liya_allien's avatar
liya_allien

Jan. 16, 2023

0
In Praise of Procrastination

The one thing that has always provoked a lot of questions in my mind is procrastination. I mean, how does it actually work? Why every time I expect from myself to sit at the desk and get a job done, I find myself skimming some dubious articles or lingering over my task at best? The time I waste on unnecessary trivia almost always overtook my performance in any activity, whether it was working, learning, or relationships.

The funny thing is, I’ve been struggling with procrastination since I was a teenager. As a result of such intimate closeness with this concept, I invented a whole bunch of different techniques and tricks that were supposed to help me in my battle with procrastination. Being a high-organised and stubborn person, I meticulously tried out various ways to combat my laziness and passivity, among which were creating a strict schedule, using a Google calendar and a task management app, making a break every half an hour, and others. Still, all these tricks proved their ineffectiveness despite my stubborn efforts. At a certain point, hustling maddeningly between yet another broken deadline and unfinished work email, I surrendered. Why my coworkers and fellows were capable of doing their projects on time while I was constantly beating the clock, was beyond me.

A relieving feeling of resignation wrapped me all over since I acknowledged that I meet deadlines once in a blue moon and, it seems, chronically unable to do tasks on time. Indeed, why should I concern about such trivialities like deadlines or working tasks ? Wouldn’t it be better to learn to use this trait for my own good?

Indeed, today the trend of self-acceptance is increasing by leaps and bounds. The modern pop psychology culture broadcasts here and there its all-time favourite message — whoever manages to embrace their shortcomings will get in life a royal flash, namely satisfaction, tranquility, and contentment. No one knows why many people believe this motto nowadays, but they continue to pay money to all kinds of quacks, from fake psychologists to snake oil salesmen, so it is what it is.

In case you are an opponent of psychology and medicine and instead prefer a spiritual development, there’s no shortage of gurus and chiropractics here, there and everywhere. You can literally go out on the street and encounter all sorts of spiritualists, who are ready to foretell your future many years ahead, depending on the charge you’re willing to pay.

All my life I’ve had a deep distrust of such persons in my gut, so instead of asking them, I decided to talk things over with a friend of mine, who is notoriously well-known by his inability to focus. My question was, how does he deal with his life, messing up all to-do lists and deadlines. By his confused look I could surely tell he hadn’t a clue what I was talking about. After several embarrassing attempts, I finally managed to explain him my problem. I was wishing, hoping and praying that he’ll articulate something deeply sensible, something so empowering that it will turn my life up and down and become a real game changer in my hopeless broken-deadlines-existence. Instead, knowledgeably looking into his glass of beer, he firmly uttered “Life is short, so I don’t give a fuck.”


One thing that has always got me thinking is the idea of procrastination. I mean, how does it actually work? Why is it that every time I expect myself to sit at the my desk and get a job done, I find myself skimming some irrelevant articles or slogging through my task at best? The time I waste on unnecessary entertainment almost always hindered my performance in any activity, whether it was working, learning, or in my relationships.

The funny thing is, I’ve been struggling with procrastination since I was a teenager. As a result of my familiarity with this concept, I've invented a whole bunch of different techniques and tricks that to help me in my battle with procrastination. Being a highly-organised and stubborn person, I meticulously tried out various ways to combat my laziness and passivity. Those methods included creating a strict schedule, using a Google calendar and a task management app, taking a break every half an hour, and list goes on. Still, all these tricks proved to be ineffective despite my stubborn efforts. At a certain point, hustling maddeningly between yet another impossible deadline and unfinished work emails, I surrendered. How my coworkers were capable of finishing their projects on time while I was constantly racing against the clock was beyond me.

A relieving feeling of resignation came upon me as I finally acknowledged that I am chronically unable to do tasks on time. Indeed, why should I concern myself with such trivialities like deadlines or work tasks ? Wouldn’t it be better to learn to leverage this trait for my own good?

Today the trend of self-acceptance is increasing by leaps and bounds. Modern pop psychology culture broadcasts its all-time favourite message occasionally: whoever manages to embrace their shortcomings will get in life a royal flash, namely satisfaction, tranquility, and contentment. No one knows why so many people buy into this motto nowadays, but there's always someone willing to give money to all kinds of quacks from fake psychologists to snake oil salesmen; so, it is what it is.

