5 Good Deadline-Meeting Habits 五個養成準時交稿的好習慣之二
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 # 2 – Do the worst first
從最討厭的部分開始
This habit is a good one to develop for any sort of task. It plays to a writer’s psychology (or anyone else’s psychology) through deferred gratification. It holds in reserve something to do that a person happily anticipates doing rather than dreads doing. Dread is not a motivator. It doesn’t spur movement. Thus, when a dreaded part of a task is still ahead, people put it off till… “later.” They drag out the enjoyable tasks, milking them more than being enriched by them. The impact is very much like the spinning of wheels: Momentum is slowed just when a final push is needed.
養成這項習慣，做任何工作都將無往不利，就是把喜歡做、想做的留到最後再做，而不要將畏懼做的留到最後。這項習慣操弄了作者或任何人的心理，給人倒吃甘蔗的錯覺，畢竟畏懼是激不起鬥志的，無法鞭策行動。當還有令人害怕的工作等在前頭，最常見的反應就是「等一下」再做，但一旦拖延，連喜歡做的也一起延後了，不但沒有因為做喜歡做的事感到滿足，反而只會感到被榨乾般精疲力竭，好比轉動中的輪子，正需最後衝刺之際，轉速反而慢了下來，動力漸失。
To use thisstrategy of worst-first, it is important that a writer-researcher know himself.He should acknowledge to himself his least favorite tasks. Example: If perusingbound, published material is more enjoyable than compiling data from loose-leafand online sources, do the tedious collection before the reading. Also, researchrequires meticulous note-taking and ordering of notes, or else it is wastedeffort; if you don’t like taking and ordering notes—do them now, carefully, without deferring them till… “later.”You know what you don’t like. Go ahead and get it out of the way.
要從討厭的部分開始做，作者或研究者首先要了解自己，承認自己最討厭做哪些事情。比如說，如果覺得細讀裝訂好的文獻刊物比整理網路或散裝資料來得愉快，就在開始閱讀前先把枯燥的資料蒐集部分做完。又例如做研究需鉅細靡遺地作筆記並整理筆記，否則一切努力都是徒勞。如果你不喜歡作筆記、整理筆記，現在就做，謹慎小心地做，不要「等一下」。你很清楚自己不喜歡甚麼，就先把它們做完，別讓這些絆腳石拖累你的進度。
Once again, this habit of ordering necessary tasksaccording to personal likes and dislikes can only be developed if awriter-researcher has discipline. When someone has proceeded to a point whereacademic writing is a regular part of his life, the assumption is that theperson can regulate his activity. He can do what he knows he needs to do, rather than wants to do.Another example: If second drafts are a problem for a writer, he should do itwithin a day or two of the first draft, rather than waiting till… “later.” Whenthe worst is behind, such procrastination is not a problem.
我再次強調，這項根據喜好排列工作優先順序的習慣，唯有當研究者能自律才培養得起來。如果學術寫作早已成為你生活中的一部分，你就必須懂得約束自己的行為，知道自己必須做甚麼，而不是想要做甚麼。再舉個例子。如果寫第二份草稿是你最討厭的部分，就應該在完成第一份草稿的一、兩天內寫完第二份草稿，千萬不要「等一下」。 只要先解決最討厭的部分，拖延的症頭就會不藥而癒了。
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 # 2 – Do the worst first
從最討厭的部分開始
This habit is a good one to develop for any sort of task. It plays to a writer’s psychology (or anyone else’s psychology) through deferred gratification. It holds in reserve something to do that a person happily anticipates doing rather than dreads doing. Dread is not a motivator. It doesn’t spur movement. Thus, when a dreaded part of a task is still ahead, people put it off till… “later.” They drag out the enjoyable tasks, milking them more than being enriched by them. The impact is very much like the spinning of wheels: Momentum is slowed just when a final push is needed.
養成這項習慣，做任何工作都將無往不利，就是把喜歡做、想做的留到最後再做，而不要將畏懼做的留到最後。這項習慣操弄了作者或任何人的心理，給人倒吃甘蔗的錯覺，畢竟畏懼是激不起鬥志的，無法鞭策行動。當還有令人害怕的工作等在前頭，最常見的反應就是「等一下」再做，但一旦拖延，連喜歡做的也一起延後了，不但沒有因為做喜歡做的事感到滿足，反而只會感到被榨乾般精疲力竭，好比轉動中的輪子，正需最後衝刺之際，轉速反而慢了下來，動力漸失。
To use thisstrategy of worst-first, it is important that a writer-researcher know himself.He should acknowledge to himself his least favorite tasks. Example: If perusingbound, published material is more enjoyable than compiling data from loose-leafand online sources, do the tedious collection before the reading. Also, researchrequires meticulous note-taking and ordering of notes, or else it is wastedeffort; if you don’t like taking and ordering notes—do them now, carefully, without deferring them till… “later.”You know what you don’t like. Go ahead and get it out of the way.
要從討厭的部分開始做，作者或研究者首先要了解自己，承認自己最討厭做哪些事情。比如說，如果覺得細讀裝訂好的文獻刊物比整理網路或散裝資料來得愉快，就在開始閱讀前先把枯燥的資料蒐集部分做完。又例如做研究需鉅細靡遺地作筆記並整理筆記，否則一切努力都是徒勞。如果你不喜歡作筆記、整理筆記，現在就做，謹慎小心地做，不要「等一下」。你很清楚自己不喜歡甚麼，就先把它們做完，別讓這些絆腳石拖累你的進度。
Once again, this habit of ordering necessary tasksaccording to personal likes and dislikes can only be developed if awriter-researcher has discipline. When someone has proceeded to a point whereacademic writing is a regular part of his life, the assumption is that theperson can regulate his activity. He can do what he knows he needs to do, rather than wants to do.Another example: If second drafts are a problem for a writer, he should do itwithin a day or two of the first draft, rather than waiting till… “later.” Whenthe worst is behind, such procrastination is not a problem.
我再次強調，這項根據喜好排列工作優先順序的習慣，唯有當研究者能自律才培養得起來。如果學術寫作早已成為你生活中的一部分，你就必須懂得約束自己的行為，知道自己必須做甚麼，而不是想要做甚麼。再舉個例子。如果寫第二份草稿是你最討厭的部分，就應該在完成第一份草稿的一、兩天內寫完第二份草稿，千萬不要「等一下」。 只要先解決最討厭的部分，拖延的症頭就會不藥而癒了。
Posted at 2013-05-14 10:55:01
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