[iwanttohavehope]

I want to ask for help from everyone about how they keep up their motivation to do things. Their mojo, their get up and go, whatever you want to call it.

Unless it's something pressing like having to make money to pay a bill it seems like my urges wavers. I might start up an old hobby or something for a day or two and then it fades again.

For a basic example, I'm really bad at watching TV shows or movies. I can only keep up with three of them (none are on now), even though there's a lot of plots that sound right up my alley and might give me some relief in the evenings. I just sit and idly think and feel restless because I feel like I have nothing to do. I can watch random stuff on youtube just fine, which is odd.

On top of making me entertainment deprived, it gives me a hell of a lot less to talk about if I ever interact with anyone. Which doesn't happen much, but I want to be prepared. Being out of the loop makes me feel more alienated.

I'm also trying to learn computer programming, and after taking a "mental health break" from it last month (getting frustrated and having no support system) I want to get back to it but I feel stuck again.

But I remember liking things. I like fantasy and scifi shows, I like anime and mysteries. I remember figuring out problems with a computer seemed interesting and something that would make me less broke (hopefully). But I feel like I'm stuck in the mud. And that makes me even more sad.

Any ideas tips on how to keep the fire burning?

ETA: I even forgot I signed up for this forum, the one that I signed up for to try get help and connect with others. It's pretty bad.

[basicgoodness]

I don't have any magic solutions, other than to keep plowing forward. Fake it 'til you make it. I have major motivation problems, too. I've lost interest in things I used to love, like playing my guitar. Depression does suck the life out of you. I applied for a job today and now I'm terrified I'll get an interview. The thought of it is too much to handle right now.

[iwanttohavehope]

Originally Posted by basicgoodness

I don't have any magic solutions, other than to keep plowing forward. Fake it 'til you make it. I have major motivation problems, too. I've lost interest in things I used to love, like playing my guitar. Depression does suck the life out of you. I applied for a job today and now I'm terrified I'll get an interview. The thought of it is too much to handle right now.

Fake it. That's a skill I have to learn.

I hope we both get our drive back. I was learning to play guitar too before the thing that really spun me around hit.

Good luck on your job interview (if you need the money)

[elevatedsoul]

i have no idea.. it sucks.. i've lost all of my hobbies and interests, i was so musically inclined too...

[hsalmon21]

Hello!

This happens to me a lot, too. Netflix and tv are easy way for me to spark interest because all I have to do is lay there - same with endless amounts of youtube watching, like going from laughing at red pandas to balling my eyes out at soldier coming home videos. But like you said, I get restless. That's when I turn off the electronics and just reflect on if I'm really doing what I want to want to be doing (which most of the time is no).

If the answer is no, that's when I make myself do what I wish I want to be doing. For example, I love painting and drawing. I've had a lot of spare time lately and, like your programming, I want to get back into it. I have all the supplies with me - all I need is the motivation. So I just pour some paint, get a brush, and start doin it.

I think what you should try to do is when you catch yourself avoiding doing what you wish you were actually doing, take a step back, and just decide to do it - clap, snap, blink really hard, whatever! to make it official. Mentally, you may not have the "motivation" but physically, there's nothing you can't do.

Almost like what someone else said, fake it till you make it.

Hope that helped!

[besmith818]

I'm having to fake it through things lately too. I try to pick up things I used to enjoy doing, but it doesn't last long. I try to concentrate on a task or activity for as long as I can. Some days it is easier than others. I also played guitar but haven't had the motivation to pick it up in a while. I hope that you begin to get some of your motivation back in time, and I'm wishing you the best.

Honestly the things that I've found useful is probably to make things forced since I also have trouble motivating myself unless it's a very important issue. I find that having an accountability partner is good as well as just focusing on making small reasonable goals for yourself and holding yourself accountable for them. But also if you don't do them, to not beat yourself up and try again.

So yeah. I purposefully invite friends over so I'll clean my apartment. Or tell my coworkers I'll bring cookies in so I'll bake. Or skype with a friend so that I can get some computer stuff done at the same time. Motivation for me is. Something that I'm pretty sure will always be difficult to get and keep so I figure the best way to handle it is to kind of try and play the system lol. Plus I'm always motivated after I pay money for something so I try to use whatever I can to increase an item/activity's priority level in my mind. it's annoying but it does work.

[Fuzzybear]

[iwanttohavehope]

Originally Posted by hsalmon21

Hello!

This happens to me a lot, too. Netflix and tv are easy way for me to spark interest because all I have to do is lay there - same with endless amounts of youtube watching, like going from laughing at red pandas to balling my eyes out at soldier coming home videos. But like you said, I get restless. That's when I turn off the electronics and just reflect on if I'm really doing what I want to want to be doing (which most of the time is no).

If the answer is no, that's when I make myself do what I wish I want to be doing. For example, I love painting and drawing. I've had a lot of spare time lately and, like your programming, I want to get back into it. I have all the supplies with me - all I need is the motivation. So I just pour some paint, get a brush, and start doin it.

I think what you should try to do is when you catch yourself avoiding doing what you wish you were actually doing, take a step back, and just decide to do it - clap, snap, blink really hard, whatever! to make it official. Mentally, you may not have the "motivation" but physically, there's nothing you can't do.

Almost like what someone else said, fake it till you make it.

Hope that helped!

I'll try to do better. A long time again when I had a counselor they said my motivation was inverted. I have to start doing something, then the mood for it comes later. But even that needs a little fuel to start the fire and I'm not finding it lately. Something's going on, beside the obvious

I was kind of doing that with a sock that I was knitting (I make stuff and this was an unfinished project from before I moved) and it's been fun doing a few rounds a night. But then I stopped again. At least this time I made a note of what row I was on so it's not a mystery again.

[iwanttohavehope]

Originally Posted by elevatedsoul

i have no idea.. it sucks.. i've lost all of my hobbies and interests, i was so musically inclined too...

I hope you get some of that passion back. If I think about some of the stuff I left undone, I get extra sad because of those could haves and should haves. It might be easier if I had some friends around here to keep me even, but it's just me at the moment. If you have some friends that can kick you in the butt that might be the way to go.