Editor, Author at The Third Eye

The Psychology Behind Procrastination: Why We Delay and How to Overcome It

Editor — Thu, 14 Nov 2024 08:26:47 +0000

Written by Urszula Gontek

We’ve all been there: a deadline looming, a blank document staring back at us, and yet, we find ourselves scrolling through social media or feeling the sudden urge to reorganize our closet. Procrastination is particularly prominent in the high-pressure university environment, in fact, a 2007 study found that approximately 80-95% of university students admit to procrastinating, making procrastination a highly universal experience (Novotney, 2010). Procrastination can generally be characterized by, as what Timothy Pychyl describes, the “gap between intention and action”, where we intentionally delay an important task, despite knowing that we’ll suffer as a result.

Do some people actually benefit from procrastination?

Psychologist Timothy Pychyl referred to procrastination as a “self-inflicted wound”, but can some people benefit from procrastinating habits? Many procrastinators share a similar self-soothing rhetoric, believing they benefit from procrastination because they work better under pressure, however, a study by psychologists Tice and Baumeister found that students who procrastinate tend to have lower overall grades. The reason, they suggest, is due to a mental process called “pondering”. Pondering is a proactive behavior where a person engages in contemplative slow thought, analyzing various perspectives of a situation, improving our ability to problem-solve immensely. When we procrastinate, we lose the time to ponder which can take a toll on academic performance.

The study also found that procrastinators had significantly higher stress levels and even more instances of illness (Jaffe, 2013). Procrastinators are also affected mentally, often reporting feelings like guilt, dread, shame, and anxiety. So why do we keep procrastinating if it makes us feel so bad?

Why do we procrastinate?

Instant Gratification: As humans, we naturally seek pleasure and avoid discomfort (Martin, 2021). This drive makes it easy to fall into the trap of seeking instant gratification, causing us to choose instant rewards, like scrolling social media, over delayed rewards, like finishing an assignment. We choose actions which feel good in the moment despite the decision causing discomfort in the future. Our brain’s dopamine reward system plays a major role in such decisions. Dopamine, released in anticipation for short, pleasurable activities, makes distractions feel more rewarding than tackling a difficult task. In the long-term, giving into instant gratification urges, like procrastination, weakens the dopamine pathways involved with motivation and self-regulation, making it even harder to focus on long-term goals (Martin, 2021). This creates a vicious habit loop where distractions become harder to resist, making us a slave to our dopamine system, ultimately deepening the severity of our procrastination.

Fear of Failure and Perfectionism: A majority of students tend to procrastinate due to their perfectionism and/or underlying fear of failure. Perfectionism upholds an ‘all or nothing mindset’, causing the assignment at hand to feel daunting and incredibly intimidating to begin (Novotney, 2010). As a result, we self-sabotage by procrastinating which paradoxically makes it impossible to achieve the standards we set for ourselves. This is not necessarily out of laziness, but rather a protective mechanism at play (Long, 2022). We want to protect ourselves from the feelings of incompetency so we will sabotage our best efforts and potential. This way, failure at the task can be blamed on a lack of effort rather than a lack of ability and competence (Jaffe, 2013).

Emotional Regulation: Procrastination is an issue with managing emotions, not time (Jarrett, 2020). We are aware of how much time we need for the assignment and how much time we are wasting through procrastination, yet we continue to delay completing the task. This is because procrastination serves as a way of finding temporary mood-lifters which will drown out the negative emotions, such as boredom, confusion, and frustration, which the task makes us feel. In fact, research has found that when people were made to feel negatively, by watching a sad video, before completing a task, they procrastinated compared to those who felt neutral and tackled the task immediately (Jarrett, 2020). By giving into temporary mood-lifters we build an avoidance habit which perpetuates procrastination.

Cognitive Biases: Cognitive biases are essentially thinking errors that warp the way in which we perceive certain situations. Such biases are partially responsible for procrastination as they falsely alter the way we view the task or our own capabilities. For instance, Piers Steel identified that procrastinators tend to view the task as increasing in importance closer to the deadline, when in reality the value of the task remains constant (Jaffe, 2013). This cognitive bias distorts the urgency of the task making procrastination appear reasonable. Another cognitive bias is the false belief that we’ll be more capable and emotionally equipped to handle the task at hand in the future, enforcing procrastination.

