010, 01:32:19 PM » |
|
A line I told myself recently: "Avoid spending 3 hours procrastinating about something that you can do in 30 minutes." Something (usually an emotion you haven't come to terms with yet) is keeping you from getting the prep done. Tell it to pipe down for 30 mins so you can get this done.
|
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
|
|
|
voxprincipalis
Foxaliciously Cinnamon-Scented (and Most Poetic)
Member-Moderator
Distinguished Senior Member
Posts: 16,438
Has potentially infinite removable wallets
|
|
« Reply #9 on: February 10, 2010, 01:35:45 PM » |
|
I blocked off the entire afternoon for work. I have not done a thing so far, not even checked my mail.
I dread the work. Even though I'm interested in the topics, I dread actually going through the material and the activities involved. It didn't quite bite me in the butt either of the past two weeks, since I know the material, essentially inside and out.
I don't know what it is. I think it's the monotony of re-teaching the exact same material from the previous term. I don't quite know.
I'm going to stop writing this right now, as it's not making me feel any better.
A line I told myself recently: "Avoid spending 3 hours procrastinating about something that you can do in 30 minutes." Something (usually an emotion you haven't come to terms with yet) is keeping you from getting the prep done. Tell it to pipe down for 30 mins so you can get this done.
I'm very sympathetic as I'm finding myself in the exact same situation, and have similar burnout/discouragement issues at the moment. So today I am going to see how quickly I can get several tasks done that I have less than no interest in doing. The point is to do as good a job as necessary while spending not a minute longer than necessary. See you in a little while. VP |
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
|
|
|
promovenda
Just thrilled to be a
Senior member
Posts: 938
Lost in the library
|
|
« Reply #10 on: February 11, 2010, 05:47:59 AM » |
|
Too bad, vox. I also identify. My laptop died, and I plunged into discouragement. Personal issues are also causing my emotional energy to be depleted. Stratus, I like your advice.
|
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
"You're a wonderful bartender, Promovenda. The hamster bestows one of his special nibbles on your ear."
|
|
|
rchill
Junior member
Posts: 73
|
|
« Reply #11 on: February 11, 2010, 08:00:01 AM » |
|
Why re-teach the same thing? Change it up, find new sources, try new things. I have never taught the same course the same way. There is always new discoveries, new analyses that can be added to the lecture material/lab preps.
Why are you still hanging onto past issues if they are no longer a part of your life? How long have you been teaching? Do you still enjoy it? Could the problem be larger than just the course prep/administrivia issue?
I find if I love what I do, the details of doing it are no problem, but if I don't really want to do something, be somewhere....the procrastination bug bites hard.
|
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
|
|
|
|
grasshopper
|
|
« Reply #12 on: February 11, 2010, 08:10:44 AM » |
|
I'm beginning to figure out what's at the root of this. I'm not sure if the problem is solvable at this level. In the past, I dealt with unethical admin's who were more concerned with bean counting than with education. I'm dealing with better people now, but the nasty bitter taste of the scum I was previously associated with lingers.
We really need to band together and recognize what's going on here: higher edu is turning into mcdonald's.
I don't think that's at the root of it. |
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
|
|
|
|
