I can't concentrate on ANYTHING!!

[liberalpragmatist]

This is horrible. This election is seriously screwing up my work. I have a major test, on Wednesday no less! I have tons of work due tommorrow. I cannot concentrate. I have that constant nervous feeling in my stomach and I'm constantly distracted.

I just want this to be over. Why the hell did they have to schedule a midterm exam on November 3?!

Anybody else feeling the same kind of feeling? Not being able to concentrate on your work?

[blackcat77]

1. Me too

I need to update our group's webpage and do a couple flyers but I can't tear myself away from the political sites...

[kranich]

2. Join the club

I have not done much but scan DU for a week now and I decided to not even try to work hard again until after the election.

[Redleg]

3. Me too. I am supposed to be grading exams and papers.

I am getting behind. Oh well, at least I submitted a research paper for publication last week.

[deadparrot]

4. Yup. I can't do anything.

I have a major paper due a week from today, and I haven't started, because I knew I wouldn't be able to keep my mind on it, but I know I'll be too emotional after Tuesday, no matter what happens, especially if we lose.

My stomach hurts. And I have to sit through almost seven hours of school tomorrow before coming home to freak out.

[Elidor]

5. Tell me about it

I came in late to work and now I'm taking a 3-hour lunch break to stay on top of the news. I've never tried heroin, but this would be a good time for it. Maybe someone here at work can give me some valium or xanax.

[PleadTheFirst]

6. Same here.

I walked into work this morning and told my boss that I was going to be fairly useless for the next few days. :/

[Chimpanzee]

7. Drink a 5th of Jack Daniels - that usually helps me... n/t

[Chimpanzee]

9. I have a full-time fairly busy job

But I swear I've hardly done a lick of work in 2 months. I hope I can start concentrating again by December sometime.

[Lisaben2619]

8. There's comfort

in knowing it's not just me. Thanks for sharing.

[George_S]

10. Take your books to the library...

.. or any place different and out of the political loop, like a park or something. What good is it going to do to let your test suffer?

None.

[liberalpragmatist]

16. That's what I've been doing

Going to the library or study rooms without any computers and without my laptop or any internet connection. Still, it takes some willpower to actually get up and go, but I have no other options. That chem test is really critical for me - not too many grades, so if I screw it up, I'm f*cked.


In point of fact, I'll probably be heading over there sometime very soon. I should probably be there right now, instead of on DU.

[George_S]

24. Chem! Yikes, my toughest course ever...

... no wonder you don't want to do it. For some, it was easy, not me.

Good luck on it.

[expatriate]

11. You're preaching to the choir

Can't do much of anything, or at least in short bursts. Still phone banking for GOTV. I'm getting a few things done, but my forgetfulness quotient has gone up dramatically, and I'm doing things like leaving laundry in the washer until it's nasty.

I also have a lot of work to get done before Sunday, and so far can't concentrate for long. I've finally brought the real scutwork in near the computer, and can get it done while surfing the political sites.

I'll be very, very glad when this is over.

[Robbien]

12. kinda, but for me it is the feeling that christmas is coming and I am six

again.

Tommorrow I am going to wake at 4am, get my shit together, vote, then travel and GOTV, then celebrate!

That's the plan.

[nostamj]

13. if I didn't have things to do for tonight's farewell performance

of The Question W Revue.... I'd be insane. or, more insane.

haven't accomplished much of anything but a TOON thread or a new and soon to be outdated parody recently...

ON THE RUN (To the tune of "Still the One")

YOU TOOK THE COUNTRY WITH DIRTY TRICKS
THIS TIME IT'S YOUR TURN TO TAKE A FEW KICKS
WE'VE BEEN ENRAGED NOW FOR A LONG, LONG TIME
YOU'RE ON THE RUN AND YOU WILL NOT MAKE THE CLIMB

YOU'RE ON THE RUN, WEARING YOUR GOP FROWNS
ON THE RUN, A BUNCH OF CLOWNS
WE HAVE NOT YET WON, BUT YOU'RE ON THE RUN

LOSERS LIKE YOU DON'T GET TO BE KINGS
YOU'RE A PNAC PUPPET, TIME TO CUT YOUR STRINGS
WATCHING YOU SWEAT, AS YOU'RE FORCED OFF SCRIPT
OOPS, THOSE EXPLOSIVES!, I BET YOU WERE PISSED.

YOU'RE ON THE RUN WITH HATE AND FEAR
ON THE RUN WITH YOUR LIES MADE CLEAR
WE HAVE NOT YET WON, BUT YOU'RE ON THE RUN
WE HAVE NOT YET WON, BUT YOU'RE ON THE RUN

YOU'RE ON THE RUN I HEAR THE FEAR IN YOUR VOICE
ON THE RUN, WE'LL SOON REJOICE
WE HAVE NOT YET WON, BUT YOU'RE ON THE RUN

FLAILING, YOUR LINES ARE GROWING STALE
THE WIND AT OUR BACK, NOW A GALE
YOU'RE ON THE RUN AND YOUR EDGE IS GONE
ON THE RUN FROM A MAN NAMED JOHN
WE HAVE NOT YET WON, BUT YOU'RE ON THE RUN

YOU'RE ON THE RUN WITH THAT ZANY ZELL
ON THE RUN, HEADING STRAIGHT TO HELL
WE HAVE NOT YET WON, BUT YOU'RE ON THE RUN

YOU ARE ON THE RUN SO PLEASE LET ME SHOUT
ON THE RUN, THAT'S WITHOUT A DOUBT
WE HAVE NOT YET WON, BUT YOU'RE ON THE RUN!

