A
female
age
30-35,
anonymous
writes:I'm at a point in my life where I have no clue what to do and I literally have no inspiration whatsoever. I compensated for being a fluke in high school by trying extra hard in college. Right now I'm getting my bachelor, but lately it just seems so hard to get the assignments done. For the last couple of years I have worked tirelessly to get great grades, but now I find that careless attitude from high school is starting to seep back in. The classes have stopped interesting me and right now I'm supposed to turn in a 1500 word article, but I just draw blanks. I have collected all the information I need, but I can't seem to be able to put anything on paper.I took thursday and friday off in hopes of getting extra work done, but it was slow and tiresome, not at all what I'm used to when it comes to myself. What do I do to get back on track? I'm running out of excuses and I'm tired of having to come up with them in the first place.Thanks in advance for your help! Reply to this Question
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female
reader, Miamine  +, writes (29 September 2010):
 Have you tried "mind mapping" as a technique... you throw down your basic ideas on paper, brainstorm it. Don't censor yourself, just write down anything that comes into your head. Write down words until you run out of ideas.Then take a break.. (yep, stay away from coffee, not good)When you go back to your paper, use the words you've written to think of extra words. Each word you've written down should stimulate you to "flesh" it out and explain and describe why these words were important.Get some coloured pencils.When you get bored or can't think of anything more, then you can start to play like a child, and drawn pictures or colour in the words, so you start to distinguish possible subject headings, titles, important facts etc...This relaxation period when you colour helps relax the mind. We don't always have answers when we try very hard, some of the best thoughts come to us when we are just relaxing. The brain benefits from proper relaxation.Go back, and write in some facts, attached to the words, then put in some evidence, references, authors and books..Then choose title, subject headings, everything should now flow and you can just pick up the words you've written and put sentences in..Essay done...Mindmaping makes it easy to clarify your thoughts and build an essay with less effort. http://www.mind-mapping.co.uk/make-mind-map.htmhttp://www.mindtools.com/pages/article/newISS_01.htmhttp://www.mind-mapping.co.uk/mind-maps-examples.htm
A
female
reader, chigirl  +, writes (29 September 2010):
 Thats good! Then you know you have accomplished challenging tasks before. Being your own coach and motivational speaker can help you a long way, its true. Think back on all the things you have accomplished, and know that you have doen good. That will make you less stressed out, because you know you are not a failure. Even if you are burned out now, you know what you are capable of.
I am confident you will do fine, because you have made it through this far, and you have overcome larger struggles (the miniature novels). Its just that this time, you are not feeling just right. So treat yourself good, and don't let it get to you. No one is 100% at their best 100% of the time. Allow yourself to need a break, and allow yourself to not feel the best, without it meaning you are a bad student or back in the old habits. Its just a phase. You will get through it. And until you do; one step at a time.
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reader, anonymous, writes (29 September 2010): This is verified as being by the original poster of the questionThanks for the advice so far. I just want to clarify that this 1500 word article isn't the problem, but just one of the many things I can't seem to get done in a satisfactory way.
I've written papers that ended up being small novels (150 a4 sized pages) an I found them easy because I had a lot of motivation at the time. Now I just feel stuck.
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A
female
reader, chigirl +, writes (28 September 2010):
Im going through something similar right now. I suggest you go to a councellor or school therapist if you have one, and talk about this. You sound like you are burned out and overwhelmed with everything. Talking to someone could help you understand what you need to do to get back on track.
As a personal advice on how to get things moving in case you don't have time to seek out a councellor before the deadline: take it in small steps. Don't think "I have to write 1500 words", think "I will write the introduction. Then maybe write out my main keywords and thoughts around that". Take things in steps. 1500 words is not much though, I am used to writing 6000 word papers for my classes, and they come easy. 1500 worlds should be about 2-3 pages depending on the font size. You can do it. You know you can do it. You just are at a loss right now with how to go about it, as you are mentally burned out.
After this gets done, look into a councellor like I said, and then aks about opportunities to take a break from the studies for about a semester, or maybe even just a month or so. Being away for too long wont be good as you will find it harder to return, but a break sounds like well-earned.
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A
male
reader, Boy Blue +, writes (28 September 2010):
Stop procrastinating and making excuses. Suck it up and get your work done. Worry about your direction in life and inspiration when you actually have completed your education. It's not always meant to be smooth sailing...sometimes you have to give it that extra mile to get things done. The only thing stopping you is....yourself. Instead of compensating, try to overcome yourself.
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A
female
reader, Plexi  +, writes (28 September 2010):
 You are overstressed, overworked, you push yourself too much and your body is exhausted( I can totally relate as I have done this many times to myself as well.........it's not good to push yourself too much! This time of the year doesn't help either and you may also have a bit of SAD(seasonal affective disorder....its a reaction to reduced sunlight)
Here's how the body reacts to stress:
1-at first it increases the production of adrenaline(hormone) to help you fight or flee from the stress(school, bad relationship, lion chasing you.....it's all the same=STRESS)
2- if you weren't able to deal with stress it then goes on to produce even more adrenaline in hopes that this time you'll deal with it
3-(here's where you're at)if the stress was not eliminated, the adrenal glands(the glands responsible for producing the stress hormones adrenaline and cortisol)become exhausted due to inability to adapt to stress and this can result in symptoms like : overall fatigue, depressed immunity(leaving you susceptible to colds , flu and other illnesses and intestinal dysfunction
You may want to:
get plenty of sleep........as much as you can
get at least 30 min of sunshine each day...........go outside to read every day
eliminate caffeine, tobacco and alcohol which only stresses the adrenals even further and eat a whole foods diet rich in fruits and veggies to ensure you get enough vitamins, minerals and phytonutrients to support your immune system and overall health
Take care of yourself hun....don't stress so much and remember it's ok to take less then 100% class load and graduate a semester late if that means you are maintaining your health
XXX
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