The Murder WeaponSo here I am, smack dab in the middle of another busy week. I should be working on a project for school at the moment, but I'm moving pretty slowly this morning. Coffee in hand, I figured I might as well have a little bitch and moan before I get to work.

The project we are currently working on in my design class is practically identical to the first project we did. And the second one. Oh, and the next one we're going to be working on too. All four projects are the same format, the same cutting and pasting, and the same gigantic headache. The only difference is which principle or element of design we're supposed to be demonstrating.

We've had two other projects that were completely different, and I enjoyed those. One was to demonstrate value, and the other was for texture. What I don't understand, though, is why four of the projects all have to be the same thing. Why can't we do different things for each? We're supposed to be building our portfolios, and these projects aren't exactly giving us an opportunity to fill our books with a diverse set of work.

Worst of all, the process for these projects is tedious and draining. I'm beginning to think the person that designed the workload for the class is secretly wishing for death by X-acto knife.

I'm still riding that wave of creativity from before, but nothing is coming to me for this, probably because I just really don't want to do it. But, it's due tomorrow morning. I gave up yesterday and decided to quit worrying about it and start fresh today, but I can already tell it's going to be a rough process. My lack of interest is creating a major road block.

Once I finally get some ideas down on paper--easier said than done right now--I am then faced with several hours of cutting and pasting black, white and grey paper. That sounds okay, but once you get started, it sucks.

There are so many other things I'd rather be doing today. One of those things is a project for my computer imagery class, a project I'm looking forward to working on. But, I can't get started on that one until tomorrow after this X-acto knife nightmare has been completed and turned in.

Unfortunately, the next project for my design class, another one of the same, is going to be assigned tomorrow and due a week later, the same day as the project for my computer imagery class is due. Also, in that same week, I have real work to do for a legitimate client.

Managing my time wisely is something I've never been very good at. I'm the queen of procrastination, but I can already tell school is going to dethrone me. I've been working hard to stay on top of things and not waste time, but it hasn't been easy. Trying to juggle all three upcoming projects is going to cause a lot of stress for me, but I know I can do it. And, after all is said and done, that sense of accomplishment will be totally worth it.

That's all starting tomorrow, though. Today, I need to figure out how I can get the gears turning and channel my creative energy into something I have no desire to do.

A big problem I have always faced in relation to my habit of procrastination is my tendency to not do things at all if I don't think I will like the finished result. Rather than doing a slack job just to get it done, I almost always choose to take a zero than be bothered. This has yet to bite me in the ass because I get A's on all the things I do turn in. A couple zeros usually only bring my final grade down to an A- or a B+, grades I am content with.

I want to put a stop to that, though, so I'm trying to convince myself to just turn in anything, even if it gets a crappy grade. Then the devil on my shoulder says, "if you don't do the project to the best of your ability, you're not going to want to include it in your portfolio, so why waste your time?" Touché, little shoulder devil. Touché.

Let the battle begin.