How do we overcome procrastination?

Break Down Tasks into Manageable Steps: Dividing the task at hand into smaller more manageable steps has been proven to reduce the urge to procrastinate. With this method, instead of thinking of writing an entire essay, you first tackle the introduction. This causes the task to be much less intimidating and anxiety-inducing, as well as providing faster gratification, a sense of achievement and autonomy (Jaffe, 2013).

Reassess and Set Realistic Expectations: As established earlier, the pressure of perfectionism and overly grandiose goals usually results in procrastination. To break this cycle, a mindset shift must be made from “I need to do this perfectly.” to “I need to make progress.”. This way, beginning the task is much less discouraging and an imperfect flow of ideas and momentum begins which can be later tailored and perfected.

Pomodoro Technique: The Pomodoro Technique involves studying/working for a set amount of time and then taking a short break, for instance, studying/working for 30 minutes and then taking a 10 minute break. While this may sound too simple, the Pomodoro technique has been found to be incredibly effective in decreasing procrastination, sharpening focus, preventing burnout, and boosting motivation. By having a clear studying/working timeframe, beginning the task is less daunting as a break is already in sight (Scroggs, 2024).

Practice Self-Compassion: Professor Michael Wohl found that students who forgave themselves, treated themselves with gentleness and compassion after procrastinating, were less likely to procrastinate on the next task (Jaffe, 2013). By beating ourselves up for procrastination we generate negative emotions which, as mentioned earlier, have been found to fuel further procrastination. By treating ourselves with compassion, forgiveness, and remembering that procrastination is not necessarily due to laziness or a flaw in our personality, we are able to minimize the chances of procrastinating again.

The post The Psychology Behind Procrastination: Why We Delay and How to Overcome It appeared first on The Third Eye.

Sexual Health Awareness: STIs and STDs

Editor — Wed, 01 May 2024 11:00:00 +0000

STIs, STDs, what are their differences?

In the medical community, there’s a general understanding that STI and STD are just two acronyms for the same thing. However, the word ‘disease’ refers to a medical issue with clear symptoms, which can be misleading since not all STDs have noticeable signs or symptoms and can often go undetected.

Medical professionals now prefer the newer term ‘STI’, (although STD is still used at times), to avoid the misconception that someone without any symptoms automatically means they’re healthy and free of anything sexually transmitted.

The fact that STIs often exhibit no symptoms doesn’t mean that they can’t pass on to other sexual partners; in fact, it makes transmission increasingly easier.

This means that getting regular testing is necessary for people to be practising safe sex. Fortunately, Malta offers a range of testing and diagnostic services for STIs, including confidential testing.

Getting Tested

It’s easy for any Maltese resident or foreigner to get tested by appointment at the GU Clinic, which is in Mater Dei Hospital. The best part about getting tested here is that it’s all done confidentially. An individual GU code number will be given once someone registers and that code is used as patient identification.

In the case of HIV Rapid Testing, the GU Clinic doesn’t require any appointment to be made. The only thing they clarify is that the test can only be taken 6 weeks after the person suspects contracting HIV. The process is quick and results are out within 20 minutes!

HIV self-testing is also possible by buying a testing kit at a pharmacy or ordering here. Going for this option means the patient performs the test by themselves (or with someone trusted) at home and still receives the results within the 20-minute window.

So, how often should you get tested?

A good rule for practicing safe sex is to test yourself after every new sexual partner, and ideally, ensure your sexual partners do the same. Of course, no one enjoys getting tested, but failing to get tested on time can lead to bigger issues and complications such as infertility, increased transmission of STIs, and chronic pains.

Prevention

Being able to prevent STDs/STIs from transmitting is important and this means consistent use of condoms and regular testing. Using male or female condoms significantly lowers the risks of transmitting diseases, however, they aren’t 100% effective.
In the case of some infections like HPV, vaccinations are available.

What should I do if I get a positive test result?

Depending on the STI, treatment is generally quick and easy, so when detected early on, a positive test result can be straightforward to handle. Although in some cases, only treatment and management are possible, without a total cure.

