Apparently my issue with working to fill any deadline isn't exclusive to me. It's known as 'Parkinson's Law', which can best be described up as, "work expands so as to fill the time available for its completion" or "work expands to fill the time available." I think that sums it up quite nicely (although Wikipedia doesn't go any further to offer any cure for sufferers). I wonder what sufferers are called? Let's just say I don't think I'll be shouting from the roof-tops that I have 'Parkinsons'. I know, cheap joke.
It's late and I'm forcing myself to stay awake just a little bit longer, perhaps until 2am. Since the clocks moved forward at the weekend my sleep pattern has been all over the place. I can't sleep until about this time of the night/morning, and then find myself in a viscous cycle in which I can't get out of bed until late morning at best.
In fact, no. I can't blame the clocks changing. My sleep patterns are always all over the place.
I think when I started university in 2003 I developed some kind of issue, whereby I feel the need to stay up ridiculously late, doing very little. I usually find that I don't go to bed until everyone else in the house has dozed off, often hours later. I think there a couple of explanations for this:
Firstly, I really enjoy the peacefulness of everything when it's really late. Everything being so quiet makes a change from the hustle and bustle of the daytime. Even when it seems quiet during the day, it's not. It makes me realise that I take silence for granted, and also that I'm quite content with my own company.
Secondly, I sometimes have an irrational concern that going to sleep would mean I miss out on something good, whatever that something may be. It's the same even when there is clearly nothing to miss out on. It's ridiculous really, but it's probably the same reason why there are always certain people who have to be the last one standing at a party etc.
Lastly, I blame YouTube and Facebook. I often find myself just watching endless videos of people injuring themselves in some horrible freak accident. Don't get me wrong, I'm no masochist, I just like those 'face-plant' genre videos on youtube, where some teenager on a skateboard really stacks it.
It's now really late. I have to try and get up relatively early in the morning to finish some work I started today before my class starts at 3pm. No doubt I'll use all available time to finish it - damn this Parkinsons.
2 comments:
In regards to your irrational concern, if you hadn't stayed up so late you would have missed that armed police raid. Therefore, I believe the concern is not so irrational!
That's true actually - nor would my picture have made it to the front page of the local broadsheet!
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