In case you are against psychology and medicine and instead prefer a spiritual approach, there’s no shortage of gurus and chiropractics. You can go out on the street and encounter all sorts of spiritualists, who are ready to foretell your future many years ahead for a fee.

All my life I’ve had a deeply rooted distrust of such persons, so instead of consulting them, I've decided to talk things over with a friend of mine who is notoriously well-known for his inability to focus. My question was: how does he handle with his life, messing up all his to-do lists and deadlines? By his confused look I could surely tell he hadn’t a clue what I was talking about. After several embarrassing attempts, I finally managed to explain to him my problem. I was hoping that he would articulate something serviceable, something so empowering that it would turn my life upside down, revolutionizing my hopeless, broken existence. Instead, nonchalantly looking into his glass of beer, he firmly uttered, “Life is too short to give a fuck.”

Corrections

The oOne thing that has always pbrovoked a lot ofught about many questions in my mind is procrastination.

I mean, how does it actually work?

Why is it that every time I expect from myself to sit at the desk and get a job done, I find myself skimming some dubious articles or lingering over my task at best?

The time I waste on unnecessary triviaentertainment almost always overtookaffects my performance in any activity, whether it was working, learning, or in my relationships.

The funny thing is, I’ve been struggling with procrastination since I was a teenager.

As a result of so much intimate closenessexperience with this concept, I've invented a whole bunch of different techniques and tricks that were supposed to help me in my battle with procrastination.

Being a high-organised and stubborn person, I meticulously tried out various ways to combat my laziness and passivity, amongst which wereincluded: creating a strict schedule, using a Google calendar and a task management app, mtaking a break every half an hour, and others.

Still, all these tricks proved their ineffectiveness despite my stubborn efforts.

At a certain point, hustling maddeningly between yet another brokenimpossible deadline and unfinished work emails, I surrendered.

WhyHow my coworkers and fellows were capable of dofinishing their projects on time while I was constantly beatingracing against the clock, was beyond me.

A relieving feeling of resignation wrapped me all over sincesurrounded me and I acknowledged that I hardly ever meet deadlines once in a blue moon and, it seems, chronically unwas never able to dofinish tasks on time.

Indeed, why should I be concerned about such trivialities like deadlines or working tasks ?

Wouldn’t it be better to learn to usleverage this trait for my own good?

Indeed, today the trend of self-acceptance is increasing by leaps and boundson the rise.

The mModern pop psychology culture broadcasts here and there its all-time favouritethe popular message — whoever manages to embrace their shortcomings will get in life a royal flash, namelyachieve satisfaction, tranquility, and contentment.

No one knows why many people believeuy into this motto nowadays, but they continue to paygive money to all kinds of quacks, from fake psychologists to snake oil salesmen, so it is what it is.

In case you are an opponent ofgainst psychology and medicine and instead prefer a spiritual developmentapproach, there’s no shortage of gurus and chiropractics here, there and everywhereors.

You can literally go out on the street and encounter all sorts of spiritualistfortune-tellers, who are ready to foretell your future many years ahead, depending on the chargehow much you’re willing to pay.

All my life I’ve had a deep dly seated mistrust of such persons in my gut, so instead of askconsulting them, I've decided to talk things over with a friend of mine, who is notoriously well-known byfor his inability to focus.

My question to him was, how does he deal with his life, messing up all his to-do lists and deadlines.?

By his confused look I could surely tell he hadn’t a clue what I was talking about.

After several embarrassing attempts, I finally managed to explain to him my problem.

I was wishing, hoping and praying that he’ll would articulate something deeply sensibleprofound, something so empowering that it willould turn my life up andside down and become a real game changer in my hopeless broken-deadlines-existence.

Instead, knowledgeably looking into his glass of beer, he firmly uttered, “Life is short, so I don’t give a fuck.”

liya_allien's avatar
liya_allien

Jan. 17, 2023

0

thank you for your help 🙏💪

In Praise of Procrastination

The one thing that has always provoked a lot of questions in my mind is procrastination.

"In my mind" can be inferred, and can thus be removed.
Here's how I would write this: "The one thing that has always got me thinking is the idea of procrastination."

I mean, how does it actually work?

