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Ask HN: How do you deal with loss of motivation?

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Re: Ask HN: How do you deal with loss of motivation?

#171
post #107

I'm surprised that none of the top comments mentioned "So good they can't ignore you" (Cal Newport). It's an enlightening book. Long story short: "follow your passion" is crappy advice, you start enjoying what you do once you become very good at it (the author calls it "accumulating career capital") and by deliberate practice (i.e. always challenging yourself so that you are always slightly outside your comfort zone…

What are control traps?

They are traps designed to lure you into a state of less control, over yourself, than what you'd like. For example after 3 years at a company you ask to work from home. They'll likely propose that you keep staying in the office but with a better title and a salary increase. And control is called, by the author (yes I love the book), the "dream-job elixir".

Re: Ask HN: How do you deal with loss of motivation?

#172
post #164
post #107

I'm surprised that none of the top comments mentioned "So good they can't ignore you" (Cal Newport). It's an enlightening book. Long story short: "follow your passion" is crappy advice, you start enjoying what you do once you become very good at it (the author calls it "accumulating career capital") and by deliberate practice (i.e. always challenging yourself so that you are always slightly outside your comfort zone…

And then you burn out if you don't have passion for your craft in the first place.

But passion is something you build with time, not always innate.

Re: Ask HN: How do you deal with loss of motivation?

#173

Motivation is something I believe everyone struggles with from time to time. Some people don't even realize they lose it till it is to late. Others have so much to do they don't have time to be motivated. Leadership position at companies are either earn through hard work at the company or proven track record at other companies. If you want leader position work your ass off for it. If everyone is dumb and not working…

So, did this guy quit banking to pursue sushi? What's the story here? I'm interested.

Nope he never left the bank. He makes to much money to leave it. Plus he is one tier away from reaching $400k+ plus quarterly bonus. Supposedly the quarterly bonus is something like $30k. He works 3 nights a week at the sushi place he is pretty good.

Re: Ask HN: How do you deal with loss of motivation?

#175
post #172
post #164

Earlier quoted context omitted.

And then you burn out if you don't have passion for your craft in the first place.

But passion is something you build with time, not always innate.

Is there actually any evidence that passion always develops with practice? I heard this argument many times before, but fail to empirically find any proof.

Re: Ask HN: How do you deal with loss of motivation?

#176
post #110

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I got my blood tested and it was low. I'm getting the levels back up.

But your dosage has not been prescribed by a doctor? Self-prescribing is not a good idea. You could be causing damage to your heart and kidneys. You should talk to a doctor about it.

First of all, I've already been taking 50,000 IU, but only once a month. This was way low in the winter, and my vitamin D levels were low.

After I took the blood test, the endocrinologist told me to take the supplement once a week to increase my levels. So I actually did talk to a doctor about it. I don't know why you assume I didn't.

Re: Ask HN: How do you deal with loss of motivation?

#177
Find a job that you like, at a company whose values are in line with yours, and you'll find yourself feeling more fulfilled, challenged, and motivated to be something greater than what you were yesterday.

I used to change jobs about every 8 months to a year due to a lack of challenge I'd eventually find in every job I took on. I learned things very quickly, and as a result, found myself rather bored a few months in. I'd leave as soon as the lack of challenges and opportunities started to affect my happiness; I struggle with doing the same things every day for a long time. I can definitely do the same things every day, but I absolutely need additional tasks and duties beyond what's expected of me when I first arrive. It's the only thing that keeps me motivated - I need to be constantly learning and actively contributing to my company.

When I was 22, I found a non-profit I really loved with a mission I could really stand behind. The pay was crap, but after meeting everyone there, I decided that I could live a not-so-rich lifestyle if I meant that I could be happy on a daily basis doing work that I actually loved.

As time went on, my ability to learn fast opened up a lot of opportunities and after only two years I had exceeded my own salary expectations.

7 years later, I'm still at this job making more than I need to pay for my current lifestyle, and I'm the happiest I've been in my life.

Moral of the story is, find a job you love, a company that you can stand behind (essentially, your "work family) with a salary that can pay for your lifestyle you have now, not the lifestyle you want. Do this, and I honestly believe you will obtain the lifestyle you want through hard work and perseverance, made possible by happiness and motivation.

Re: Ask HN: How do you deal with loss of motivation?

#178
post #176

Earlier quoted context omitted.

But your dosage has not been prescribed by a doctor? Self-prescribing is not a good idea. You could be causing damage to your heart and kidneys. You should talk to a doctor about it.

First of all, I've already been taking 50,000 IU, but only once a month. This was way low in the winter, and my vitamin D levels were low. After I took the blood test, the endocrinologist told me to take the supplement once a week to increase my levels. So I actually did talk to a doctor about it. I don't know why you assume I didn't.

> I don't know why you assume I didn't.

I didn't assume. I asked.

Re: Ask HN: How do you deal with loss of motivation?

#179
post #175
post #172

Earlier quoted context omitted.

But passion is something you build with time, not always innate.

Is there actually any evidence that passion always develops with practice? I heard this argument many times before, but fail to empirically find any proof.

I think it's intuitive. As an example look at people who got in shape, I know a few and they all developed a "passion" for working out.

Unless there is such a thing as a "passion" gene.

Re: Ask HN: How do you deal with loss of motivation?

#180
For people who are feeling lack of motivation & bored. I am feeling the same.Infact, I don't know last when I felt motivated enough to do something. I don't want to continue like this anymore and I have decided to change my life.

One thing we can do is connect together & see if we can spike each other's interest by collaborating?

Please email me @ thinkmein2005@gmail.com or add in twitter @pantularajesh.

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