2017 Dec 13
Most university students don’t understand concepts like “planning ahead”, “finishing early” or “skipping an episode of Game of Thrones to work on your assignment”. Hence, more often than not, you’re probably going to go through these five stages of completing your coursework.
Stage 1: The curse of procrastination
Many of us believe that a student’s greatest enemy is drinking, smoking or that one friend who makes you do both. But actually, the most formidable foe in your academic life is the curse of procrastination. For those of you who willed up the strength to open up your assignment brief, what immediately catches your attention is the deadline that is two months away. “OMG that’s ages away. I shouldn’t even be reading the question so early! I’ll start after next weekend for sure!”. Sounds familiar right? It’s okay, research shows that students are socially and biologically compelled to procrastinate. Speaking of which, excuse me while I postpone writing the rest of this article.
Stage 2: The planning
As days turn to weeks, you realize that a month has passed you by. “Hmm… a month is all I need to write the perfect essay. Let me plan this out!” So, you bring out the big guns and create an excel sheet consisting of a detailed table outlining the number of words/pages you need to finish every week. This neatly planned out schedule is all you need to gleam with pride. Let’s get it printed! Oh, according to your timetable, you need to finish writing you introduction by tonight. Enter procrastination. “It’s 7 P.M so I’ve got until midnight! I’ll finish the new episode of Modern Family and then get started”.
Stage 3: Can we panic now?
Two weeks left!!! What happened to that beautiful timetable you printed out? As you stare at the curser mockingly blinking on an empty word document, pessimistic thoughts come to mind. You’re going to fail. How will you tell Thaththa? You’re never going to get a job! LIFE IS RUINED. Okay, calm down. Grab a massive chocolate doughnut with sprinkles and start googling some inspirational quotes. “It does not matter how slowly you go, as long as you do not stop”. There, you have it! So you started slow because you spent too much time napping, partying and watching TV Shows! Doesn’t matter because… “Mistakes make us human!” All you need is faith in yourself and a whole lot of snacks to get the job done. (Warning: If you’re going to stress eat, please refrain from checking your weight. That’s not going to end well.)
Stage 4: Burning the midnight oil
“Dear god, please give me the strength to carry on for just a few more hours” The deadline is today, you haven’t showered, your room is a mess and you’re on your sixth cup of coffee. “Mirror mirror on the wall, who is that ugly, woebegone creature staring back at me?” If only you had started sooner! Hold up, the ideal time for a breakdown would have been a week ago. You have procrastinated your breakdown as well. But it’s okay, after referencing 10 more sources, you can join the real world again.
Stage 5: Celebrations
And…submit! Hooray, you’re done. First things first, let’s hit the shower. Now that you have cleaned up, had a decent meal and tidied up your room, it’s time to snuggle up in your comfy bed and get some well-deserved sleep. Oh right… you have another assignment coming up in a month. You’re definitely not going to end up in this mess again. You will start early and finish early. But first, sleep! Then of course, you have to catch up on Game of thrones. So yup let’s begin somewhere around tomorrow or the day after. Ah… procrastinating already. And thus, the circle of life continues….
