Decisions, decisions!

[Tuomas]

Cunningly I took the subject from a soft core pornographic poster I used to have on my wall for a week when I was 14. Anyway, I have a problem that I have created myself, here, in my small head, in my small pointless thoughts. I take you all as my muses here, so be honoured.

Ok, I'll start making sense now. It's summer. Which means lots of time to do nothing and even more time to do something useful, as I am still unemployed, still... So, I have possibilities to do stuff that I want to do, but can't decide or motivate myself to do anything.

So all I want is your help in keeping me in something and not letting me become a bum. I'll grow fat I just read an awesome book, Watership Down by Richard Adams. Now I feel like reading lots of books. Then I got this awesome idea. Finally a subject to practise my pencil skills, I shall draw bunnies. But what's the use? Now today I found this awesome page full of writing contests in which you can win money. If I had the patience I could enter, just for fun etc. Or I could work on one of those AGS projects I've got running.

But the problem is, each time I open artgam/take a pen/open openoffice I feel like I'd rather do the other thing. I think I need a hobby, I think I need that job right now, but what about my leisure time, all I do is idling.

What do you do when you face this? Many choises and no internal power to choose the most interesting/useful one... People do have this problem, right? Or is it just an excuse to justify being lazy? Think of it, share it, inspire me, please. I'll draw you a bunny, a nice one. I've got me new pencils and some good quality paper in front of me. I'll even sign it.

-Tuomas--

[Babar]

Hah! I have the opposite problem. My holidays haven't started (I have my exams in a few days) and I've got all these plans to do this, and do that, and this, etc., but when I start doing them, I get tired/bored almost immediately. My friend said I was burnt out. I hope not.

[Renal Shutdown]

I get that feeling sometimes, I'll start something, then shortly after I think to myself, "I'd rather be doing..".  It was MIDI for a while.  Then backgrounds.  More recently sprites.  I'm talking game making stuff, here, since I plan to actually make something one day. 

I'm also talking leisure time wise, since for a large chunk of the day, I'm pre-occupied at work.  (Thankfully, outside of work I don't have to acknowledge it's existence until I show up the next day. I'd hate having a job that took up time when I was at home, too.  It'd be like being in school again).

I've found I get easily bored with pretty much everything I do.  I'm in a band, an to be honest, I used to love it, playing bass for six hours a day.  In the last three months, I've played twice.  Both of those were when I was at band practice.  That said, Sunday's practice WAS fun, so I think I'm going to pick that up a bit more recently.

I think you need a job.  For one, it'll give you some cash, to do with whatever you want.  Secondly, and I think this is more important for you, it'll break up that leisure time, and make said time more enjoyable whatever way you spend it.  It'll feel like you've achieved something just because you're not working at the time.

That's what I think *you* should.  In response to your actual question.

What do I do?

I drink.

More recently, I drink and play City of Heroes.

It's quite pathetic really.

[LimpingFish]

I have that lazy/bored problem.

All the time.

I'm even too lazy to fini...

[fred]

I have that too, mostly when there are too many things going on to concentrate fully on any of them. Or when I'm feeling uncertain about the future. It's not always simple. I guess if you asked an expert, the answer would be something like: Take control. Set a clear goal. But sometimes you just want to have a break from all that. Allow yourself to play games, drink, or well... draw bunnies. Do it for as long as you can cherish it.

Also, thinking back, when I've felt like that for longer periods of time, I've most often come out of it by meeting new people who have inspired me. Going somewhere new or meeting new people can really set things in perspective.

[ildu]

For me, it's mostly a mixture of an excuse to be lazy and trying to restrict myself from starting another project that I won't finish. My sparetime is all about projects. I do art in various forms, I print t-shirts, I sow pants, I cook full meals, etc. Intended projects for the summer include, for example, building a lightbox table and a beachbike from bike parts. Also, projects that I have currently going include sowing new logos on t-shirts, various game projects, various art projects and many many more.

Because the flow of inspiration is so massive, I tend to leave projects unfinished, until I'm bored and trying to think of a project to work on that might still hold my interest. Also, I really need to work hard to restrict myself from starting new projects. But I justify this all by telling myself that it is actually furthering my future career and enriching my creativity. I hope to become some kind of designer when I grow up. Preferably an architect, a graphic designer or an all-around artist. One thing's for certain though, them projects really keep me going.