Treatment for STIs like gonorrhea, syphilis, and chlamydia typically involves one or two doses of antibiotics. It’s generally recommended to wait a week after treatment before being sexually involved with a partner.

A dreaded part of a positive test result is needing to tell your sex partners. This may be dreaded, however, it’s necessary for the health of both your sexual partners and any other sexual partners they may have.

Stigma and how to break it

People often delay testing due to fear of stigma or negative reactions from partners, but this can result in the transmission of STIs to more people and potentially escalate into more serious problems.

Stigma and misconceptions surrounding STDs/STIs are still very much around.
It’s important to challenge these misconceptions and to create spaces where everyone feels safe to get tested and discuss these situations, as any of us can contract STDs/STIs.

Having open and safe spaces for others means that there will be the same space for you too, should you ever need it.

By staying informed, advocating for comprehensive sexual health education, and accessing available resources and support, sexual health can be given the focus it needs. Prioritise prevention, and promote a culture of regular testing that practices safe sex, and most importantly, open communication.

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Period poverty: How the intimate became political

Editor — Mon, 19 Feb 2024 09:35:47 +0000

^{_{Written by Joséphine Ruault}}

Every day in the world, around 800 million people of reproductive age have their
periods. Menstruation lasts for approximately 39 years, which means that, with a 28-day
cycle, it occurs on average 500 times in a lifetime. That’s a lot. Period products, however, are
not equally accessible. Health NGOs and feminist associations are fighting to promote free
and identical access to them.

Indeed, menstrual protections are also very costly. According to Médecins du Monde, 500
million menstruated people struggle to financially afford sanitary products, painkillers, and
spare underwear. This phenomenon is called period poverty. People end up using toilet
paper or cloth to collect blood because they sometimes have to choose between buying
food or period products. This can lead to health problems, such as infections, but also
psychological problems, with a loss of self-confidence and difficulty continuing with everyday
activities. The people most affected by periodic poverty are most often already vulnerable:
homeless, incarcerated and on low income (unemployed, students, etc.). This problem
therefore comes on top of other social and economic difficulties.

The intimate is political: the question of periods, their costs and their taboo must first be addressed by institutions as a public health issue. Allowing free access to clean sanitary
products and adapted sanitary facilities is a first step. Investing in women’s health in general
must follow. Having and talking about periods should not be a shame, and information on
this subject should be better known, by all genders alike.

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Is a gap year an ace up a student’s sleeve or is it a waste of time?

Editor — Mon, 15 Jan 2024 08:27:47 +0000

Written by Martina Farrugia

The term ‘gap year’ evokes fear in parents with many thinking that this year will be spent slacking off and going out everyday. At the other end of the spectrum ‘gap year’ spells freedom for students. Gap years allow students to figure out what they are passionate about and what they want to do with their life.

Having to decide what job to go for as part of your career path is a big decision and one that should not be taken lightly. Therefore, spending a year testing the water is beneficial for students to discover which road to take after graduating. With the mantra of “school, exams, school, exams, job” being repeatedly preached by parents, there could be students who feel rushed into making a decision.

During my gap year, I got my first job. It felt odd working full-time as I was used to the student life with weekends off and Christmas and summer holidays to look forward to. But I got the hang of it. I started out as a customer service agent and while that was not my dream job, it helped me gain work experience. A few months down the line, a content writer position was available within the company. I applied, and got the job.

Working in that post helped me realise what I wanted to do in my life – write. I had found a career path I was passionate about. I was determined to go back to university to start my Communications degree to catch up on more skills and learn the ropes about the industry I hope to join after graduation.

Waving goodbye to my monthly full-time wage was not easy, but I had a clear goal that I wanted to achieve. I learnt new things about myself. What I’m good at, what I like, what I want. All-in-all it was a beneficial gap year. It allowed me to re-enter student life with a different outlook as I was confident and ready to start working towards my future dream.

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‘First of many’: University of Malta initiates Gaza teach-in, untangling Israel-Palestine

Editor — Thu, 07 Dec 2023 11:00:13 +0000

Written by Belle de Jong

This article was written by an independent writer whose views are not associated with The Third Eye.

