Identifying the Problem
This week, instead of concentrating on writing, I will install myself in the archives to delve into more eighteenth-century French sources. Right now, I have about two months of translation in front of me. Though I love the operas I am translating, the process itself is tedious. Yesterday, as I began translating piles of libretti, I witnessed and succumbed to a fascinating array of procrastination tactics. Here is just a sample:
* "urgent" call sister to make sure she is surviving her last year of vet school
* had to organize a pile of papers
* needed to spend quality time with the kitten
* took a walk to "clear my head"
* went out for coffee (does this count?)
* read a fashion magazine to "take a break" (from what?)
* snack break..brain food!
* meditation to relieve stress
* spent time staring down the pile of translation designated for the day's work
Translation accomplished: Not enough.
This post is a kind of confessional. Most people, perhaps especially academics, don't want to admit they have a problem. While there are supportive communities for drinking, gambling, and overeating, scholars are often quiet about writing blocks and writing anxieties. The Chronicle for Higher Education has revealed frightening evidence that scholars have been paralyzed by a problem. In 1999, this periodical indicated that 25% of faculty members regularly spend _no_ time during the week on writing. What's going on?
Writer and teacher at UCLA, Wendy Belcher, suggests finding a person or group where scholars can discuss writing (instead of just criticizing it) - a place where we may admit to negative feelings and experiences connected to writing. For me, at least at the moment, I feel overwhelmed at the prospect of finishing my dissertation in the next year and a half. Can I do it? Will it be good? Will I get a job because of it? There is a lot of presssure riding on it, for sure. But, at least, I am not in denial about my problem.
posted by Jewel Dakini @ 8:23 PM
4 Comments:
I think you're one of the healthy ones! I procrastinate by 1) playing chess, 2) taking walks, 3) gazing around absently, 4) checking my email and the latest cricket scores, and 5) chatting with my friends around the office. But I also think I have a more insidious work-related pathology. I can only work by 1) reminding myself that I don't want to end up at Appalachia State, and, 2) reciting to myself Samuel Johnson's reminder to work. He had a little saying engraved in his pocketwatch: "The Night Cometh," an allusion to the Gospel according to John, "Work while it is day, for the night cometh when no man can work." Well, the night, I guess, is inevitable, but Appalachia State, I hope, can be forestalled.
I think you're one of the healthy ones! I procrastinate by 1) playing chess, 2) taking walks, 3) gazing around absently, 4) checking my email and the latest cricket scores, and 5) chatting with my friends around the office. But I also think I have a more insidious work-related pathology. I can only work by 1) reminding myself that I don't want to end up at Appalachia State, and, 2) reciting to myself Samuel Johnson's reminder to work. He had a little saying engraved in his pocketwatch: "The Night Cometh," an allusion to the Gospel according to John, "Work while it is day, for the night cometh when no man can work." Well, the night, I guess, is inevitable, but Appalachia State, I hope, can be forestalled.
I think you don't have to worry about Appalachia State, but I, too, have my own picture of "failure": working at McDonald's, grilling burgers, wearing a brown polyester outfit, and all with really frizzy hair. Ugh!
Academic Coach has defined this problem as procrasdistraction: http://successfulacademic.typepad.com/successful_academic_tips/2006/12/procrasdistract.html
I am a master procrasdistrator. For me, a deadline is the best motivation to avoid these competing interests. Of course, as they say, herding academics is like herding cats. And typically, I can't stand it when someone tells me what to do or dares to give me a deadline!
Keep me posted if you come up with other ways to motivate yourself...I could use the advice.
Post a Comment
<< Home