Motivation

I know i'll probably scoff at myself 10 years later when i'm buried in work, rushing for deadlines and leaving the office at 3am... but man, studying is hard.

When G ended his exams, i wanted so badly to stop studying too. I started studying a little earlier than him yet he finished three weeks before me. When his freedom came, i wondered how was i going to stand being in the same room as him, with him enjoying his freedom and me always finding myself being tugged back by an invisible chain to my desk.

It didn't help when my mental state was weak. I was frustrated at my course, sick of the short sleeping hours and i only had a one week break since the last exam before i resumed studying for the next term. I was exhausted.

So G offered me a motivation bet.

For every 8 hours i study each day, he'll give me 5 points. And for every subsequent hour, i'll get an extra 5 points.

My first 5 points :)

How we do it is we 'clock in' our studying hours (we used to do this in college). It isn't a matter of how long you sit at your desk, but more to do with how many hours your mind is on the treadmill. So let's say even if i sat at my desk from 12pm - 4pm, i might only clock in 3 and a half hours because i went to the kitchen for food, checked my email, dozed off and daydreamed.

This was our clock-in sheet during first year hahaha

This bet made me realise my attention span is roughly around 45 minutes. I can study for 2 hours straight but it's only when i tip my head back, open my jaws like a pelican and upend a pot of coffee.

I don't do that very often.

My most gungho day

It also helps a lot that i am losing so much. I have nothing but this bet to keep G in sight in terms of points.

I can't describe how useful this bet is to me. I used to think 6 hours is a lot. But because of this bet, i stretched myself a bit further and put in another 2 hours. Not only did i find the 2 hours extremely productive, it wasn't a stretch at all! I could have done it any other day before this if it weren't for my laziness cajoling me that i've been so good and 6 hours is more than enough.

Till date, i've earned 45 points! Whee! :D

One last thing -

Thank you, G.

For giving me such a huge motivational boost.
For making sure i never study with an empty stomach.
For accompanying me throughout all the late nights.
For layaning my random word games in between.
For never saying 'no' to anything i want because 'i'm studying'.
For putting up with my grumpiness.
For just being there forever and always.

Last paper on Monday!

Score -

G : 123 points
M : 99 points