dustthouart Posted January 20, 2006 Share Posted January 20, 2006 I am a TERRIBLE procrastinator. >_< I am entering my second semester at college and it is starting to become a real problem for me. For example, I have known about this very important test tomorrow for a while... and I've hardly studied at all... So basically I'm struggling with sloth. I want so much to be organized and to get things done... I want to use my time effectively and have time for school, prayer, church, volunteering and social stuff. Can anyone recommend prayers to say, saints to ask for prayer, techniques, or ANYTHING to help me? Prayer for me would of course be appreciated too! It's a test for Year 2 Chinese. I have to write 3 pages about myself in Chinese characters. I am not prepared enough! I know it's my own fault, but I just have to pass this... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cow of Shame Posted January 20, 2006 Share Posted January 20, 2006 (edited) Get rid of the things that distract you. I didn't have a tv until my senior year. Delete all games from your computer, and get rid of any console systems you have. Put an egg timer next to the phone & stick to the limit you set for yourself...same goes for screwing around on the internet. Do you work first, THEN play. Mommy & Daddy aren't there to look over your shoulder any more, so at some point you're just going to have to knuckle under and make yourself get stuff done in a timely fashion. Edited January 20, 2006 by Cow of Shame Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dustthouart Posted January 21, 2006 Author Share Posted January 21, 2006 (edited) I hate to be a whiner, but I would really appreciate some more advice about this... particularly scriptural or people to read, or anything... Or more prayer... Thanks to Cow for his advice Edited January 21, 2006 by dustthouart Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Era Might Posted January 21, 2006 Share Posted January 21, 2006 (edited) Laziness (*) is commonly a consequence of boredom. You're bored with doing your work, so you go, say, talk to someone, but you're really bored with them too, so you just keep going from one thing to another, and never really do anything. I'd say just focus on doing what you need to do, and don't let other things deter you. *I say laziness, because sloth, or acedia, is not just a physical aversion to work, but a "spiritual sadness" at the cost of virtue, and ultimately, virtue itself. The soul is so overwhelmed by the work of holiness, that it wallows in its own sadness, and rather than advancing with hope, it trudges through life in defeat; hence, it doesn't want to do anything, because everything is seemingly lost. The desert fathers called laziness "the noonday devil". A prayer from St. Ephraim: [quote]O Lord and Master of my life, Take from me the spirit of sloth, despair, lust of power, and idle talk, But give rather the spirit of chastity, humility, patience, and love to your servant. Yea, O Lord and King, grant me to see my own faults and not judge my brother, For you are blessed unto ages of ages. Amen.[/quote] Edited January 21, 2006 by Era Might Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cow of Shame Posted January 21, 2006 Share Posted January 21, 2006 [quote name='dustthouart' date='Jan 21 2006, 12:39 AM'] particularly scriptural or people to read, or anything... [/quote] ...so, you want other distractions, eh? And since it's 'scriptural', then it's all good. lol Look, I totally understand & know where you're coming from. It sounds like you're looking for external motivation. Do you have a friend/roommate that's a [i]good enough[/i] friend that they can hassle you to do your work & you can still remain friends? Someone to help keep you 'accountable'? Certainly prayer wouldn't be a bad thing....start doing a bit yourself. If Jesus had given you the assignment, would you put it off 'til the last minute? I dunno if that sort of thing would work for you more than a couple of days, but it's always worth a shot. Praying about it will certainly keep it more central in your mind, and hopefully help you to get stuff done. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
curtins Posted January 21, 2006 Share Posted January 21, 2006 "dont waste your time and your energy- which belong to God...." St. Josemaria Escriva "don't put off ur work until tomorow" -same as above buy The Way by St. Josemaria Escriva- itsreally motivating Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fidei Defensor Posted January 21, 2006 Share Posted January 21, 2006 Part of my problem is the times when I actually feel like doing my school work, it is an inconvenient time. However, I have just trained myself to start my work as soon as i get home, and just finish it. Weekends are another story though... (not this one though, we just had semester finals, so no homework!) So, my advice is to just do it. Just start the habit of doing your work. Start early, and just do it. I know, its probably not very helpful sounding, but its basically the only way. Its how I got over my procrastination habit. As well, maybe use your work as a distraction from something else you are doing.. anything to get it done Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
