I took a particularly dreadful class in my freshmen year in college with a teacher whose name that I would love to share with you for a number of reasons:
- To warn people against ever taking his classes.
- To let him know he needs to up his game.
- He has a really funny name and if I told it would you it would make you laugh.
Nameless man’s class was a filler class called “learning strategies” and all I really remember of this class was learning to speed read which is a skill I didn’t really need as I was already one of those annoying students who could read so fast that I would not just read what was required but I would also read everything on the suggested reading list.
Nameless man also had enormously novel and helpful tips like “use highlighters when you read.” I also remember nameless teacher sharing stories about his romantic life that made me want to jump from the second story building so as to end my suffering. I liked to imagine the headline of the student newspaper reading: “Desperate student leaves a highlighted note that professor nameless’ class was so bad that it drove student to suicide.” I liked to imagine that he would be charged with man slaughter for teaching such a deadly boring class.When I didn’t have suicide fantasies I was calculating what I was paying for the class per session, hour, minute and second. These figures only heightened my pain and strengthened my death wish.
There was however something that I learned in this class, no thanks to the professor. Rather, it was from a late in life student, a peroxide blond in her late 60’s who looked like she either had a career in B-movies or she worked at the Pink Flamingo in Vegas, that I received a strategy that I have held onto for over 20 years. I hadn’t been paying attention in class, something that our professor gave a lecture on the importance of, so I am not sure what inspired the saucy 60-something student to share this tidbit of wisdom. Whatever it was I am glad she did.
Prepare yourself for the wisdom. She suggested that how she got herself to write a paper, or clean her house, or organize her Vegas pension fund paperwork was to turn a timer on for thirty-minutes and the she would tell herself that she only had to do it until the bell rang. I am not sure why I so valued this woman’s advice but it immediately seemed brilliant to me. I felt sure that it would stop the procrastination with my writing. I had on my to-do list everyday for years, “write.” each and everyday I would get everything done on my list but the writing.
When I went to grad school I had to write a 300 page thesis and I was not at all sure I could accomplish such a feat. I did two things. First I put the date in my Palm Pilot of when I wanted to have this thing done and then I had the Palm Pilot count for me how many days and hours I had until I had to have thesis turned in ( yes, it does seem that I have some mild OCD like behaviors) and then I went to Target and I bought myself a kitchen timer.
For 30 minutes a day, seven days a week I turned the kitchen timer on and I wrote. And I had absolutely no expectation of writing anything good. I just had to write for 30 minutes. I wrote any random thought I had about my thesis topic and when I couldn’t think of anything to write I copied quotes from books that were ideas that I wanted to integrate into my thesis. I did this until the bell rang. Over time I had over 700 pages of crap and it was crap. Seriously, it was a hot mess of randomness. But I had enough to start organizing and refining and figuring out what I was really trying to say.
What was really surprising is that after a while I no longer quit writing when the bell rang. I kept writing. However, there were days when i waited for that bell as I wrote. I waited for that bell like I had waited years before for the phone to ring after “he” had asked me for my phone number. On those days when the bell would ring I would run away from my computer as fast as my little legs would carry me.
I am not saying this is the best way to write a thesis or a book, it is a way and it is a way that worked for me. If I had started with an outline and had organized it so on Monday I was supposed to work on this part and Tuesday on another I would have NEVER finished it. Instead I just wrote and wrote and wrote and then when there seemed like enough to work with then I started organizing it.
Maybe you don’t want to write a book or don’t need to write 300 pages. Maybe you just want to write and you never do. Well buy a timer. Set it for 30 minutes and write, and then do it again and again and see what in time you have.
I no longer have to use the timer. But, there are days when I have to promise myself that I only have to write for an hour and then when the hour is up I usually find that I don’t want to quit writing. I’ve got to go, my 60 minutes are up.