Why is it that every time I expect from myself to sit at the/my desk and get a job done, I find myself skimming some dubiousirrelevant articles or lingering overslogging through my task at best?

I'm not entire sure what the second half of the sentence was meant to be, but I provided some different choice of wording that may be better for what you want.

The time I waste on unnecessary trivia almost always overtookhindered my performance in any activity, whether it was working, learning, or relationships.

The funny thing is, I’ve been struggling with procrastination since I was a teenager.

As a result of such intimate closenessmy familiarity with this concept, I invented a whole bunch of different techniques and tricks that were supposed to help me in my battle with procrastination.

"Intimate closeness" is okay but feels a bit awkward.

Being a highly-organised and stubborn person, I meticulously tried out various ways to combat my laziness and passivity, among which were. Those methods included creating a strict schedule, using a Google calendar and a task management app, making a break every half an hour, and others list goes on.

Broke up the sentence since it was a bit long and fixed wording a little.

Still, all these tricks proved theiro be ineffectiveness despite my stubborn efforts.

At a certain point, hustling maddeningly between yet another broken deadline and unfinished work email, I surrendered.

Why my coworkers and fellows werewere always capable of doing their projects on time while I was constantly beatracing the clock, was beyond me.

A relieving feeling of resignation wrapped me all over since I acknowledged that I meet deadlines once in a blue moon and, it seems,came upon me as I finally acknowledged that I am chronically unable to do tasks on time.

While I love the idiom "once in a blue moon," I feel like just cutting that out will make this sentence far more readable with the increased brevity.

Indeed, why should I concern aboutmyself with such trivialities like deadlines or working tasks ?

Wouldn’t it be better to learn to use this trait for my own good?

Indeed, tToday the trend of self-acceptance is increasing by leaps and bounds.

I feel that it would be better to cut 'indeed' here to avoid repetition.

The modern pop psychology culture broadcasts here and there its all-time favourite message occasionally: whoever manages to embrace their shortcomings will get in life a royal flash, namely satisfaction, tranquility, and contentment.

I'm not too entirely sure what the first half is trying to say. Also, I prefer using a colon over em-dash for something like this.

No one knows why so many people believe this motto nowadays, but they continuere's always someone willing to pay money to all kinds of quacks, from fake psychologists to snake oil salesmen,; so, it is what it is.

Haha, I love the way you wrote this.

In case you are an opponent of psychology and medicine and instead prefer a spiritual development, there’s no shortage of gurus and chiropractics here, there and everywhere.

Cut the end for brevity.

You can literally go out on the street and encounter all sorts of spiritualists, who are ready to foretell/predict your future many years ahead, depending on the charge you’re willing to pay for a fee.

Again, making this a bit more concise.

All my life I’ve had a deeply rooted distrust of such persons in my gut, so instead of asking them, I decided to talk things over with a friend of mine, who is notoriously well-known by his inability to focus.

My question was,: how does he deal withhandle/live his life, messing up all his to-do lists and deadlines.?

By his confused look I could surely tell he hadn’t a clue what I was talking about.

After several embarrassing attempts, I finally managed to explain to him my problem.

I was wishing, hoping and prayhoping that he’ll would articulate something deeply sensiservicable, something so empowering that it willould turn my life up andside down and become a real game changer , revolutionizing my hopeless, broken-deadlines- existence.

Instead, knowledgeabnchalantly looking into his glass of beer, he firmly uttered, “Life is short, so I don’t give a fuck.”

I love that, haha. Also, I'm not too sure what you want to go with "knowledgeably," but it doesn't seem to fit here. I replaced it with "nonchalantly," but I feel that this might be off too.

Also, I'd say a better way to put this is: "Life's too short to give a fuck."

Feedback

I thought this the last time I saw one of your pieces of writing, but man, you are one fantastic writer. You have a clear voice in your writing even though English isn't your native language. Some of my peers at college can't achieve that! It is clear that you are a well read individual.

However, there are still many words that are used in unnatural ways, but that is probably a result of not practicing enough. Your sentences also tend to be on the longer side and written in a more academic/literary style. While that is good to produce more complicated passages, a skilled use of brevity makes for an even stronger writer. Sometimes, a shorter sentence will improve the flow. And like in many of the edits I provided, cutting out some descrptions will do the same.