prose Posted January 21, 2006 Share Posted January 21, 2006 I heard a priest talk about this once. He basically came to the conclusion that procrastination is caused by fear. Of what? Of one of two things: 1) Fear that you will not make a difference (either for yourself or for someone else), so you just don't do it. 2) Fear of change. If you can pinpoint what causes this fear in you, you can overcome it by asking Christ for strength. He was saying that although most of the time we can't recognize this, that we all need the strength to change when change is needed. Even something small like cleaning a desk or mailing a letter changes SOMETHING. So ask yourself, what are you fearing? And then pray for the strength to overcome it. Then slowly, you will see things change around you. ****** Another theory I have heard (and recognize it in my life): If your finances or something important in your life is out of control, it surfaces in other areas like cleanliness, or organization. Clean up yourself internally, and externally everything will fall in place. Looking at it this way, I realized both ideas are very very similar. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
philothea Posted January 21, 2006 Share Posted January 21, 2006 [quote name='Cow of Shame' date='Jan 19 2006, 11:56 PM']Get rid of the things that distract you. I didn't have a tv until my senior year. Delete all games from your computer, and get rid of any console systems you have. Put an egg timer next to the phone & stick to the limit you set for yourself...same goes for screwing around on the internet. [right][snapback]861621[/snapback][/right] [/quote] This is [i]exactly[/i] the only thing that ever worked for me. I have to get rid of all the computer games, all the books, and drop the internet. (I don't watch TV.) Once you establish a solid habit of regular work, you might be able to reintroduce the fun, distracting stuff. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ash Wednesday Posted January 21, 2006 Share Posted January 21, 2006 I read St. Josemaria Escriva's thoughts on laziness in his writings "The Way" (http://www.escrivaworks.org) I find him to be very helpful. Over the new year I decided to start rising and sleeping at a more regular time, and being less lazy. And yet it is so easy to let the old habits start creeping back in. So today I sat down and read some of Escriva's writings again. I think we should have a Phatmass Sloth Club to check in on each other. What say you all? Any takers? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cpp Posted January 21, 2006 Share Posted January 21, 2006 I have the same problem sometimes. St. Josemaria has been an incredible help. Just go and read The Way (it has a chapter on [url="http://www.escrivaworks.org/book/the_way/contents/15"]Study[/url]). Sometimes I put a picture of St. Josemaria next to me while I'm studying. Just looking at his face and remembering him saying... [quote]I don't understand how you can call yourself a Christian and lead such an idle, useless life. Have you forgotten Christ's life of toil? ([i]The Way, 356)[/i][/quote] ...and back to work! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
prose Posted January 22, 2006 Share Posted January 22, 2006 I wanted to post here a while ago... I just had so many other things to do! : (sorry, I had to do it) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pio Nono Posted January 22, 2006 Share Posted January 22, 2006 JMJ 1/22 - Third Sunday St. Expedite, the patron of the lazy. He's holding a cross that said "HODIE" ("today" in Latin) and crushing with his foot a crow holding a banner that says "CRAS" ("tomorrow" in Latin). I have a statue of him on my desk. [img]http://www.molossia.org/pictures/stexpeditus2.gif[/img] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Era Might Posted January 22, 2006 Share Posted January 22, 2006 [quote name='Pio Nono' date='Jan 22 2006, 05:19 PM']JMJ 1/22 - Third Sunday St. Expedite, the patron of the lazy. He's holding a cross that said "HODIE" ("today" in Latin) and crushing with his foot a crow holding a banner that says "CRAS" ("tomorrow" in Latin). I have a statue of him on my desk. [img]http://www.molossia.org/pictures/stexpeditus2.gif[/img] [right][snapback]863439[/snapback][/right] [/quote] Whoa. That's awesome. Never heard of him before. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Extra ecclesiam nulla salus Posted January 22, 2006 Share Posted January 22, 2006 I just printed out a larger version of him, and am going to hang it in my locker. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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