It’s a very sound idea and I will bear it in mind for when I am procrastinating. I wish I had known about it when I was supposed to be revising for my finals – I once washed the curtains at 1am to delay starting work on my revision. These days I force myself to do things I don’t want to by delaying a pleasure (like having coffee and a cake while reading the paper) until I have done the hoovering or washing up or whatever I am putting off.
Niiiicccceee!
I will forward it to the entire cadre of graduate students slaving over their papers where I work.
You seem to be up as early as I am, my dear.
Have a good day today, LBR.
My mother uses this strategy all the time for filing and cleaning. She sets the timer (or puts on a CD) and has until the end to accomplish her task. It always struck me as relatively good motivation (but I might have to boycott it just because my mother did it-lol (oh how the inner workings of the mind justifies things). Love the post as usual! I will have to pass it along to my friend who is a English teacher- to ensure she makes the classes for undergraduate students as interesting as possible (to prevent possible suicides
I don’t use a timer, but when it comes to projects that seem to big to tackle, I have a “15 minutes at a time” tool. I tell myself I only have to start and do it for 15 minutes. Usually I end up working much longer, but it’s that promise of finite time that helps me overcome the hurdle just to get started.
My most annoying college prof was Philosophy. Middle-aged, long haired (balding on top), wore very tight jeans that left little to the imagination and thought he was All That. Made us buy HIS book as the class textbook, then the only thing he ever referred to in it the whole quarter was actually a quote from Descartes. Made us read Carlos Castaneda. Need I say more?
Well. So that’s what you do…
Me? I’m just practicin’ on y’all….
Alienne:I use your delayed gratification technique too. It does help sometimes. On other times I let myself off the hook and let myself do the reward first and then promise myself I will do the task that should have proceeded the reward.
I can think of one passtime that should never have a timer going.
La Framéricaine: Merci! I hope they enjoy and find some motivation in it. Really, if I hadn’t had that technique I might not have written my thesis.
I have Blogger auto-publish for me at 4:00 a.m. I don’t wake until between 6-6:30 a.m.
Hope you have a lovely day, too!
Paula: Well, if your mother did the CD then you should do the timer. I find with house cleaning it motivates me to do as much as I can in the timed period.I am running around like a whirling dervish. It is amazing how much you can accomplish in 30 minutes.
So glad you like and yes your friend and all professors should know that death by lecture is a real and possible thing.;-)
Deja:I so agree, it is knowing that I don’t have to do it forever—that the bell will ring that can get me to do all manner of tasks that could otherwise cause epic procrastination.
Oh, I sooooo had that professor. Mine was a cultural studies guy who had spent some time in prison. He had long hair and wore jeans and Hawaiian shirts and cowboy boots. We had to buy his book too. And, I refused to read it,on principal. Carlos Castaneda for a philosophy course???? Wow! That is BAD!!!!
Braja: That works too.:-)
Comedy Goddess: I had a boyfriend pre-weasel that could have used a timer. ‘I get the point’ was a thought that often came to my mind.;-)
My motivation for completion is probably buried deep in my sub conscience. Some weird sort of self gratification that results in totally anal cleaning for hours, writing far too much for hours, and then reading it, editing it, writing again, reading, editing it, then deleting it. Then I go clean again.
Hmmmmm
Therapy perhaps?
Dave:Everything sounds good to me but the deleting part. Don’t delete!!! Save it. You may find something in it later to go back to!!! And when you get that urge to clean comes on you are more than welcome to come over to my house.;-)
Yes….I am one who needs to finish her thesis!
Off to buy a timer!
Le Donna: It is the best tool I have found to break through the procrastination. I hope you find it as helpful as I have.:-)
That is a great idea. Many of the “get organized” books I own suggest doing the same thing when you are cleaning your house.
I can relate to the class. Back in college I was required to take a course called “Effective College Learner” because of my poor grades. I failed it (never went) and ended up getting suspended from school for a semester. As pissed off as my parents were, they still laughed their heads off when they found out I had failed that class. They tried not to, but let’s face it – that’s just funny.