The University of Malta hosted its first-ever teach-in on a topic that has dominated global headlines since 7 October. On the first of December, The Israeli-Palestinian Conflict, Explained saw some hundred students gathering in the Arts Lecture Theatre, eager to listen to the insights and experiences of academics, Palestinian students, writers, and journalists, on the increasingly unliveable situation in Gaza. The teach-in would be “the first of many”, Prof. Carmen Sammut noted in her opening remarks.

Initiated by the Education Department and organised in collaboration with the International Relations Department, the teach-in aimed to offer a detailed context to help students understand the resistance to occupation and shed light on the challenges faced by Palestinians in Gaza and the diaspora.

(De)constructing narratives

Dr. Louise Chircop, Head of the Department of Education Studies, set the tone for the teach-in by highlighting the lack of contextualisation in mainstream narratives surrounding Israel-Palestine within the settler colonial framework. She criticised the tendency of Western politicians and media to label the October 7 Hamas attack on Israeli citizens as ‘unprovoked’, neglecting the broader context of repeated military campaigns, illegal incarcerations, settler activities, and the imprisonment of children. While she considers the Maltese education strong in terms of knowledge and content, it is much weaker when it comes to critical consciousness – one of the reasons this teach-in was organised. Chircop emphasised the importance of cultivating critical consciousness in a globalised world: “We need to care. Not because it might happen to us, but because we are human.”

Academic neutrality vs. challenging diplomacy

International Relations Professor James Sater provided a political science perspective, advocating for academic neutrality that explains context without endorsing any specific actions. “We explain context without justifying any action”, he said, though with one major exception: the risks of never-ending escalation and human suffering. The concept of neutrality in cases of social injustices and human rights violations was later challenged by Dr. Rawia Ben Kayal. Drawing from her personal experience of war in Libya, she argued that neutrality is inappropriate when dealing with such issues, emphasising the responsibility to speak out against diplomatic passivity. “It is not how the world should be: diplomatic and neutral about human rights”, she said, denouncing the characterisation of the conflict as a mere clash or self-defense, but rather the 75-year-long occupation and expulsion of Palestinians. “It is not self-defense; it is genocide.”

Voices from Palestine

The teach-in provided a platform for two Palestinian students, Nour Zaqout and Deema Alnahal, to share their personal experiences and perspectives, allowing for genuine discourse with contributions from those who are most affected by it.

Against a backdrop of personal images – a smiling girl in a pink dress, a Palestinian woman making a peace sign, and parents holding hands at home – Zaqout sheds light on Gaza’s dire situation. Having recently moved to Malta for humanitarian studies, she underscores Israel’s control over resources, detailing the scarcity of water, food, and electricity. Having survived multiple wars in Palestine, she recounts the IDF-initiated aggression throughout the years, stressing Israel’s aim to dismantle Gaza’s entire infrastructure. “They target everything in Gaza: doctors, pharmacies, hospitals, schools”, she said, refuting the notion that these structures harbour Hamas militants. “There is no excuse for indiscriminate targeting. There is no Hamas in these buildings.”

Alnahal, who has been living in Malta since 2018, shared the harrowing reality of living in Gaza, where no place feels safe. She mourned the recent loss of her uncle amidst the difficulties of maintaining contact with family members, as power outages leave Gaza in the dark. Earlier in the morning, she received a message from her cousin, saying the IDF targeted a place in her neighbourhood and they cannot breathe because of the smoke from the internationally forbidden phosphorus they are using. “Is this fighting Hamas? Is this fighting resistance?” she asks.

Intersecting identities

While there has been widespread support for Palestine from the global queer community, some queer people feel their support for Palestine is at odds with their sexual identity. Dr. Omar N’Shea, Director of the International School for Foundation Studies, brought a unique perspective by examining the intersectionality of queer support for Palestine. As the Israel Defense Forces posted a photo with a rainbow flag on the ruins of Gaza, he asks: “Is this meant to be a victory for queer people? How can we bring the pride flag, representing oppressed and marginalised groups, to a place with the indiscriminate bombing of schools and hospitals?”