[Erenan]

I just force myself to work on something, and after a while, I realize that I actually do feel like working on it. This may not help, but this works for me. I don't feel like doing anything, so I force myself to do something. And then I do feel like doing something.

[m0ds]

I'm lazy too, but something makes me want to complete things. I think its the simple need for satisfaction in something complete, something that is truly mine. If you feel your idling on the computer, you should take up a hobby or a job - then you'll realise you free/leisure time is taken from you, and that when that time comes around its far more precious and you get a butt-load more stuff done.

There's a good ol' saying in some ol' pop song, "you don't know what you've got til its gone". Tis true! And I suggest conquering this quote through getting past idling & just getting things done - for your own benefit or satisfaction - rather than something like losing a girlfriend...

Every day there are about 10 things I should be doing and I'm lucky to get one or two of those complete, then I do drift off and just listen to music for hours or end up going out and enjoying the sun etc... Just try taking one thing at a time Tuomas! Drop some of your projects or leisure activities and concentrate on just one or two things entirely, then when they're done, bring the others back.

Just my $0.02, the other $0.98 fell out of a hole in my pocket

[The Ivy]

Heh, I wish boredom was my problem.Ã,  I find that as soon as I get started on something, there's part of me that says it's pointless, or not funny, or never going to get me anywhere.Ã,  I feel like I've hit a stalemate with a lot of my projects, but it's mostly because I never think anything I do is good enough.Ã,  Inspires progress, I guess, but it's mighty draining.

Maybe we should have a thread where you post if you need encouragement.Ã,  Wait, that's what the GIP is really for, isn't it?

[DGMacphee]

I've got what you could probably call a psycholinguistic method that I've found to be useful for motivation.

When in Uni, I saw a counsellor about problems I had focusing on task. My problem was not so much the motivation but the language and thought-process I was using in my head. Most of the time, when people are on task with something, they use words like "I should/shall" or "I will" or "I need to". What this does is sets you into a commitment where you feel forced into doing something. You tend to feel less freedom in regards to your actions when using language like this. For example...

"I should go for a jog today."

or

"I will call my friend today."

or

"I need to pay my bills now."

What the counsellor suggested was to think about my choices using the word "can". For example...

"I can go for a jog today."

or

"I can call my friend today."

or

"I can pay my bills now."

The word "can" I was told, indicates two things: 1) it indicates that you do recognise you have a choice in what to do, and 2) it indicates that you have control and power over your choices. In other words, you can do something if you decide to do it and it is within your control and ability to do it.

What's amazing to me in Tuomas' post is that he recognises he has a lot of choices for his holidays. The issue I see is after picking one there's a lack of motivation to stay on course. My suggestion is to keep with your decision and always remember that you can do that option, or any other option you decide, and ultimately the control over your decisions in yours. And that's a very powerful thing, I think.

Many times we get bogged down in choices, thinking that the problem is there are too many choices in life. I don't see it that way. I think it's that people are afraid to make a decision and run with it. I think all options in life are as good as others and it's basically a matter of picking just one. There are no right decisions in life, just decisions that you pick.

And of course, there's nothing wrong with changing your mind halfway through. You can do whatever you want to do. But just as long as you try to follow your decision the best you can, that's all that matters.

And remember that it's near impossible to try and complete everything we need to in life but I think we can feel proud in just getting as many things as possible completed.

This techniques seems to serve me well, so if it works for you, then that's good.

[Kinoko]

And remember that it's near impossible to try and complete everything we need to in life but I think we can feel proud in just getting as many things as possible completed.

This reminds me of one of my favourite quotes ever from one of the smartest men around, Clive James. I can't remember it word for word, but basically he said that he wants to do THOUSANDS of things in his lifetime, but he knows he can't, so he just decides to appoint other people to do them for him (like Tiger Woods is living his dream of being a great golfer, etc). As soon as I heard that, I thought it was a -wonderful- way of thinking of things and I live by it now.

[Phemar]

I think for me it's a serious problem. I have an EXTREMELY short attention span. Within the first five minutes of doing something I will get sidetracked and do something else.