My instructor didn’t like me anyway, so la dee da to her. I still got my degree in the end.
I used the same method (sans the actual timer) to get through my dissertation. I would never have got out of the sloughs of despond otherwise!
I soooo hope that my students don’t remember me for all my corniest and most boring pronouncements. . .
Kristen: The timer has often been used for house cleaning, bill paying and for hanging up clothes. It is a great tool for procrastinators such as myself.
I think I would proudly announce to the world that I failed “Effective College Learner”—but I do have a bit of a rebellious streak.
Clearly your prof. was a dolt if she didn’t like you.
Mater: It really does work. Just keep showing up and writing whatever crap comes out and then doing something with it once there is enough of it. Outlines shmoutlines!
I am sure you only inspire the fondest of remembrances.
Damn. That’s such a great idea. The stupid thing is, I have used the “timer trick” for years for housecleaning. I will set it for 30 minutes, clean, then relax for 20 minutes, then set it again for 30 more minutes to clean some more. And believe me, writing is such a chore to me that I can’t believe housecleaning and writing didn’t coalesce in my brain into one big nasty To Do item that would’ve made the timer trick obvious.
So, thanks. I’ll give it a whirl.
I am curious about your boring professor’s ridiculous name. What was it: Dr. Poopyheadbaby or something?
xo –
M.
Love this story, BR! You are such an amazing and captivating writer; keep up the incredible work, even though it is a labor of love at times!
xoxox,
CC
Marsi: Isn’t it? Seriously, I would have NEVER finished my thesis without this trick. And, whenever I don’t feel like writing I remember this and I break out the timer. I have another trick for treats and a timer that I will share in another WIV post.
I cannot wait to hear of your success with the timer and writing.
AS to the name, you are not far off. What a goof-bag he was. It almost is too much for me too believe that he still exists in time and space and that he wasn’t just a cheezy character in a bad book.
Carrie:Thank you! I do love to write but sometimes I am convinced I have nothing to say but when I sit down and write there is usually something there. Right back at you sister,I am amazed by your prolificness and how you you manage to maintain your beautiful blog at the level you do. Seriously, you are a talented gal with a brilliant eye!
“Goof-bag.” Am I in love with that term or what?
xo –
M.
Marsi: No term describes this guy more. Oh, Marsi, I only wish I could take you time traveling to meet him. When you met him you would turn to me and say,”He is a Goof-bag!”
xo
Brilliant! I love mind tricks like this.
For some reason, though I’ve never had problems falling asleep, I do go through bouts of the kind of insomnia that wakes you up in the night from a sound sleep.
Sometimes, while I’m lying there wishing I could turn off the churn of thoughts and ideas I have, I play a timer trick on myself. I imagine that I have only 15 minutes before my alarm clock goes off. This little trick makes me so sleepy–something about the “have to” get up makes me rebel into sleep again. Then of course, it’s a really heavy sleep, and when it really is time to get up I’m groggy. But hey, it works.
I’m a bit afraid to use it too much so I don’t ruin the trick.
Ha.
Your trick I am going to use. Love it.
Kirie
Blahging is not an activity that I would need a timer for, much to my husband’s chagrin.
However, it would have come in handy at my place of employment for the past 11.5 years!!!
Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha!
Although, now that I think of it, perhaps I should use the timer to STOP myself from writing in the blahg.
On second thought, that doesn’t sound very satisfying or fun, so, fugeddaboutit!
Blahging is not an activity that I would need a timer for, much to my husband’s chagrin.
However, it would have come in handy at my place of employment for the past 11.5 years!!!
Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha!
Although, now that I think of it, perhaps I should use the timer to STOP myself from writing in the blahg.
On second thought, that doesn’t sound very satisfying or fun, so, fugeddaboutit!
You know, I’d use this to the opposite effect. I tend to write and write until I’m almost sick with fatigue. It’d be good for me to set limits, and something as concrete as a timer could really help!
