Help!! I don't feel like doing anything

[MrOmnos]

I have been working on several projects. But since few days ago, I don't feel like doing anything. I am 25 years old. My parents are the best parents one can have. I am neither poor nor rich. I am fortunate to have food on my plate and roof over my head. But I just feel like I have no purpose. Whenever I try to do something, I feel like for what? For whom? Why? I have no motivation left. I feel like if I were to disappear today, it wouldn't matter. Why learn things when it doesn't matter? Why sit for hours and solder inhaling fumes? Why wake up at nights fixing your code? Why do anything? The world doesn't care. No one cares. I am sorry if I am breaking rules and posting it here. I just wanted to share this with someone.

[PartialDischarge]

Then you need to find some project/motivation that is both interesting to you and the world. Find a problem that you can solve in a different way, whatever it is, learn whatever you need to solve it (maths, algorithms, programming...), get the necessary tools and equipment and go for it.

Believe me, once you get it right, you'll have more on your plate than you can deal with. Boredom will be over.

[BNElecEng]

When i have these moments, and I'm pretty sure everyone goes through it at some point, I binge watch TED talks. Something always manages to inspire me and start me off in a new direction. I have about 10 incomplete projects that are waiting for my attention again one day.

As for the reason why to do anything when you believe that nobody cares, take some time to chat to people about the things you've done. People are more interested than you might believe but they can't possibly know about anything you've done unless you share it with them. You can share your projects here even if they aren't complete. Feedback from members might just give you the motivation you need.

Fundamentally, the reason I do anything is for myself. I learn because I want to, I experiment because I want to. I have had times when I haven't touched any projects because I couldn't find the motivation. It's ok to not want to do something. It's ok to take some time to sit and watch TV, spend time with family and friends.

People do care. Consider the fact that myself and another forum member have taken the time to read and respond to your message. We'll probably never meet you face to face but it does show that even complete strangers on the other side of the world can care. Now imagine how much your family and friends care for you?

If you feel like sharing your projects with us, then I for one would read about them with interest.

[amspire]

You have had some really good replies. I am just going to add one idea.

One solution to your problem is to look at other people really struggling with technology and to see if you can use your talents to really help them.

To actually help people though, you have to be able to see what their real problem is and address their problem, rather then coming up with ideas that seem wonderful and elegant for someone like you.

Just an example. Older people getting Dementia cannot use any modern music players or audio book readers. They absolutely cannot use touch screens. They cannot remember instructions. They often cannot remember that you turn the device on and off by pressing the red button with a power symbol on it. They often cannot read because their eyesight is deteriorating. They actually need a device that does not require them to remember instructions at all.  It cannot use buttons at all as they are just to abstract and unintuitive especially if you cannot see them properly.

There are uncountable audio playing devices on the market, and about all of them are totally useless. The only player I know for these people is a very expensive box. If you hinge open the lid, it starts playing from the last power off location. Under the lid, there is a great big knob that does volume. Close the lid and it turns off. That is it! There are no other controls. That costs about $600 here in Australia.

That is probably nothing like an idea you would come up for yourself, but it can be absolutely life enriching idea for someone who previously was living a life in an aged care home with no form of mental stimulation. It can be improved on. If they are listening to an audiobook, they will often fall asleep. If there was a way they could easily jump back to previous power-off locations that was done in a way that was purely tactile and obvious, it would be much better. Perhaps if the box had built in WiFi so relatives could remotely load and queue content, it would be even better still.

I am just mentioning this example because the feeling that no one cares can be an indication that we are not really listening to others to find out what they do actually need.

Richard.

[bd139]

I get like this occasionally.

Creating and learning things is difficult to do 100% of the time. Take a week off. Watch some TV. Eat some good food. Do some exercise. Drink lots of water. Meet some people. After a few days the motivation and ideas will come back.

[rstofer]

It's called 'depression' and this isn't the place to get help.  Find a mental health professional and do it soon!

[John Heath]

Welcome to the world of human behavior. I did a minor in it and can give a few tips. You put your finger right on the problem. I come from a great family with good parents and no financial problems to speak of.  There is the problem. The DMS technical buzz word is stimulus reactive anxiety cognitive disorder or in plain English stress from lack of stress. Not to worry as it is an easy fix. Look in the mirror and say I am the best , better than the rest. No one can live up to these words however your unconscious mind is not the sharpest tool in the shed and he will believe it. This will lead to a change in behavior. You will not be getting up to write code rather you will be up all night writing code. If you do not you will experience attitude conflict anxiety. Once you feel attitude conflict anxiety you will not want to revisit it. It is your subconscious mind saying " hey we are the best and that flaky code ain't cutting it so chop chop lets go". Hope this helps and be prepaid to be as busy as a one armed wall paper hanger if you take this advise.

[Bicurico]

It's called 'depression' and this isn't the place to get help.  Find a mental health professional and do it soon!

Best answer so far, which I subscribe.

DEPRESSION happens to many people in western society and you should talk to a professional about it.

Untreated depression tends to get worse, one danger are suicidal tendencies.

Start by talking to your parents about it, seek a psychologist afterwards.

There is no shame in getting help and treatment can vary from a simple series of talks to some drugs.

Life is wonderful when we are feeling OK.

But if one is depressed AND smart enough, it is easy to figure out how pointless life is: we will die anyway, so why bother?