I haven't done any homework in 6 months. And that's not an exaggeration.

[Paper Carnival]

While I was having exams I was thinking that when the summer comes I will be home all day practising my music and drawing skills. Unfortunately, I was given a 10-day free guest pass to World of Warcraft. I figured "what the hell, 10 days is not much". The thing is, I got addicted and even bought the retail version. I have about 3 weeks before I go to the dreaded army for 2 mandatory years, and what do I do? Playing WoW all the time. Damn you Blizzard!

[Layabout]

You should grow a moustache. Or a beard. Thats alot of fun.

You could take up singing.

Or learn to salsa.

Don't decide to do something. Just bloody do it. Don't think 'I might go for a jog' and ponder those thoughts for a while. Just go for a jog. Don't think, 'hey I might draw some bunnies' Just bloody draw them. Don't think, 'I ,might not go to work today' Go to work you lazy bum!

[Tuomas]

You should grow a moustache. Or a beard. Thats alot of fun.

You could take up singing.

Or learn to salsa.

Go to work you lazy bum!

I just shaved.
I already sing.
Salsa lessons cost, otherwise I'd be there already. Was about to do latino as well.
My work in Spain starts a bit later so now I'm waiting.

Maybe we should have a thread where you post if you need encouragement.Ã,  Wait, that's what the GIP is really for, isn't it?

Am I the only one who's interest in a piece of art dies the minute I get it reviewed. No matter if it was good or bad critics. Nah, this doesn't usually happen, just occasionally.

I think for me it's a serious problem. I have an EXTREMELY short attention span. Within the first five minutes of doing something I will get sidetracked and do something else.

I haven't done any homework in 6 months. And that's not an exaggeration.

I don't think I have this. You know, I read a 400 page book in two days, so I reckon I can easily consentrate. And 6 months isn't that much. Hah, you should interview me and my friend, I for one haven't done homework in hmm, 7 years, and I graduated upper secondary school just a month ago. (Not that I'm proud of being a lazy bastard)

I drink.

You don't say. One thing we have in common.

[Pumaman]

What do you do when you face this? Many choises and no internal power to choose the most interesting/useful one... People do have this problem, right? Or is it just an excuse to justify being lazy?

It's perfectly normal and is just part of the human condition. I tend to find that lethargy comes in phases, and I'm in such a phase at the moment too. I want to work on AGS, but after 5 minutes of coding I'm bored of it and end up watching TV instead. I want to learn the guitar, but after 5 minutes of playing I'm bored of it and my hands hurt, so I end up watching TV instead. I want to learn some Spanish for Mittens, but 5 minutes after opening the dictionary I'm bored of it and turn to the TV instead.

So what can we conclude from this? That despite what people say, the wonderful medium of television will never be dead. Most times, we don't want Digital Interactive Features, or Choose-your-own Endings. We just want to slob out and watch whatever crap the TV stations happen to be vomitting forth to our screens that day.

[m0ds]

I agree with CJ - there are an ernourmous amount of distractions these days. Man, I quit TV five years ago - things have been a hundred times better since.

CJ, good luck with the Spanish - it'd be great to hear you speaking some of their lingo. Sorry, trying to speak their lingo!

[hedgefield]

I've struggled with this for a year or two now. I remember last year I think, when I was doing homework(one of the last times) and I was like "shit, what happened to me, i can't focus anymore." I used to sit downstairs for hours on end, drawing comics. Now I struggle to create even one page in one sitting. And more recently, when I had to hand in a report, but I wanted to work on my game, I ended up doing neither.

When I am motivated I get big ideas, but when I think of how tedious it will be to realise them, I get discouraged. It's in the effort I guess. I can read a book or play a game, but why bother making one yourself when it's out there already in a similar form, better maybe even, ready for consumption. Breaking that train of thought is the key to motivation.

[SSH]

CJ, just turn ont he TV and watch "Dora the Explorer" then you can learn Spanish the easy way

[TheCheese33]

Dear God! I think you're my twin! I have trouble getting much of what I set out to accomplish done. I've started a union, a server, and a news team, but never FINISHED it! Maybe I should start to listening to music when I work on something, to keep me going.