Distractions
When returning home after track practice or meets, I’m often presented with a fairly difficult decision. Do I do my homework, or do I do the many other things that are more enjoyable? Take sleep, for instance. After running the 1600, the last thing I want to do is study physics. The first thing on my mind is water, followed by sleep. Unfortunately, with the physics midterm rapidly approaching, blowing it off isn’t really an option.
And when I’m not dead tired, I have no excuse for why I shouldn’t be able to get everything done very quickly. But somehow, doing math problems instead of watching the NCAA men’s basketball tournament isn’t very appealing.
But that’s the very dilemma I’m faced with by living in a time where electronic distractions are cheap and plentiful. Aren’t there just so many things you’d rather be doing than studying or writing a paper? I know that I would enjoy playing guitar or listening to extremely loud music much more than studying for history or doing a French worksheet.
As such, it becomes very hard to remain on task, especially when I’m trying to scream loud enough so that Duke doesn’t lose to VCU in the first round of the NCAA men’s basketball tournament. As Duke is down by 2 with 1.8 seconds left on the clock, it’s obvious that that didn’t work. However, my homework isn’t any closer to being done.
No matter the distractions, this stuff needs to get done, and I’ll have to do it. But I won’t like it. Not while March Madness is in full swing.
— Carl Zielinski