Discussion: How do you work?

[Snow]

Do you work better with dsitractions or without?
Do you find it easier to concentrate when you have someone talking to you?
Perhaps when listening to music?
What makes it most difficult for you to study?
Do timelines play a role in the order you do things?
What are some tips you can give to help Snow out in her procrastination/distraction ways?

I sometimes work better with deistractions, divinding my attention keeps me from getting "too intense" and writing a million pages.
I find it a little diffuclt when someone is talking, but I find music is much more relaxing and helps me keep from stressing.
I make it most difficult for me to study, since I let those small distractions becaom large ones and my work gets put in the back burner -much as it is now D:
Timelines make little difference to me. I do things when I want too. D: Which is bad since my project is due tomorrow and I'm only halfway done and still need to switch the laundry and start the dishwasher. Dx

[Windy]

For me, I work worse with distractions. XD I'm so unproductive.. I can't multi-task that well. It's hard to concentrate when someone is talking to me.. mostly because I find it hard to listen and work at the same time. Especially if I'm writing and someone's talking, I usually end up writing the same sentence over and over again. XD

It's easier for me to concentrate when I'm listening to music. It sorta tells people that I'm busy and isolates me from distractions. ^^; And then I also don't feel oblidged to listen constantly to the music.

What makes it difficult for me to study is probably me. ^^; I don't have any spaces for me to study... like the desk in my room is too small, so I have to study either in the living room or in the computer room. But then the compy's on so I have to use it, or TV is on so I have to see what's on TV. When I'm bored or I don't want to study, I take a lot of breaks that are probably not needed. ^^;

As far as timelines go... it might help a bit. ^^; I usually procrastinate on things till the last day and so I HAVE to do it, and I ignore everything else.

Tips... I'm guessing you have to work on compy a lot Snow, so it's easy for you to get distracted. XD I would suggest that maybe for assignments that require you to write out something, do it on paper first in a place with no distractions (like compy, or TV, or people, or whatever XD), and then type it up when you're done. Just re-typing what you wrote should make it go faster, and then you can also do your proof-reading and editing at the same time. X3

[Mikari]

Do you work better with distractions or without?

I can't work without distraction because the boredom hurts my brain. I need to multi task, have music or even better, the TV playing in the background occasionally glancing at it. Or RPing while working, that's a good one.

Do you find it easier to concentrate when you have someone talking to you?

Depends on who is talking to me and what they're talking about. If it's a boring person I'll block them, if it's something interesting then I can listen and work at the same time.

Perhaps when listening to music?

background sound is nice. The only thing I prefer to do in silence is write fanfics so I can "hear" the characters talking in my head. XD For homework I-need- some kind of sound.

What makes it most difficult for you to study?

Not wanting to do it, having to summarize things or not having the material scanned. I don't like studying from books because it's too much hard work putting them in the scanner, it's different if I have 2 or 3 summarized pages that I can read without looking away from the screen which is -always- full of multiple windows.

Do time lines play a role in the order you do things?

Unless it's for tomorrow then no. I'll do the shortest job first so that I have less things left to do even if they're longer.

What are some tips you can give to help Snow out in her procrastination/distraction ways?

If you can carry on two or three trains of thought at the same time without making them crash into each other then read a page and make a post, read another page and make another post. Or if you're writing one paragraph and a post. That's what I do. XD It's not really about getting rid of distractions because without it you might get bored and boredom makes the brain hurt and go numb. It's more like having distractions and work coexist.

I guess it really depends on what works for you. I'm like the opposite of Windy XD I don't like writing on paper because it feels like wasted effort if I need to type it anyway plus the paper won't correct my spelling and grammar.

I know a little trick to see if you have mastered the art of multitasking if you understand two languages. Have a song playing in one of those languages, sing along in the other language without falling behind, preferably with a song you're hearing for the first time. Adjust your voice to fit the music but don't change he words, save for the order to fit the other language's grammar but the same words. While doing this write a paragraph analyzing the plot of a movie or series or game, something that requires analysis. While doing that have someone read a puzzle to you. Not something super hard but something that requires thinking, it could be logic or math or a combination. If you don't fall behind in the song, write a coherent paragraph finishing before the song is done and answer the puzzle correctly before the song ends... Congratulations, you have mastered the art of multitask. You can also do it without the translation part just sing from memory instead. And yeah it's possible both ways *has done it*

[Snow]

Thank you Windy and Mikari! =D I can try all of those. Currently it seems my attention is extremely divided in my studying because I seem to be bored. School has always been liek that. I get bored really quickly. *sigh*

Mikari, Iwill try that mastering the multi task thing! =D I want to master it! But I only know one language! D:

Windy, that could work, but then I have to write the same thign twice. Which is more time consuming. And a little counterproductive. Since I have even more stuff in my room or whatever to get distracted by.
A good idea, but not very time wise in my case. D: My mom did that for awhile, but it just stressed her out since she had to spend extra time writing, then typing.
And I don't have to write that much 300-400 word papers. Then 100 word responses for discussions. I think it's because everything is so short it's harder for me!

I'm used to details for stories. xD Anyone have any tips on how to help me switch modes from writing to school?

[Windy]

Mmm... choose your words carefully? XD Word limits makes it easier for the teacher to read it and makes you choose the correct words. Which is helpful because it can stop things like beating around the bush and what not. ^^; So... try being more to the point and if you need to elaborate, expand the more important ideas.

If you have the time, what you can do it is write out everything you want to say, and then cut out all the stuff you think is irrelevant. XD

[Mikari]

You could try to get to point without including any details unless they're very important. Answer only what is in the question without going into related topics. If you need to explain why that's your answer then just the main reason, list more then one reason if the question asks you too of if it's just as important.

[Estas]

I have to agree with Mikari! Distractions are a must! Whenever I become involved in an activity I need background noise, it just helps me think. The average attention span is about three seconds and a majority of most people focus better after a quick distraction. I prefer music and the TV is another good one. 80% of the time I just tone it out but every so often that one song comes on. “Seasons” and I just find myself swaying back and forth as I read or type up devilish creatures to torture my PC’s with.

Total silence just kills me, at times I need it but that’s rare. I normally use silence when I am at work and my evil partner is playing some music that just makes me want to choke him out.

People are nice to have around; they allow sudden feedback for questions and ideas. However, they can be rather distracting IM’hell is a classic example, I guess it depends on the subject for school work I would say NO, but ideal projects there great to chat with. RPing is a great example or FanFics.

I have always had problems studying in silence, but they say its best to study in a simulated setting, that you will test in. I can never take stuff with me when I test so that’s why I study in silence, it hurts mental. And my mind is prone to wandering when I am alone and it’s quiet. There are too many distractions at work and home. Argh, guess I am just doomed on that one.

Timelines are nice the trick it to stick to them, I do small projects first and save the big ones for last that way I don’t get overwhelmed and it shows progress, which is very motivating.

The best trick is self discipline; there is no fancy trick to avoid procrastination. As much as it sucks that’s the way I see the problem. I am a terrible procrastinator, ask my wife. But when it comes to crunch time I can get what I need done. I guess the best solution is grant yourself enough time to do what you need and what you want to do.

I hope this helps

[Mikari]

I do the small projects first too and I always do homework and projects before studying (if I study at all...) It just feels like I'm actually doing something. ^^;; Thinking of how much free time I'm going to have without the annoying distraction of hw helps me feel motivated to get it over with. Of course that doesn't work with studying. I need to study the day before or it's a big waste of time since nothing stays and I'll forget what does stay by the time I reach the test if I study too soon.