Just Do It.... Tomorrow

Motivation.
What is it? Where do I find it? These are the questions that plague me as I lay on the floor wondering what the physical or mental barrier is that's stopping me from doing anything productive.

I'm especially unmotivated at the moment, due my my daytime television overload after my operation Monday. I feel as though it's poisoned my brain because all I can think of is "Who will be evicted on Masterchef South Africa today?" and "Where will today's Location Location Location be set?" If this is what unemployment or retirement feel like, I really never want to do either. (I've always hoped I'd be one of those old ladies who does badass stuff like skydiving....just without the mishap in this clip....)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CvMYkQOju2w
So, motivation. Let's do some research.

Wikipedia describes it as:

Motivation is a psychological feature that induces an organism to act towards a desired goal and elicits, controls, and sustains certain goal-directed behaviors

Whereas Urban Dictionary says this:  

One thing that is really hard to get, especially when someone is a lazy-ass muthasucka.

I wouldn't like to say that I'm lazy (but I probably am), rather just a really really good procrastinator. Every single student will relate to the idea of being completely stressed out due to looming deadlines, but deciding to take a nap and ignore responsibility. Sometimes it just seems to make more sense. 

As part of my procrastination research, I decided to Google why we procrastinate. According to Psychology Today, Procrastination predicts higher levels of consumption of alcohol among those people who drink.


I can speak for a lot of people when I say that alcohol is regularly just a reward for getting things done. Celebratory mid-week drinks to get over the stress, why not?! Our society is so alcoholically-centered that alcohol is often the natural answer.

BUT sometimes you just have to get stuff done.  Procrastination can only go on for so long until you're actually really bored and you're just avoiding the inevitable moment of getting out the books and starting that essay.
So, I have compiled a list of things that help me find the motivation to stop staring at the ceiling and start my assignments. 

1. Make a To Do list with deadlines. This always makes me feel under pressure to get things done. Plus I love the sense of achievement when I can tick off a task
2. Inspiration. Again, this isn't something you just 'find', but I bought new fine liners last week and all I want to do is write. Thus far I've only doodled, but I'm looking forward to using them properly. Give yourself a reason to get things done... whether that's stationary or an idea you're passionate about.
3. Set rewards for yourself. "If I write 1000 words by 8 o'clock I'm allowed a Dominos" Works every time.
4. Set reminders on your mobile. Give yourself no escape. My phone often pops up with an alarm and "DO SOMETHING LAURA YOU WASTER." I know things are getting serious when f-bombs start getting dropped.
5. Accept that starting your task is the tallest brick wall. Sometimes the motivation just to get up and go to the library is the worst concept possible, but once I get there, it's really not all that bad.
6. Don't be too hard on yourself. If you do need that nap, or just need to unwind and watch some trashy tv for an hour, do it. Don't let your stress levels build or you'll go crazy - source: personal experience. Stress is probably your worst enemy, so ultimately, don't leave it until the very last minute!

My facial expression when writing this has basically been like this - 
I can say what I want, but I will always, always find myself laying on my carpet contemplating starting, yet still just lying there for an hour. Haven't you noticed I'm procrastinating by writing this blog? What a bloody hypocrite.
Ah well, I hope maybe you're not a dead end case like me and maybe it helped you get off your bedroom floor. I'm going to start my assignment tomorrow..........maybe.