Achieving max productivity BEFORE you're stressed?
Discussion
Hi all,
No idea if anybody can give me some words of wisdom, but it's worth a try!
I'm currently studying an engineering degree. I've been studying for four years now in total towards it. For as long as I can remember, I have not been particularly productive until I am suitably stressed and under pressure. Many people including university department staff say that this is just a trait of engineers, but I don't know whether to believe that - and even if I do, I still want to better myself and improve my productivity.
At the moment i'm studying for two exams next week. Last week I was doing a few questions a day leisurely going through past papers and tutorial exercises at a slow pace, taking my time and learning things properly - too slow, but a preferable approach. It wasn't until the nearest exam was only a week away that I started to get a bit stressed, and since i've been doing 2 or 3x more questions per day, and i'm still learning it properly I think.
I'm the same with coursework. I'm not one to start it a couple of day before, or like some, the night before (and i'm often done a day before but spend too long polishing work when theres better use of the time studying other stuff!) but I start a week or two before, and potter through slowly doing a bit here and there when I can be bothered, yet ONLY when there is just a few days left I'm able to go into overdrive - well my level of overdrive anyway.
This is not a problem with coursework, but I don't want to be like that with my dissertation next year, and if I could avoid this method when revising for exams I'd get lots more revision done, and practice many more problems, since I actually do give myself a good amount of time, I just don't use it that well initially!
Any advice would be much appreciated! I need to sort my productivity and mentality out.
Matt.
No idea if anybody can give me some words of wisdom, but it's worth a try!
I'm currently studying an engineering degree. I've been studying for four years now in total towards it. For as long as I can remember, I have not been particularly productive until I am suitably stressed and under pressure. Many people including university department staff say that this is just a trait of engineers, but I don't know whether to believe that - and even if I do, I still want to better myself and improve my productivity.
At the moment i'm studying for two exams next week. Last week I was doing a few questions a day leisurely going through past papers and tutorial exercises at a slow pace, taking my time and learning things properly - too slow, but a preferable approach. It wasn't until the nearest exam was only a week away that I started to get a bit stressed, and since i've been doing 2 or 3x more questions per day, and i'm still learning it properly I think.
I'm the same with coursework. I'm not one to start it a couple of day before, or like some, the night before (and i'm often done a day before but spend too long polishing work when theres better use of the time studying other stuff!) but I start a week or two before, and potter through slowly doing a bit here and there when I can be bothered, yet ONLY when there is just a few days left I'm able to go into overdrive - well my level of overdrive anyway.
This is not a problem with coursework, but I don't want to be like that with my dissertation next year, and if I could avoid this method when revising for exams I'd get lots more revision done, and practice many more problems, since I actually do give myself a good amount of time, I just don't use it that well initially!
Any advice would be much appreciated! I need to sort my productivity and mentality out.
Matt.
Working as an engineer means that this sort of productivity is your daily business. Your course is meant to prepare you for that, and the graduation is meant to certify that you're able. After all, the degree is a reliable certificate for other people to estimate your capability.
What you describe above is procrastination. If you don't like to compress your preparation into six weeks or less, spend two hours every weekday to look at topics in depth. Also, this will make it easier for you to follow future lectures.
What you describe above is procrastination. If you don't like to compress your preparation into six weeks or less, spend two hours every weekday to look at topics in depth. Also, this will make it easier for you to follow future lectures.
I had a similar problem at uni. I didn't solve it. I had a hyperdrive function for when deadlines were approaching and the stress was increasing, but instead of working earlier to reduce the stress, I basically relied on my ability to power through at the end.
My dissertation was utter s
te as a result.
I would question whether it's possible for most people to change their habits once they've made it to the latter stages of uni.
P.S. yes, we're procrastinators. I did a social sciences degree btw.
My dissertation was utter s
te as a result.I would question whether it's possible for most people to change their habits once they've made it to the latter stages of uni.
P.S. yes, we're procrastinators. I did a social sciences degree btw.
Probably no use now, but when you're doing class work make sure you do all the tutorials immediately after class, then redo them one week later. Ask for extra tutorials and just simply asking for the best book for the course can make a world of difference.
Timetable your day; an exam is a study deadline, so give yourself other difficult but not impossible targets, eg "complete tutorial a,b and c before meeting Anna tonight at 7pm"... And stick to it.
Pen and paper diary stopped me procastinating. Write down all the work you need to do and get in the habit of starting the list early in the day "to get it out the way"
It's the people that got me through my BEng. Just sitting with a group of guys figuring out how to do something helped a stload. Aero systems engineering next now.
Edit. Honours year. Expect to have no social life at all. None.
Timetable your day; an exam is a study deadline, so give yourself other difficult but not impossible targets, eg "complete tutorial a,b and c before meeting Anna tonight at 7pm"... And stick to it.
Pen and paper diary stopped me procastinating. Write down all the work you need to do and get in the habit of starting the list early in the day "to get it out the way"
It's the people that got me through my BEng. Just sitting with a group of guys figuring out how to do something helped a s
tload. Aero systems engineering next now. Edit. Honours year. Expect to have no social life at all. None.
Edited by MethylatedSpirit on Friday 3rd July 00:23
Edited by MethylatedSpirit on Friday 3rd July 00:24
OP, if procrastination is the issue, put off procrastination until tomorrow and today get some work done.
If you need to be stressed in order tto work, imagine you've been married for 35 years and listening to your imaginary Mrs relaying an entire day's worth of work conversations she's had about people who you don't know and never will, while trying to do your own stuff. That works for many marred men. Apparently.
If you need to be stressed in order tto work, imagine you've been married for 35 years and listening to your imaginary Mrs relaying an entire day's worth of work conversations she's had about people who you don't know and never will, while trying to do your own stuff. That works for many marred men. Apparently.
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