[tridim]

14. I already made it clear to my boss

that I'll be around the next few days, but nowhere near 100%. I work at home, so it's a bit easier than if I was in an office. He knows I'm a political freak, so he understands.

[hangloose]

15. I haven't been this stirred up in years, I'm feeling alive!

[PatriotGames]

17. I am having trouble thinking of anything else as well...

I think that is a good thing considering how important this is!

[Swamp Rat]

18. No kidding!

I've got papers to write, lectures to give, exams to take, video to edit, theories of ontology and epistemology to conjure... AHHHH!!!!!!! I can't concentrate!!! I wish I could just sleep for a week, like a Rip Van Winkle, Jr... you know, wake up in a week a free citizen of the United States.

[Hoffnung]

19. Stop watching so many bush speeches :P

[Minstrel Boy]

20. It's been four years since I've been able to concentrate.

Perhaps my long nightmare of inattention is coming to an end.

[Taxloss]

21. I have been obsessed for the past six days.

I spend all day on the internet with the radio on. I can't sleep. And I'm not even American.

You would not believe how many people around the world are holding their breath right now.

I bet the Iraqis are - those that have breath left to give. The decent people who want peace are saying: "Please Kerry! Please Kerry! If you came to give us a vote, give us this one! Please!"

The insurgents are saying: "Please Bush! Please Bush! Please, above anything, give us a REASON to hate you! It's so very, very USEFUL!"

Osama is saying: "Please Bush! Please Bush! I couldn't have hoped for so many recruits, and the explosives were a nice surprise!"

Saddam is saying ... well, who gives a shit what Saddam is saying?

Tony Blair is saying: "Please ... Bu ... No, Kerr ... Uh ... Oh, shit, I'm screwed."

The free world - that is, those in the world with minds that are free from fear and hate - are yelling: "KERRY! KERRY! KERRY!"

And the echoes will be heard long after 2 November.

[hatrack]

22. Hell, my JOB is political analysis, and I can't concentrate for shit!

Maddening.

[wiggs]

23. My accomplishment for today: lunch. nt

[Nabia2004]

25. I'm in the same boat

Wow, I'm relieved to see others the same way. My concentration is so shot I was ready to make an appointment with the shrink.

[Shopaholic]

26. I've buried myself in work today

and I've managed to really get a lot done! I'm so nervous that I'm looking for things to distract me and well, since I'm getting paid for it, I might as well try to use work to distract me, right? That strategy probably won't work for me tomorrow though!

[Terran]

27. Me too

I feel kinda like I'm in free fall until tomorrow night. We may not know who the winner is then, but at least it'll be over.

[twenty2strings]

29. limit your exposure to

:toast: things that can make you crazy and try and enjoy the history. hunter thompson talks about how america loves a good ass whipping. you deserve it. make some music. have a party. yay!!!!!

[Lisa]

28. several of my students have mentioned this to me as well

And I sure recall trying to finish writing my dissertation during the 2000 recount debacle! So you have lots of company, I suspect.

Here's something that might help. Plan your studying in hour-long blocks. Just turn on the TV or the computer long enough to get the latest update, than finish up the next block. Don't do what I did last time and end up watching for the whole night.

I'm following a similar plan myself because I have a ton of papers to mark, plus I have to get 2 days of lecture notes ready at the last minute after losing some files when my hard drive crashed.

If you've got a paper due, consider contacting your instructor ASAP and asking for an extension BEFORE the deadline. This tends to reassure teachers that you've been doing some planning in advance and aren't coming along with an excuse after the fact. Plus there may be others in the class who are volunteering as poll workers etc. and won't be able to get stuff in on time, so some of your profs may already have incorporated this into their plans.

[giant_robot]

30. Me too.

Should be writing my thesis. I can't write for more than 30 minutes at a time.

[Nay]

31. All I could do at work today was think about the election, and I had

a TON of actual work to do. I worked all day, and now that I am home, I know I will worry and fret all day tomorrow at work. I won't be happy until Kerry is declared the winner.

[lizzie]

32. Glad to find out I'm not "dying of something"!

I can't concentrate either. Constant channel surfing, here, radio, writing LTTE's for Kerry. Haven't done the budget, run out for food just hoping there is enough money to cover what I've spent! (I'm usually anal down to the penny!) So stressed out by dinner every night (whatever I throw together) I fall asleep right after I eat! Can't keep my eyes open! Then I pop up and am wide awake again until the wee hours. (Thought I might be croaking from something!!!) Realize now I'm worn out and if I sit still my body has a fight with my brain!

House is a wreck. Only vacuumed yesterday to take out my anger at Tim Russert on Meet The Press! Anger works well for a good cleaning!

Forgot yesterday was Halloween. Kept forgetting today was my birthday. Don't care...all focus is on tomorrow and with a Kerry win THAT WILL BE MY BIRTHDAY! And I mean that with ALL my heart and soul!!!

[Maiden England]

33. me too, I can't wait for it to be over

so I can get back to studying, I need to revise people!