I totally do this all the time!
Except, in my case, it’s five minutes.
Like the idea! And wonder what else she had under her peroxide.
Isn’t this kind of like Julia Cameron’s morning pages but tarted up with a timer?
It’s actually a fine idea. My strategy when dissertating was to write just one page a day, which sometimes became 5-6 or more. And I always left off with a cliffhanger of sorts: there was a very clear idea to pick up the following day.
When I had fear of length(!) I’d single space with a 10-pt. font. So one page would magically become more than two!
Well, I was engaged to, and then broke up with, one of her favorite students. That automatically put me on her sh*t list.
This is spooky…seriously. I had a breakdown over the weekend and started getting organized. My organization included going out and buying a KITCHEN TIMER to clip to my pants.
It helps me to think of the timer not just as any ol timer… but as an egg timer. Ready to hatch some marvelous creation….
what works for me now is to write BEFORE my nap. Which means often I don’t get to the nap at all. But you can guess what happened when I let the nap come first… not a whole heckuva lot.
Such great feedback. Is that why this post was posted at 4:00 AM as you were up all night writing? I hope you have a better day tomorrow. Thank you for visiting La Belette Rouge.
That’s a brilliant idea. I’m going to try it some time. Soon.
…having a hard time with time management
Got to work on being more organized… especially with this busy month… buzzing bee that I am. You have a fabulous new week LB! ~Blessings*
Kirie: Your sleep trick is a good one. I am going to try that as I am an insomnia gal.
Let me know how my trick works for you, should you try it.:-)
LFA: I know what you mean. Like you, I could use a timer to get me to stop and I am sure I would still ignore it and say “just one more blog.”;-)
Sal: Now, I have gone to the other extreme and I can go 8 hours or more. Neither extreme( nothing or full time) are the best. Moderation is not my strength.
Sarah Von: 5 minutes is good. Even one. Consistency over time. Don’t you think?
Duchess: I think this gal knew some stuff. I am sure she had more of where this one came from.
Julia’s a.m. pages are more like throat clearing. She doesn’t suggest that you use any of the writing. According to Cameron the A.M. pages are to get all the stuff out of your mind so you can get to the real writing. She also suggests that you only do the a.m. pages first thing in the a.m.
DCup: I am excited that so many people are going to try the timer. I am so curious to hear how it goes for you.
Miss Cavendish:I moved from 30 minutes to 1000 word minimum for the thesis. Like you, I often when on and one. I know a lot of people like the stop at at good place and then pick it up the next day. I can’t do that. I am always afraid I will lose my momentum. I tend to write myself out.
Hee-hee! I also played with font and spacing. I wonder how people did thesis/dissertations/books before computers. I cannot imagine.
Kristen:No reason not to love you.I still say she is a dolt.:-)
Heather:Wow!!! I cannot believe the timing. Well, I guess that means you need to use the timer.
And, welcome! Sooooo nice to meet you!!
Irene: That is why you are a poet. That is really lovely imagery.
I love that. I now want to rewrite this post from your poetic pov.
Yes, writing before nap. Writing before almost everything.
The timer thing is something I have done for years. Mostly it’s not necessary to actually set it but I bring it out when I’ve needed a push (Like now). A friend of mine, a prolific writer told me the trick and it has been the best advice I ever received too.
Laura: No, I was sleeping at 4 a.m. I usually write the day before and then auto-post at 4 a.m. so my readers on the East coast can visit me in the a.m.
Thanks, tonight would have been made much better if I had followed your recipe.;-)
Enc: Hee-hee. Am I sensing procrastination?:-)
LENORENEVERMORE: Time management is a challenge for me too. I have sort of given up on ever being good at it. Hope you have a lovely week, too!:-)
When people have asked me how long a painting has taken my answer has been that time doesn’t exist for painting. It goes but I don’t know where and don’t mark its passing.