Great work here and I hope to see more. I am really excited to see how far you can improve!

liya_allien's avatar
liya_allien

Jan. 17, 2023

0

Thank you so much for your attentive corrections. I also appreciate your feedback about my writing skills and your precise comments about my areas for progress. You helped me to realize I have problems with brevity and clarity. Btw I’m not sure that my inappropriate choice of words is a problem of not regular practice since I pracise in writing every 2-3 days for an hour at least. Maybe you think it would be better to increase the amount of writing practice? The thing is, I’ve heard that it’s better to pay more attention to listening and reading a lot of content in my target language, and pay SOME time to practice. It would be great to hear your point of view regarding this moment.

eqeos's avatar
eqeos

Jan. 17, 2023

6

Thank you so much for your attentive corrections. I also appreciate your feedback about my writing skills and your precise comments about my areas for progress. You helped me to realize I have problems with brevity and clarity. Btw I’m not sure that my inappropriate choice of words is a problem of not regular practice since I pracise in writing every 2-3 days for an hour at least. Maybe you think it would be better to increase the amount of writing practice? The thing is, I’ve heard that it’s better to pay more attention to listening and reading a lot of content in my target language, and pay SOME time to practice. It would be great to hear your point of view regarding this moment.

How much of the practice do you get feedback on? I think writing practice without feedback is not as effective if you are a non-native speaker or a highly proficient writer since you won't always notice your mistakes.

"The thing is, I’ve heard that it’s better to pay more attention to listening and reading a lot of content in my target language, and pay SOME time to practice."

Regarding the above line, I have heard the same for my target language, so it seems that is a piece of advice for language learning in general. I agree for the most part. But in your case (and mine), it seems that you have achieved a high level of proficiency in your target language already from that immersive content. Now, I think you can lower the amount of time you spend consuming content in your target language and just output (with corrections of course). There is nothing that helps writing more naturally than that (in my opinion). However, you should be reading in tandem with writing. How I came to excel at writing at the college level was simply reading a lot. You read pieces of writing that have the style you want to emulate and copy it until it becomes your own unique style. I'd say the same would work for speaking except the reading becomes listening (if you care about that).

liya_allien's avatar
liya_allien

Jan. 17, 2023

0

I get feedback from native speakers on all my posts, so I think there's no problem such as senseless writing practice. Thank you for your advice, it's really valuable for my learning down the road. it might sound surprising but sometimes I think that I gain more benefit for my learning from the users of Langcorrect than from my online teachers 🧐

So, in this case, I'll increase my writing time and try to balance it more with reading/listening. Your feedback was tremendously helpful to me, thnx again 👏

In Praise of Procrastination


This sentence has been marked as perfect!

The one thing that has always provoked a lot of questions in my mind is procrastination.


The one thing that has always provoked a lot of questions in my mind is procrastination.

"In my mind" can be inferred, and can thus be removed. Here's how I would write this: "The one thing that has always got me thinking is the idea of procrastination."

The oOne thing that has always pbrovoked a lot ofught about many questions in my mind is procrastination.

I mean, how does it actually work?


This sentence has been marked as perfect!

This sentence has been marked as perfect!

Why every time I expect from myself to sit at the desk and get a job done, I find myself skimming some dubious articles or lingering over my task at best?


Why is it that every time I expect from myself to sit at the/my desk and get a job done, I find myself skimming some dubiousirrelevant articles or lingering overslogging through my task at best?

I'm not entire sure what the second half of the sentence was meant to be, but I provided some different choice of wording that may be better for what you want.

Why is it that every time I expect from myself to sit at the desk and get a job done, I find myself skimming some dubious articles or lingering over my task at best?

The time I waste on unnecessary trivia almost always overtook my performance in any activity, whether it was working, learning, or relationships.


The time I waste on unnecessary trivia almost always overtookhindered my performance in any activity, whether it was working, learning, or relationships.

The time I waste on unnecessary triviaentertainment almost always overtookaffects my performance in any activity, whether it was working, learning, or in my relationships.

The funny thing is, I’ve been struggling with procrastination since I was a teenager.


This sentence has been marked as perfect!

This sentence has been marked as perfect!

As a result of such intimate closeness with this concept, I invented a whole bunch of different techniques and tricks that were supposed to help me in my battle with procrastination.


