Welcome to the wonderfully chaotic world of graduate school, where deadlines lurk around every corner, and sleep becomes a distant memory. As a new grad student with one semester almost down, I can confidently say I’ve had my fair share of ups, downs, and epic procrastination sessions. In this blog post, I’ll delve into the thoughts, ideas, and reflections that run rampant in the mind of a grad student. Brace yourself for a blend of relatable insights and observations as we explore the never-ending cycle of procrastination and panic!
Procrastination is a Fine Art
Why complete a task today when you can put it off until tomorrow? Or the day after tomorrow? Or the day after that? Procrastination becomes a way of life, an art form that lots of graduate students have mastered…
As a deadline looms closer, the adrenaline kicks in, and we magically become masters of productivity. Who needs a whole day to write a research paper when you can do it in six hours?
Am I right?
Meh, not really! Assignments in grad school require a lot of thought, research, and reflection. But there’s time with family, friends and work to consider, so having a plan going in can really help with spending more time with the things that matter the most (family and friends).
That’s more than enough incentive to improve on my/your procrastinating way.
How I’m Improving
At the start of the current semester, I pulled up each syllabus from the courses I’m taking and input every assignment and deadline into my Google calendar. I also set up reminders for these assignments and deadlines to periodically nudge me to stay on task and on target. For the most part, this has been working well, but I know there are still ways that I can improve.
The Peak of Perfectionism
In my case, a majority of my procrastination is rooted in perfectionism with a side of creativity. I view perfectionist-creativity (I just made this term up by the way) as a double-edged sword. On one edge, it drives me to produce high-quality work and push my limits. On the other, it turns every assignment into a creative outlet where I worry about small, aesthetic details and occasionally redo things no one might even notice. Finding the sweet spot between producing quality work and being extremely meticulous is an ongoing challenge, but through a lot of reflection, I have gotten to a place where I understand that I am extremely detail-oriented, but I need to stop wasting time making things “perfect”.
A Method to Moving Forward
To avoid wasting time when working on tasks, I set small timers where I allot myself time to “zhuzh” anything that I think needs “zhuzhing” before moving on to the next item. This area is still my Achille’s heel, so sticking with my allotted time is a challenge. However, this timing method has definitely opened my eyes to the time I “waste” fixing things that might not need fixing.
The “Writing and Rewriting” Waltz
Writing is one of the backbones of grad school, and if you’re in a distant learning program like me, it’s even more important! From writing and responding to blackboard posts to writing literature reviews, the constant cycle of writing and rewriting, proofreading, and editing, can make your head spin faster than a high-paced Peloton cycling class.
An Outline to Prevent Writing Woes
To help prevent me from getting cross-eyed from all the writing we have to do in grad school, I have been:
- doing periodic “brain dumps” in the Notes app on my phone or in a notebook to get content out of my head before I forget it.
- compiling my thoughts on paper before starting to write school assignments.
- writing outlines for all long-form writing I have to do.
- doing structured research based on my outline.
- writing in blocks of time and taking a break between each block.
These have all been very useful in helping me stay focused when writing.
Sunday “Scaries”, the Graduate Edition
Sunday Scaries are real, but when you’re in grad school, they take on a whole new level of fright. As the weekend winds down, you find yourself staring at an Everest-sized to-do list and wondering how in the world you’ll ever conquer it. Cue the panic, the caffeine, and the bargaining with the clock and productivity gods.
Beating the Scaries
The current classes that I’m enrolled in have assignment due dates on Sundays at 11:59 p.m. To help myself beat the scaries and procrastination, I start working on assignments early in the week. This gives me plenty of time to complete them without feeling rushed. I also break down large assignments into smaller, more manageable tasks and take breaks in between my work sessions.
Coffee, or Green Tea in My Case, is the Lifeblood of Grad School
Coffee is to grad students what spinach is to Popeye. It fuels our late-night study sessions, keeps us awake during readings that only Dracula would find interesting, and temporarily gives us the superhuman powers we need to finish that last-minute assignment. The cup of joe is our constant companion… our stronghold in this caffeine-fueled journey.
A Shocking Fact
Believe it or not, I have NEVER had coffee in my life! But recently, I find myself sipping on slightly caffeinated green tea to give me that extra boost when needed.
😵💫 Sleep? What’s That Even?
As a grad student, sleep becomes somewhat of a distant memory. Early mornings and late nights become the norm as we try to cram schoolwork into as many waking hours as possible. Our idea of luxury is getting a full six hours of sleep, and don’t even get me started on the rare, elusive creature known as a “weekend nap.”
Thriving on Less Than Eight Hours
If I need to wake up early or go to sleep late in order to finish a task, I try to take a “power nap” during the day to avoid burnout. In addition, one thing that keeps me going is that I tell myself that grad school is a season of my life where I have to dedicate time and energy to something that will have a meaningful impact on the rest of my life. So, if I have to give up a few hours of sleep here and there, I honestly really don’t mind.
Celebrating Every Small Victory
Amidst the chaos and the semi-sleepless nights, never forget to celebrate every small victory. Whether it’s writing and responding to posts on Blackboard, completing a tedious literature review, successfully defending a thesis proposal or acing a paper, each triumph is a reminder that we’re making progress and growing as scholars.
So, go ahead, cheer yourself on, treat yourself to that chocolate and dance around your room like nobody’s watching!
So… Is It Even Worth It?
In the realm of grad school, the never-ending cycle of procrastination and panic is both exasperating and strangely exhilarating. It’s a rollercoaster ride of emotions, sleepless nights, and caffeinated adventures. But remember, you’re not alone on this journey. Embrace the chaos, find humor in the madness, and pat yourself on the back for every milestone achieved.
Grad school may be a wild ride, but it’s also a transformative experience that shapes us into resilient, knowledgeable, and extremely resourceful individuals. So, strap on your seatbelt and enjoy the ride! It will all be worth it in the end!!
