JackBlow
New member
- Joined
- Mar 3, 2026
- Messages
- 5
Hey everyone. Jack here.
I'm supposed to be writing a 7-page paper on Macbeth right now. It's due tomorrow at 11:59pm. It's currently 2pm. I have written... the title. And my name. That's it.
Instead of writing, I have:
I've tried everything to beat this. Here's what's worked for me in the past (when I actually do it):
1. The 5-Minute Rule
Tell yourself you'll write for 5 minutes. That's it. If after 5 minutes you wanna stop, stop. But usually once you start, you keep going. It's the STARTING that's hard, not the writing.
2. Phone in Another Room
Like, physically put it somewhere else. If I can see my phone, I will touch my phone. It's science.
3. Write the Middle First
I never start with the introduction. How can I introduce something I haven't even written yet?? I write the body paragraphs, then the conclusion, then the intro. The intro writes itself once you know what you actually said.
4. Pomodoro Timers
25 minutes work, 5 minutes break. But during the 5 minutes, DO NOT pick up your phone. Stand up, stretch, get water, look out a window. If you touch your phone, the 5 minutes becomes 45 minutes. Again, science.
5. Shitty First Drafts
This one saves me every time. Just write absolute garbage. Don't edit. Don't care about words. Just get the ideas down. You can't edit a blank page, but you CAN edit a terrible page. My best papers started as complete trash.
6. Accountability
Tell someone you'll send them a draft by 5pm. The fear of looking lazy is stronger than the fear of writing.
What works for you guys?? I need new tricks because clearly my old ones aren't working today (looks at blank Macbeth doc). Send help. Send motivation. Send coffee.
Also if anyone wants to read 7 pages about whether Macbeth was actually a victim of fate or just made bad choices... hit me up in like 10 hours
I'm supposed to be writing a 7-page paper on Macbeth right now. It's due tomorrow at 11:59pm. It's currently 2pm. I have written... the title. And my name. That's it.
Instead of writing, I have:
- Watched 3 hours of YouTube essay about why the Star Wars prequels are actually good (I don't even care about Star Wars)
- Cleaned my entire apartment (it was not dirty)
- Texted 4 different people asking what they're doing for spring break
- Googled "how to cure procrastination" (the irony is not lost on me)
- Made a Spotify playlist called "Study Vibes" and then just listened to it without studying
- Organized my desk drawer by pen color
I've tried everything to beat this. Here's what's worked for me in the past (when I actually do it):
1. The 5-Minute Rule
Tell yourself you'll write for 5 minutes. That's it. If after 5 minutes you wanna stop, stop. But usually once you start, you keep going. It's the STARTING that's hard, not the writing.
2. Phone in Another Room
Like, physically put it somewhere else. If I can see my phone, I will touch my phone. It's science.
3. Write the Middle First
I never start with the introduction. How can I introduce something I haven't even written yet?? I write the body paragraphs, then the conclusion, then the intro. The intro writes itself once you know what you actually said.
4. Pomodoro Timers
25 minutes work, 5 minutes break. But during the 5 minutes, DO NOT pick up your phone. Stand up, stretch, get water, look out a window. If you touch your phone, the 5 minutes becomes 45 minutes. Again, science.
5. Shitty First Drafts
This one saves me every time. Just write absolute garbage. Don't edit. Don't care about words. Just get the ideas down. You can't edit a blank page, but you CAN edit a terrible page. My best papers started as complete trash.
6. Accountability
Tell someone you'll send them a draft by 5pm. The fear of looking lazy is stronger than the fear of writing.
What works for you guys?? I need new tricks because clearly my old ones aren't working today (looks at blank Macbeth doc). Send help. Send motivation. Send coffee.
Also if anyone wants to read 7 pages about whether Macbeth was actually a victim of fate or just made bad choices... hit me up in like 10 hours