As a result of such intimate closenessmy familiarity with this concept, I invented a whole bunch of different techniques and tricks that were supposed to help me in my battle with procrastination.

"Intimate closeness" is okay but feels a bit awkward.

As a result of so much intimate closenessexperience with this concept, I've invented a whole bunch of different techniques and tricks that were supposed to help me in my battle with procrastination.

Being a high-organised and stubborn person, I meticulously tried out various ways to combat my laziness and passivity, among which were creating a strict schedule, using Google calendar and task management apps, making a break every half an hour, and others.


Still, all these tricks proved their ineffectiveness despite my stubborn efforts.


Still, all these tricks proved theiro be ineffectiveness despite my stubborn efforts.

Still, all these tricks proved their ineffectiveness despite my stubborn efforts.

At a certain point, hustling maddeningly between yet another broken deadline and unfinished work email, I surrendered.


This sentence has been marked as perfect!

At a certain point, hustling maddeningly between yet another brokenimpossible deadline and unfinished work emails, I surrendered.

Why my coworkers and fellows were capable of doing their projects on time while I was constantly beating the clock, was beyond me.


Why my coworkers and fellows werewere always capable of doing their projects on time while I was constantly beatracing the clock, was beyond me.

WhyHow my coworkers and fellows were capable of dofinishing their projects on time while I was constantly beatingracing against the clock, was beyond me.

A relieving feeling of resignation wrapped me all over since I acknowledged that I meet deadlines once in a blue moon and, it seems, chronically unable to do tasks on time.


A relieving feeling of resignation wrapped me all over since I acknowledged that I meet deadlines once in a blue moon and, it seems,came upon me as I finally acknowledged that I am chronically unable to do tasks on time.

While I love the idiom "once in a blue moon," I feel like just cutting that out will make this sentence far more readable with the increased brevity.

A relieving feeling of resignation wrapped me all over sincesurrounded me and I acknowledged that I hardly ever meet deadlines once in a blue moon and, it seems, chronically unwas never able to dofinish tasks on time.

Indeed, why should I concern about such trivialities like deadlines or working tasks ?


Indeed, why should I concern aboutmyself with such trivialities like deadlines or working tasks ?

Indeed, why should I be concerned about such trivialities like deadlines or working tasks ?

Wouldn’t it be better to learn to use this trait for my own good?


This sentence has been marked as perfect!

Wouldn’t it be better to learn to usleverage this trait for my own good?

Indeed, today the trend of self-acceptance is increasing by leaps and bounds.


Indeed, tToday the trend of self-acceptance is increasing by leaps and bounds.

I feel that it would be better to cut 'indeed' here to avoid repetition.

Indeed, today the trend of self-acceptance is increasing by leaps and boundson the rise.

The modern pop psychology culture broadcasts here and there its all-time favourite message — whoever manages to embrace their shortcomings will get in life a royal flash, namely satisfaction, tranquility, and contentment.


The modern pop psychology culture broadcasts here and there its all-time favourite message occasionally: whoever manages to embrace their shortcomings will get in life a royal flash, namely satisfaction, tranquility, and contentment.

I'm not too entirely sure what the first half is trying to say. Also, I prefer using a colon over em-dash for something like this.

The mModern pop psychology culture broadcasts here and there its all-time favouritethe popular message — whoever manages to embrace their shortcomings will get in life a royal flash, namelyachieve satisfaction, tranquility, and contentment.

No one knows why many people believe this motto nowadays, but they continue to pay money to all kinds of quack, from fake psychologists to snake oil salesmen, but it is what it is.


In case you are an opponent of psychology and medicine and instead prefer spiritual development, there’s no shortage of guru and chiropractics here, there and everywhere.


You can literally go out on the street and encounter all sorts of spiritualists, who are ready to foretell your future many years ahead, depending on the charge you’re willing to pay.


You can literally go out on the street and encounter all sorts of spiritualists, who are ready to foretell/predict your future many years ahead, depending on the charge you’re willing to pay for a fee.

Again, making this a bit more concise.

You can literally go out on the street and encounter all sorts of spiritualistfortune-tellers, who are ready to foretell your future many years ahead, depending on the chargehow much you’re willing to pay.

