Posted by Matt Wilson [173.74.8.26] on Saturday, July 06, 2013 at 11:29:09 :
In Reply to: Guys, I'm stuck, and need some direction. posted by Tom in Indiana [216.249.74.130] on Saturday, July 06, 2013 at 10:13:21 :
Tom,
I get that way to some extent from time to time. Occasionally I have no interest in anything, but usually still have an interest in some things, but not a very intense interest a lot of the time, like I used to. When that happens, I find that I am usually stressed out from work or other things, and that can get me depressed.
Mine often comes from the constant push of work and life, and I find that I don't help myself when I push myself even harder to get everything under the sun finished during free time. If I let myself relax some of the time during my off time, instead of pushing myself so hard to get things done, I usually start feeling better and more motivated, but I have to be careful to keep that balance, as I will slip back into the push, push, push mode very easily.
Life is not all about staying moving all the time, even though many of us feel that it is. We need down time, and by that, I don't necessarily mean a couple of hours here or there, although that can help. Rather, sometimes we need several days or more of down time, when we don't think about hobbies or home ownership responsibilities, and certainly don't think about work. Pushing ourselves constantly, whether at work or at home, turns something we used to enjoy into something un-enjoyable. Sometimes it's hard not to keep busy, because things pile up, but sometimes you have to say "no" to those things. This type of stuff can come to a head in our brains and our spirits, and the constant pressure can take a toll.
I hope you get to feeling better. Right now, I'm semi-motivated to get things done on my truck and other stuff I've got going, but I just have no time due to working 60+ hours per week so much of the time. That alone is somewhat depressing to me, because I don't think I see an end to it.
One other thing that's I've noticed about myself: I have to admit that the summer heat gets to me and I start losing my motivation to get stuff done, and it gets worse the hotter it gets. That alone gets old, and I find that I start looking forward to the fall, even though summer is supposed to be a fun time.
Take care, Tom, and let us know how you're doing.