Well, because along the journey, there are some amazing occasions, that make it all worthwile.

Again, seek help, only if out of respect for your parents, who care about you.

Regards,
Vitor

[CNe7532294]

It's called 'depression' and this isn't the place to get help.  Find a mental health professional and do it soon!

Best answer so far, which I subscribe.

Untreated depression tends to get worse, one danger are suicidal tendencies.

Regards,
Vitor

Agreed. Even though I've been there and done that and personally witnessed a good friend end her life. I'm not gonna come on here spouting advice of what to do next. How irresponsible that would be of me.

I'm a nobody to you. Same as everyone here. We don't personally know you and you don't personally know us.

Worse off is that there are demented individuals online or people that just don't know any better that drive people to commit suicide nowadays.

Please seek help from a professional and your parents whom love you. Best advice any nobody can offer.

[tszaboo]

It might be boreout, the lack of challenging work. I had that. You get good at something, and suddenly which excited you yesterday, is trivial and boring today. Get more challenge, if your workplace can offer it. Talk to people around you, talk to the manager. Tell them how you feel. And as others said, talk to a professional if you really need to.

[sokoloff]

Certainly if you're considering self-harm or if you are convinced that this is a long-term thing, seek professional help.

Since you say it's only been a few days, maybe you're just tired or sub-symptomatic virally ill or something. If that's the case, rest up and chill for a few days or take a short vacation or other mental break and see if the motivation comes back.

No one is 100% motivated 100% of the time.
No one is 100% happy 100% of the time.
Having feelings of boredom, laziness, or unhappiness on occasion is totally normal and no great cause for alarm so long as they pass.

[iwtommo]

Sounds like you have an easy life - no wonder you're depressed.

Everything you do DOES return to net zero FOR YOU. Have you considered a new project - kids?

[Mr. Scram]

Sounds like you have an easy life - no wonder you're depressed.

Everything you do DOES return to net zero FOR YOU. Have you considered a new project - kids?

Please, no. Kids don't make life better. Kids make life harder. It's fine if you deliberately choose to have them, but don't have them to solve other problems. It's a recipe for disaster.

[bd139]

I'll agree with that. I've currently got one that has just mixed her sister's jewellery with sequins in a box and in revenge the other one has covered her hair in sticky tape. I'm not even going to deal with it yet. It's not that it's not rewarding and fulfilling, but agree with Mr Scram entirely. If there are problems, this will only amplify them.

[BrianHG]

It's called 'depression' and this isn't the place to get help.  Find a mental health professional and do it soon!

This is too quick to judge just based on a few days ago, MrOmnos just lost all motivation.  I've been around for 48 years and had a few bad weeks throughout my life.  Hell, I had a entire bad month once.  I would say if this happens on the odd occasion, it's nothing too bad.  If it is a weekly or monthly occurrence, then something much larger is at play.

[BrianHG]

MrOmnos, when you were young, was there anything you wanted to do in the world?  What is the reason you work in electronics?

[ataradov]

Happens from time to time. I leaned to not worry about this and just go for walks more or binge watch TV shows. Things come back to normal in a week or so.

[Red Squirrel]

Oddly I sometimes feel the same way.  I have lot of projects I want to work on, and when I'm sitting at work I'm all inspired by what I want to do on my days off.

On my days off instead I end up sleeping in and then by the time I figure out what to eat etc it's late and I just end up browsing the internet all day.  I have to stop doing that and get more productive.   I think for me, it's that I have a shift work job and tons of time off.  So I've become too complacent with having all this time on my hands.  I have done some big enough projects so when I get in the groove I do get stuff done, but it's the thing of getting into that groove. 

One thing I find that does help though is to pick one project, and give yourself a deadline, and just do it.  Don't even think of the other ones.  I find myself I'm guilty of not doing that.  I think of working on project B but I tell myself I should really finish project A.  I end up not doing either one. 

Though this time of year is probably the worse for that, because there is not much day light and it's always dark out, and Christmas just ended, and it's just meh.   I find January-March can be kind of depressing.  It's cold, it's dark, and there's not really any special occasions.   By April then at least you know summer is coming soon, there's Easter, and it starts to get a bit more light out. But that gap between Christmas and Easter just feels so dull, cold and dark. 

As a side note it's also important to take vitamin D at this time of year.  There is not enough light out to get it naturally. 

[Mr. Scram]

If it's persistent, get medical help. That's called being depressed. If it's been a few days, try to exercise. That sounds silly, but it's suprising how different the world can look after just throwing yourself physically at something.

[Bud]

Stop watching TV.  Better yet, throw it away or only use as computer monitor.
Pay attention to what music you listen and switch to something lite. Read books, paper ones, not e-junk.

[Mr. Scram]

Stop watching TV.  Better yet, throw it away or only use as computer monitor.
Pay attention to what music you listen and switch to something lite. Read books, paper ones, not e-junk.

Your advice is to go back to 1925?

[bd139]

It’s 2017. I haven’t watched TV for about 2 years. Apart from when I’m having a shit. Managed to get through Hardcore Henry (it’s not porn for ref) in a week of shits.

[jancumps]

25 is a good age to leave the nest.

[Mr. Scram]

25 is a good age to leave the nest.

Belgium and Nepal have very different cultures and standards what is a good time for what.

[Vtile]

Life itself is incomplete project, which definitely is a good thing.