5 Good Deadline-Meeting Habits 五個養成準時交稿的好習慣之一
學術界的人都很忙，永遠有比寫學術論文更要緊的事，論文截稿或發表期限往往一不小心就被忽略了，最後只能在緊要關頭手忙腳亂地完成。這種被死線追著跑的過程可謂苦不堪言。其實，輕輕鬆鬆按時交稿跟任何習慣一樣，是學得來的。此系列將逐一介紹有哪些習慣可減少面對截稿期限的恐懼，還能增進論文的品質，最後會在TPS粉絲專頁為各位做個總整理。
Authors of academic papers have other things to do. In the general busyness of academia, the deadline for a paper to be handed in or published can get overlooked. The subsequent scramble to complete the paper on time can be painful. Painless deadline-meeting can be learned like any other habit. This series will describe some habits that not only make deadlines less threatening but can improve the quality of the papers themselves. Each of the habits will be presented on the TPS Fan page before being compiled.
Good Habit # 1 – Get started
好習慣之一 開始做就對了
For all the talk about a deadline being a motivator and a planning tool, it mostly is an unforgiving date looming in the distance. As one draws nearer to it, it looms higher. In the shadow of it, a deadline can be quite terrifying. A disciplined academic writer knows this and accepts this. A smart disciplined writer goes one step further and takes steps to remove the terror from a deadline so that it doesn’t loom at all. It becomes simply another date on a calendar. The first habit about deadlines that a smart writer develops is to start working on a paper as soon as it is assigned.
常有人說期限是督促你努力的動力來源，讓你事先規劃的工具，但多數人仍視它為遠方若隱若現的無情猛獸，越靠近它，它就越是張牙舞爪。時時刻刻籠罩在它的陰影下，期限著實令人畏懼。自律的作者了解、也接受這點，而聰明的作者懂得搶先一步，採取行動，屏除期限如影隨形的恐懼。期限不過是行事曆上的一個日期，而聰明的作者培養的第一個好習慣，就是在知道有這篇論文要寫之後，就馬上著手進行。
Early starts aren’t all about use of time and making every day count, though that is important. Writers who take a small sabbatical at the beginning of every paper project are not just wasting time—though they are—they also are indulging themselves. We all know some indulgences are better than others, with timing often being the critical issue. A runner who lets himself be distracted at the start of a race pays a price and curses his luck. A writer who gives his mind a break when he should be brainstorming a subject will find other excuses as a project goes along.
早點開始並不單只是為了充分利用每一天的時間，當然這點很重要。而是若在每篇論文寫作開始前都先放自己一點假，想當然耳時間是一定浪費了，還放縱了自己。適時放縱、寵愛自己是好的，但時間點常常是關鍵。賽跑選手若在比賽一開始就讓自己分心，一定會付出慘痛的代價，根本是自掘墳墓。同理，明明是該全神貫注思考的時候卻讓自己的心放大假，在寫作期間一定還會不斷找藉口拖延。
This falls under the heading of Discipline. I repeat, starting a project on day one is not just about use of time. It is about becoming mentally engaged in a project at the outset, rather than at some later date. After all, an academic paper should not be a dreaded assignment. It is an opportunity to stir your intellect, learn something new, and advance your academic career through research and writing. What is to dread about that? Neither should a deadline be dreaded. It is just another appointment on your academic calendar, just another part of your scholarly routine. Get started!
這就是自律。我再強調一次，從知道有這篇論文的第一天就開始著手，不僅是為了充分利用時間，而是讓自己在一開始就做好投入的心理準備，免得之後措手不及。畢竟學術論文不該是件可怕的工作，而是一個機會，讓你透過研究和寫作來鍛鍊腦力、學習新知、提升學術涵養，這有甚麼可怕的呢？截稿期限也一樣，沒有甚麼好怕的，不過是行事曆上的另一件代辦事項，學者生涯的例行工作之一而已。開始做就對了！
Authors of academic papers have other things to do. In the general busyness of academia, the deadline for a paper to be handed in or published can get overlooked. The subsequent scramble to complete the paper on time can be painful. Painless deadline-meeting can be learned like any other habit. This series will describe some habits that not only make deadlines less threatening but can improve the quality of the papers themselves. Each of the habits will be presented on the TPS Fan page before being compiled.
Good Habit # 1 – Get started
好習慣之一 開始做就對了
For all the talk about a deadline being a motivator and a planning tool, it mostly is an unforgiving date looming in the distance. As one draws nearer to it, it looms higher. In the shadow of it, a deadline can be quite terrifying. A disciplined academic writer knows this and accepts this. A smart disciplined writer goes one step further and takes steps to remove the terror from a deadline so that it doesn’t loom at all. It becomes simply another date on a calendar. The first habit about deadlines that a smart writer develops is to start working on a paper as soon as it is assigned.
常有人說期限是督促你努力的動力來源，讓你事先規劃的工具，但多數人仍視它為遠方若隱若現的無情猛獸，越靠近它，它就越是張牙舞爪。時時刻刻籠罩在它的陰影下，期限著實令人畏懼。自律的作者了解、也接受這點，而聰明的作者懂得搶先一步，採取行動，屏除期限如影隨形的恐懼。期限不過是行事曆上的一個日期，而聰明的作者培養的第一個好習慣，就是在知道有這篇論文要寫之後，就馬上著手進行。
Early starts aren’t all about use of time and making every day count, though that is important. Writers who take a small sabbatical at the beginning of every paper project are not just wasting time—though they are—they also are indulging themselves. We all know some indulgences are better than others, with timing often being the critical issue. A runner who lets himself be distracted at the start of a race pays a price and curses his luck. A writer who gives his mind a break when he should be brainstorming a subject will find other excuses as a project goes along.
早點開始並不單只是為了充分利用每一天的時間，當然這點很重要。而是若在每篇論文寫作開始前都先放自己一點假，想當然耳時間是一定浪費了，還放縱了自己。適時放縱、寵愛自己是好的，但時間點常常是關鍵。賽跑選手若在比賽一開始就讓自己分心，一定會付出慘痛的代價，根本是自掘墳墓。同理，明明是該全神貫注思考的時候卻讓自己的心放大假，在寫作期間一定還會不斷找藉口拖延。
This falls under the heading of Discipline. I repeat, starting a project on day one is not just about use of time. It is about becoming mentally engaged in a project at the outset, rather than at some later date. After all, an academic paper should not be a dreaded assignment. It is an opportunity to stir your intellect, learn something new, and advance your academic career through research and writing. What is to dread about that? Neither should a deadline be dreaded. It is just another appointment on your academic calendar, just another part of your scholarly routine. Get started!
這就是自律。我再強調一次，從知道有這篇論文的第一天就開始著手，不僅是為了充分利用時間，而是讓自己在一開始就做好投入的心理準備，免得之後措手不及。畢竟學術論文不該是件可怕的工作，而是一個機會，讓你透過研究和寫作來鍛鍊腦力、學習新知、提升學術涵養，這有甚麼可怕的呢？截稿期限也一樣，沒有甚麼好怕的，不過是行事曆上的另一件代辦事項，學者生涯的例行工作之一而已。開始做就對了！
Posted at 2013-05-14 10:51:40
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