I physically can't bring myself to do my college work?

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(I apologise if this is written poorly, I'm not the best at writing or staying on topic.)

As a kid, I was extremely gifted. I could get high grades without even trying and my reading and writing ability was years above the rest of my class but as I entered secondary school, I'd always leave my work and revision to the last minute because I believed I 'work better under pressure' and as a kid, I could always get good grades by hardly doing anything. This isn't true and my grades suffered as a result. I became extremely stressed as I felt I had to live up to being the gifted kid I once was. My parents would always tell everyone about how smart I was yet I was getting average to below average grades and was doing worse than everyone else in my class. I managed to pass all of my exams (only just) and got into college thankfully, but I hardly did any revision because I just couldn't do it.

This problem has gotten much worse as I get older and I am now in my second year of college. I enjoy the subjects I picked but I can't bring myself to revise or do any of the homework I am set. The second I try to do my work, something else distracts me and then before I know it, it's 12am. This happens in class too and I often don't realise that the teacher has set homework until one of my friends asks me what I'm going to write. I currently have two pieces of coursework to do (which I haven't even started), three essays (all due in two days) and three weeks worth of catching up to do (due to isolating). I physically can't bring myself to do it as I always find something more interesting to do and get distracted by it but I'm also stressing out because I know I need to do my work. I keep procrastinating by drawing or playing video games, but even then, I never finish any of them either and always end up moving onto something else. I'm losing sleep over this as I can't stop thinking about all the things I need to start. Is this normal?

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Comments ( 9 )
  • olderdude-xx
    3 years ago

    Your situation is fairly common; and it usually comes from not being taught how to succeed at doing things, which includes figuring out what needs to be done and what can be ignored.

    I suggest that you get the book: "It's About Time" by Mark Matteson.

    It has a sub-tittle of "How to Get Twice as Much Done in Half the Time, and Enjoy Balance and Peace of Mind.

    I just finished reading it myself December 26, and I believe that it will assist you (and others) in moving forward with life in a big way.

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  • S0UNDS_WEIRD
    3 years ago

    Get the fuck off IIN and do your work.

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  • whatisthisthing
    3 years ago

    This is totally normal, a lot more people have this problem than you might think. For a lot of people I think it comes from being really hard on yourself and it can be a huge problem.

    The answer isn't to be hard on yourself like you're probably doing right now, the answer is to be easy on yourself and plan ahead.

    I'd buy a planner and make a list of things you need to do. Don't stress about all of it, just think of yourself completing them. Start out doing one or heck one half of a task a day. Then start slowly ramping up and try a pomidoro timer to balance the internet and other things with high importance/priority things.

    Most important of all are exercise and fresh air. They really clean up your head.

    And if none of this stuff works I'd talk to a therapist and possibly get stimulants/antidepressants from them.

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  • Wryladradofft
    3 years ago

    I had the same experience in high school, which is why I opted to not go to college because I just assumed I would do too poorly for it to be worth it.

    Procrastinating is normal. Writing essays certainly isn't fun. There's nothing physically obstructing you from doing your assignments though. It's entirely a mental block, so at least in theory you should be able to just get over it and do them

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  • bubsy
    3 years ago

    Your attention span is a muscle that you've let sit idle and waste away for years. It's something you have to train--and you don't build it up after a single night. The strength of your attention span is the result of habit.

    To create a good habit, you have to train yourself as you would a dog. You have to associate a reward with studying/getting hw done. You have to get into the practice of delaying your rewards, instead of getting it instantly via playing videogames or jerking it to porn.

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  • Damiani
    3 years ago

    It is normal indeed.
    What you need to do is to snap out of it by considering the fact that you need to do great in order to help people on topics related to the matter you are studying.
    What you are missing is communicating your interest in your studies; what are you studying?

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  • kelili
    3 years ago

    I feel the same way. I want to study and before I know it I am distracted. I get only average marks which frustrates me even more because I know that I can do so much better.

    Like you I was a very bright child. And look at me now..

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  • SkullsNRoses
    3 years ago

    Is it possible to get extensions on any of these deadlines?

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  • LondonGoldman
    3 years ago

    I could never bring myself to do homework. Im sort of slow, although I can remember pointless numbers (like 75% of african Americans being lactose intolerant). I dropped out but if you made it to 2 years already you might as well just get a basic degree first. You dont really need college to make bank. Thats the biggest lie told by teachers. Lots of trades can get you rich, but if you are already 2 years in you need to man up and finish. Dont quit like a bitch

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