Exploring the concepts of homonationalism and pinkwashing, N’Shea exposed Israel’s manipulation of lgbtq+ rights as a tool for justifying ethnic cleansing, drawing attention to the paradox of framing Palestinians as barbaric and uncivilised while portraying Israel as a symbol of progress and modernity. Applying radicalised homophobia exclusively to Muslims is a trope that is far more destructive than regular homophobia, he noted, as Israel exploits this homonationalism to cover up human rights abuses in Gaza while Israel public figures remain openly homophobic. He argued this idea of “some rights for some gays” feeds into the justification of killing of Gazans, posing the question: “How can Israel claim to bring democracy to the dead?”

Literary and journalistic perspectives

The discussion expanded to explore various approaches to understanding and addressing the conflict. Director of the Centre for the Study and Practice of Conflict Resolution, Prof. Gordon Sammut, delved into possible resolutions, emphasising the binary nature of conflict endings: victory or truce. Karl Schembri, a former journalist and Media Adviser with the Norwegian Refugee Council, drew from his experiences living in Gaza to describe the heavily monitored border with Israel and the way Israel keeps Gazans on a diet close to starvation. Gazans were so dehumanised, he said, that even Palestinians in the West Bank were made to believe that Gaza was dangerous. Despite the immense challenges faced by Gazans, Schembri expressed hope: “Gaza always fights back. There’s an incredible spirit of resistance and resilience that makes it blossom under all sorts of adversity.”

Prof. Adrian Grima, Head of the Department of Maltese, highlighted the censorship of Palestinian author Adania Shibli at the Frankfurt Book Festival. Grima used literature as a lens to contextualise displacement, loss, identity, and resistance in Gaza, showcasing the powerful role that storytelling plays in understanding the human dimension of the conflict.

Sowing seeds for growth

The university’s first-ever teach-in unveiled a rich tapestry of perspectives on the current developments in Israel-Palestine, from challenging academic neutrality to amplifying voices from the region. The path forward beckons with unresolved questions. How will the clash between neutrality and responsibility shape future discussions? What role will the intersectionality of queer support and the power of literature play in the ongoing dialogue? The echoes of the teach-in linger, inviting students to contribute to the ongoing dialogue surrounding Israel-Palestine.

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Giulia Debattista Montalto Elected As The Third Eye President 2023/24

Editor — Fri, 17 Nov 2023 11:05:24 +0000

Written by Luke Muscat & Martina Farrugia

Following The Third Eye’s AGM on Monday 13 October, Giulia Debattista Montalto was elected as the organisation’s new president for the term 2023/24.

Farewell to the Past TTE Team

The AGM was a great way for the previous TTE team to commemorate the unique experiences that stemmed from this journey. From an incredible video of the best highlights crafted by Matthew Schembri, to the sentimental and yet inspiring speeches provided by Martina Farrugia and Waleed, to the election of the new executive, this night was a cornerstone of this university chapter for everyone who attended the AGM.

We thought we would switch things up in this AGM and ask remarks from the ex-president and then transition to the new executive for the upcoming term.

Q: What has The Third Eye meant to you in the past two years?

The Third Eye was and will always be the place where I met, formed and continuously fought with my second family, the chosen family. Speaking on behalf of everyone, it was a journey to find ourselves, find our passion and creativity in the midst of all the chaos, as well as stand for what we believe in.
Waleed Alhweeshel

The Third Eye 2021-2023

The Third Eye’s Future

After much anticipation here underneath is the new executive who will be leading the organisation:

Giulia DeBattista Montalto – President
Emma Cassar – Secretary General
John Paul Baylis – Public Relations Officer
Thomas E Muscat Baldacchino – Finance Officer
Isaac Gialanze – Media Officer
Illenia Anastasi – Brand Marketing Officer
Jazmin Conti – Content Officer

The Third Eye- New Executive

Read what Giulia, who is extremely eager to embark on a journey of embodying the presidential role, had to say as she leads the new executive, for the upcoming term.

