Ask HN: I'm a solopreneur and I feel demoralised

I completely agree with this. While there can be many other issues that are worth seeking professional advice for, being on ones own for prolonged periods is definitely bad for one's mental health. I recently watched a documentary on the effects of solitary confinment on prison inmates and saw that I was developing very mild symptoms described by working on my own at home for many days consecutively. Even having people in view helps immeasurably.

From my point of view, your professional situation seems really enjoyable.

I guess the first step is to be proud of you. Next, go to the gym, and spend more time with your loved ones (friends/family). Do you have a hobby?

My thoughts are from extensive research into self-improvement and from personal experience. They are things you could try. Some may not apply as I do not know your personal situation.

- Are you feeling challenged? I found myself in a situation like this in the past. I was wanting nothing, yet felt unsatisfied. It took some time to realize that I was not feeling challenged and felt a bit like I was cruising through life. Things that helped: hobbies, a side-project, and a realignment of how I think.

- Are you getting enough sleep? This one is very easy to get wrong. Everyone is different. Things that helped: going to sleep earlier. Sleeping a minimum of 8 hours per night. Kids got older and don't wake me up as much.

- Are you feeling overwhelmed? I sometimes I would feel overwhelemd in the morning, for no discernible reason at all. It felt there was so much to do, and it created a self-reinforcing cycle that would make it tough to get the day started. Things that helped: getting enough sleep. Having a morning routine that I don't need to think about and just do: get out of bed, go to the bathroom, drink a glass of water, make coffee, brush teeth, hot shower w. cold shower ending, light stretching + exercise, drink coffee, eat breakfast. By doing these things automatically I start the day without actually having to analyze anything. I start moving. Blood start pumping. When I'm done, I'm ready for whatever I need to get done that day. It's a warm up to get the engine going.

- Do you drink alcohol? I found that even small amount of alcohol have an effect on the next day. If you do consume any amount of alcohol, take a week break. Nothing. Nada. See if it helps. If this makes a positive difference, consider changing your habits. Perhaps limit drinking to one or two nights and give yourself a good sober week between the weekends.

- Exercise. This one is tough to get into a routine. I do it on and off. In general, when I do it, I sleep better and the following day just flows better.

- Depression. If these things don't help, you may have light depression. It's not always easy to tell. Go talk to a doctor. It's a sickness like any--no shame in it.

You might have just found a good level. You must have worked really hard to get to this point and now a few hours in the afternoon might be all your body wants to do for good reason.

I go through the same writing my PhD literature review. It comes and goes and I've decided to accept it rather than defeat it.

When I go through periods of making little PhD progress, I don't hate myself and do something else.

Hey. I was in the same situation a while ago (running a profitable service, making about the same and feeling miserable). What eventually helped was moving from Norway to Spain(Madrid), where I started exercising and for the first time had a proper social life. My body and mind were full of energy all the time. It was like being on opium. Of course, there were some downs now and then. Then in 2014, I meet my wife, we got a child together (now 2y old) and since then my life has been filled with meaning every day.

That is my two cents.