Everybody wastes time. Instead of doing his homework, the schoolboy watches television. Instead of writing her essay the student goes out with her friends. They all have good intentions, but they keep putting off the moment when they must start work. As a consequence, they begin to feel guilty, and then waste even more time wishing they had not allowed themselves to be distracted.
When someone else is organizing our time for us, as for instance during lessons or working hours, we do not necessarily work more efficiently, but at least we are subject to the discipline of a routine. It is when we are responsible for organizing our own time that the need for self-discipline arises.
I know two writers who seem to work in quite different ways. Bob is extremely methodical. He arrives at his office at 9 a.m. and is creative until 12:30. At 2 p.m. he returns to his desk and is creative until 5 p.m., when he goes home and switches off until the following morning. Alan, on the other hand, works in inspired bursts, often missing meals and sleep in order to get his ideas down on paper. Such periods of intense activity are usually followed by days when he potters around his flat, listening to Mozart and flicking through magazines.
Their places of work reflect their styles. Bob's books are neatly arranged on the shelves; he can always find the books he wants. Alan, on the other hand, has books and magazines all over the place. They are about every subject under the sun, mostly unconnected with his work. All the same he has a knack of making use of the unlikely information to illuminate his books.
1.People often waste their time by （ ） .
2.Self-discipline is needed when one（ ） .
3.Why does the author say Bob is extremely methodical?
4.Alan often goes without meals and sleep when（ ） .
5.Alan reads a great variety of books and magazines, so that（ ）.