My first 2 years with The Third Eye have been a roller coaster, with many ups and downs. But every moment was a truly beautiful adventure that I am so grateful I got to experience with the old Executive. And I am looking forward to building a relationship just as close-knight with the new executive and seeing what new adventures will come our way
Giulia Debattista Montalto, The Third Eye President

Final Goodbyes from the previous Content Team

From writing standard AGMs to transcribing our own personal favourite concepts into articles, this experience has been extraordinarily eye-opening. With a heartfelt goodbye we wish the new executive, especially Jazmin as she leads the new Content team, the best of luck – Ex-Content Team (Martina & Luke).

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Isaiah Riolo Resigns As KSU Culture and Entertainment Officer

Editor — Sat, 28 Oct 2023 09:19:20 +0000

In a statement released by KSU on October 27, Isaiah Riolo has resigned from his position as KSU’s Culture and Entertainment Officer. The statement explained how Riolo resigned due to “personal circumstances“.

Furthermore, KSU expressed their gratitude towards Riolo

The entire KSU team would like to thank him for his work and contribution to the Council’s efforts, and wishes him well in his future endeavours.
KSU statement

Due to there being a vacant role within KSU, interested participants are requested to fill out this form within fifteen days.

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Shahed Bensaid Elected as HoASA President

Editor — Fri, 20 Oct 2023 05:11:03 +0000

HoASA (The History of Art and Fine Arts Students’ Association) held their AGM on October 12 where Shahed Bensaid was elected as the organisation’s president for the term 23/24.

2023/24 Team

Admin Team:

Shahed Bensaid – President
Joleine Kipp – Vice President
Emma Steeb – Secretary General
Kirsty Calleja – Financial Officer

Executive Board:

Maxine Calleja – Academic Officer
Ben Caruana – Events Coordinator
Angela Bonett – Public Relations Officer
Marta Baldacchino – Social Media Coordinator
Ruslana Grima – Vice Media Coordinator

Subcommittee:

Stefania Farrugia
Elaine Grima
Gaia Grima
Maria Borg Olivier

Presidential Comment

I am proud to announce our creative dedicated team, with more fine arts students this year. We are excited to bring a diverse array of events, activities and more. I trust we will continue HoASA’s legacy as a successful artistically active student hub in Malta. Finally, It is a great honour to be given this opportunity in an organisation I have grown fond and passion for, I look forward to this year – and so should you. A big thank you to my old executive teammates – I couldn’t have done it without you.

The Third Eye wishes the new executive the best of luck!

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Nicole Buhagiar Elected As CSA’s New President

Editor — Fri, 22 Sep 2023 12:19:16 +0000

The Criminology Students’ Association (CSA) held their AGM on August 26th where Nicole Buhagiar was elected as the organisation’s president for the 2023/24 term.

CSA Executive Team 2023/24

President – Nicole Buhagiar
Vice-President – Rachel Busuttil
Secretary General – Joelle Anastasi
Public Relations Officer – Jerome Falzon
Media Officer – Royvin Debono
Events Officer – Raisa Ciantar

Presidential Comment

This year new faces were elected, and hopefully this will bring different perspectives to CSA. I am very thankful to have been given this position, and I am sure all of us will work well together to achieve as much as we can. We want our team to grow so Criminology students can benefit the most out of their 3 years here at University of Malta.
Nicole Buhagiar

The Third Eye wishes the new executive the best of luck!

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Andrea Varrazzo Elected As UM Futsal President For 2023/24

Editor — Wed, 02 Aug 2023 09:42:40 +0000

Jeremy Baldacchino not pictured

Following UoM Futsal‘s AGM on July 26, Andrea Varrazzo has been announced as the organisation’s president for the upcoming term.

2023/24 Executive Team

President – Andrea Varrazzo
Vice-President – Ilaria Formosa
Secretary General – Randy Cassar
Financial Officer – Jeremy Baldacchino
Marketing Officer – Kristina Vella
Events Officer – Benjamin Micallef
Social Policy Officer – Julia Balzan
Internal affairs officer – Michaela Briscoe

Presidential Comment

Following last year’s success as an executive committee, UM Futsal has decided to build on experience by retaining most of it’s members while bringing on some fresh faces. We want to continue building on the hard work that led to another cup-winning campaign. Everyone is eager and excited for what the term will bring.
Andrea Varrazzo

The Third Eye wishes the new executive the best of luck!

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