All my life I’ve had a deep distrust of such persons in my gut, so instead of asking them, I decided to talk things over with a friend of mine, who is notoriously well-known by his inability to focus.


All my life I’ve had a deeply rooted distrust of such persons in my gut, so instead of asking them, I decided to talk things over with a friend of mine, who is notoriously well-known by his inability to focus.

All my life I’ve had a deep dly seated mistrust of such persons in my gut, so instead of askconsulting them, I've decided to talk things over with a friend of mine, who is notoriously well-known byfor his inability to focus.

My question was, how does he deal with his life, messing up all to-do lists and deadlines.


My question was,: how does he deal withhandle/live his life, messing up all his to-do lists and deadlines.?

My question to him was, how does he deal with his life, messing up all his to-do lists and deadlines.?

By his confused look I could surely tell he hadn’t a clue what I was talking about.


This sentence has been marked as perfect!

This sentence has been marked as perfect!

After several embarrassing attempts, I finally managed to explain him my problem.


After several embarrassing attempts, I finally managed to explain to him my problem.

After several embarrassing attempts, I finally managed to explain to him my problem.

I was wishing, hoping and praying that he’ll articulate something deeply sensible, something so empowering that it will turn my life up and down and become a real game changer in my hopeless broken-deadlines-existence.


I was wishing, hoping and prayhoping that he’ll would articulate something deeply sensiservicable, something so empowering that it willould turn my life up andside down and become a real game changer , revolutionizing my hopeless, broken-deadlines- existence.

I was wishing, hoping and praying that he’ll would articulate something deeply sensibleprofound, something so empowering that it willould turn my life up andside down and become a real game changer in my hopeless broken-deadlines-existence.

Instead, knowledgeably looking into his glass of beer, he firmly uttered “Life is short, so I don’t give a fuck.”


Instead, knowledgeabnchalantly looking into his glass of beer, he firmly uttered, “Life is short, so I don’t give a fuck.”

I love that, haha. Also, I'm not too sure what you want to go with "knowledgeably," but it doesn't seem to fit here. I replaced it with "nonchalantly," but I feel that this might be off too. Also, I'd say a better way to put this is: "Life's too short to give a fuck."

Instead, knowledgeably looking into his glass of beer, he firmly uttered, “Life is short, so I don’t give a fuck.”

No one knows why many people believe this motto nowadays, but they continue to pay money to all kinds of quacks, from fake psychologists to snake oil salesmen, but it is what it is.


In case you are an opponent of psychology and medicine and instead prefer spiritual development, there’s no shortage of gurus and chiropractics here, there and everywhere.


No one knows why many people believe this motto nowadays, but they continue to pay money to all kinds of quacks, from fake psychologists to snake oil salesmen, so it is what it is.


No one knows why so many people believe this motto nowadays, but they continuere's always someone willing to pay money to all kinds of quacks, from fake psychologists to snake oil salesmen,; so, it is what it is.

Haha, I love the way you wrote this.

No one knows why many people believeuy into this motto nowadays, but they continue to paygive money to all kinds of quacks, from fake psychologists to snake oil salesmen, so it is what it is.

Being a high-organised and stubborn person, I meticulously tried out various ways to combat my laziness and passivity, among which were creating a strict schedule, using a Google calendar and a task management app, making a break every half an hour, and others.


Being a highly-organised and stubborn person, I meticulously tried out various ways to combat my laziness and passivity, among which were. Those methods included creating a strict schedule, using a Google calendar and a task management app, making a break every half an hour, and others list goes on.

Broke up the sentence since it was a bit long and fixed wording a little.

Being a high-organised and stubborn person, I meticulously tried out various ways to combat my laziness and passivity, amongst which wereincluded: creating a strict schedule, using a Google calendar and a task management app, mtaking a break every half an hour, and others.

In case you are an opponent of psychology and medicine and instead prefer a spiritual development, there’s no shortage of gurus and chiropractics here, there and everywhere.


In case you are an opponent of psychology and medicine and instead prefer a spiritual development, there’s no shortage of gurus and chiropractics here, there and everywhere.

Cut the end for brevity.

In case you are an opponent ofgainst psychology and medicine and instead prefer a spiritual developmentapproach, there’s no shortage of gurus and chiropractics here, there and everywhereors.

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