Michelle: Really, as soon as I start to think I don’t have time to write or there is something that I am dreading writing( oh, it happens) I bring out that timer and just start it up and I cannot think of a time it hasn’t worked. I am so happy to hear of another writer who has found this technique to be valuable.
Susan: Once I am writing and I am in the flow, like you, I lose all sense of time. But, sometimes getting into timelessness takes some time.
Do you ever have trouble getting started?
Oh, wonderful! I was so excited when I saw the title of the blog…I so look forward to these posts!
We have to trick our brains, definitely.
I’m with miss cavendish on the write a single-spaced page in small font, and then it miraculously doubles itself. I always did that.
When I was studying for my big old exams in grad school and had to recall lots and lots of theory and lit (in my long long oral or written exams), I’d associate one word or phrase with a writer, and then unpack that phrase in my writing. For example, Robert Frost was “farmer,” Elizabeth Bishop was “mapmaker.”
That’s not really about time…but it is a good strategy for breaking lotsa reading into smaller portions.
Small goals are the only way to get to those big goals, it seems…I loved this post!
And, my word verification? Yes of course, “trypee.”
Really?
Storialist:I am glad you like them. I think when I outlined all the posts I wanted to include in this series there were over 80 posts. So, I think I have at least 74 more to come.
I think writing tricks can be very helpful. And,word associations and acronyms were how I got through almost all my exams.
Did you ever see the movie, “What about Bob?” I love the “baby step” thing. Yes!! Inch by inch life’s a cinch. Yard by yard life is hard.
Trypee? Wow. Um, I just don’t know what to say to that.
Thank you Belette! You inspired me to write a post about the same subject.
Corine:I cannot wait to read it!!!:-D
This works great for all sorts of tasks, but thirty minutes can seem like an eternity sometimes. For instance, when the task involves a certain special favor for The Unit-my jaws can only take so much!
Derfina: I think you are speaking of the theory of relativity of time. 30 minutes can seem like a lifetime or it can go by like a flash.
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Sound advice from a saucy 60-year-old… Mammoth tasks are sometimes only do-able when you break them up into small manageable chunks that are not frightening. You do each tiny chunk until – voila – you have accomplished the whole task!
What great tip and story behind it. It is something I am going to adapt and think will work for some procrastinated tasks.
Thanks!
x Grayburn
I had plenty of crappy lectures in my time. Some of them couldn’t make sentences properly.
It’s interesting reading about the time. I’m actually happier and better when I’m given limited time. A bit of deadline seeker…
Great story! I am so glad you are a writer.
I do 15 minutes per room when it’s time to tidy up the whole house (apt.). I will employ this 30 minute rule to my art.
Hurray!!!
Lusia: Thanks so much for coming by and saying hello. Very nice to meet you. Please come back again soon.:-)
Ladyfi: She was a saucy lady and if I remember she was one of those students who had a lot of questions. I may have groaned a time or two at her questions when she wasn’t really asking questions but just showing off.
The smallest step is often the step that gets me were I am going. Big steps some times land me on my bootycus.;-)
Grayburn: I am so glad you liked it and I hope it works for you. Let me know…:-)
You know, as a yoga teacher, I taught that very same lesson like this: Do 3 poses. Any 3 poses. And if you still don’t feel like doing anymore after that (whether it takes you 5 minutes to do the 3 poses or 15 minutes, doesn’t matter) then put your mat away. It’s a really good way to get students to start developing a home practice. So many people are terrified of the home practice. Being with oneself (writing or practicing) can be freakin’ scary. Everyone is worried that there’s nothing there. Great post!
lbr – Yes, sometimes it takes years.
K.line:That is a really great way to do it. For exercise how I used to trick myself was to say all that I had to do was put on the exercise clothes. Once I had them on I usually would rise to the occasion. It’s a really good way to get students to start developing a home practice.
You make a great point, I wonder if the fear of writing is the fear of being alone. You really would be a great therapist.:-)
Glad you enjoyed.xoxo
Susan: Years??? You have patience and endurance.