Our relationship with procrastination
A conversation between Robin and Ayelen, two Master’s of Media Production students who can’t avoid procrastination.
Robin: Since I’ve been in my Master’s program, I’ve noticed I’ve been procrastinating more than I usually would (and more than I would like). I mean, in my undergraduate program, I would procrastinate here and there, but it was never at the point that it has gotten to now. I don’t know if it’s because I have way more things to do, or it’s just that I’m so overwhelmed that I literally shut down and force myself to leave it to the very last minute, but I just do. Funny thing is, I always manage to get it done, and pretty well, so I don’t know if this is something I need to change because in the end I always get things done and sometimes I feel I work better under stress, or maybe it’s just because I don’t remember the last time I worked on something way before it was due.
Ayelen: I understand where you’re coming from. I find that I have troubles with procrastinating as well. I find that I can only focus on one thing at a time when it comes to school — which is problematic- because as an academic, as a master’s student there are always five things ongoing at once. I think the problem I have is that I am used to giving 100% in all of my assignments, and the stress of having to do them all to the full extent is stressful because I feel like I don’t have time. Unfortunately this does not lead me to organize my time better, instead it leads me to need to take a break. And usually that break is prolonging something that I inevitably have to do, which makes me stress even more.
Robin: Exactly. And sometimes these “breaks” last a little too long… lol (right up until the night before it’s due). And it’s interesting when you mentioned “Im used to giving 100% In all of my assignments”, I agree too, I found that every step higher we take with education, it just feels like we have less and less time to give things our 100%. I mean, that’s obvious that education gets harder as you move from degree to degree, but I also think it contributes to the fact that as we are getting older we have way more responsibilities. Most students are juggling part-time jobs (sometimes even two), some are working unpaid internships for experience, some are living alone and need to do groceries weekly and everything else living alone entails, etc. When I was in cégep, 18/19, I barely had anything to worry about at the time which gave me more time to focus on my assignments. Whereas now, I’m trying to find a job in my field, I’m trying to work so I can pay my rent and groceries, etc. And this is something I feel a lot of older people don’t understand, you’re never just a “student” you’re constantly multitasking and preparing for the next steps in life.
Ayelen: Life always seems more urgent than writing a paper. How can you justify reading a book about media when your clothes need cleaning or you fridge needs to be refilled. And unlike an essay, you can’t just wash and dry your clothes once. You have to continually do it. So the essay goes another day without doing. I think procrastination becomes even more dangerous when you’re working in a group. Now your procrastination is not just affecting you but other students and their grades.
Robin: I completely agree! I can’t even tell you how many times I would say okay, I either have to write this paper today, or go out and get groceries, do my laundry and do other important chores. And you know, sometimes I haven chosen homework over these things but that caused me to go a month without doing my laundry and sometimes even three weeks without going to do groceries. On that note, it’s so easy for students, like us, who are in a master’s program that have both a major paper/project and classes to complete, to say why would I work on my master’s thesis tonight when I literally have a midterm due tomorrow and 4 other things due this week. It’s just not logical. In perfect world, everything would be given equal thought and consideration (like it should) but it’s very difficult and unrealistic.
Ayelen: I totally agree, I end up doing twenty things at once, which sometimes causes the things I’m doing to not be their best. I take the train and I read, I watch a video for class while I make plans for my thesis project. I’ve become someone who must do two things at once, cause otherwise they won’t get done. I wish I could be someone who plans ahead and does things in orderly time. I can’t be that person though. If I have an hour where I can literally do nothing (although I probably need to be doing a million things) sometimes I need to sit with a cup of tea and watch the mindless television that I love so much, after all the love I have for them was what brought me to this Master’s Program.
