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

#1

Post by rampipod » Sun, Feb 26, 2017, 4:05 AM UTC

Lately, I don't feel motivated about anything. Job is okay and I just switched about 8 months back. Work is just not challenging enough. I had to accept job because of good money and my previous job being in danger due to internal org. issues. I exercise 4 days a week but I still don't see any difference in motivation. I also had my testosterone checked. My GP says its normal.

I wanted a leadership position at my company, but I was hired for a position that has no decision making power at all. Everyone here seems dumb and working on a few useless things.

I thought I would be making life changing decisions after taking this job, but so far that does not seem to be the case.

Should I create artificial challenge and try to get into MIT/Stanford for masters?

I need to find something with purpose,big money, and satisfaction.

What shall I do?

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

#2

Post by thestepafter » Sun, Feb 26, 2017, 4:15 AM UTC

Satisfaction isn't found in money. Focus on helping others and you will find true joy.

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

#3

Post by [deleted] » Sun, Feb 26, 2017, 4:16 AM UTC

[deleted]

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

#4

Post by throw_away_777 » Sun, Feb 26, 2017, 4:23 AM UTC

The easiest way to make big changes is to make a lot of small changes. Try to focus on small improvements you can make and work towards them. Don't get frustrated if progress is slower than you expect.

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

#5

Post by rampipod » Sun, Feb 26, 2017, 4:24 AM UTC

thestepafter wrote: post #2

Satisfaction isn't found in money. Focus on helping others and you will find true joy.

Hello, Thank you for the comment. I have tried being altruistic,but I ended up on the receiving end. I now presume that everyone is selfish and will not think for a second they get better deal.

Hunt or be hunted - Frank Underwood

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

#6

Post by jsemrau » Sun, Feb 26, 2017, 4:25 AM UTC

I started a side project in 2013 to satisfy that constant urge to create. Year after year in part time growing the infrastructure, app ecosystem, and user base. Just completed launching a Twitter Event Recommendation Service Bot. The marketing and negotiation skills I learned in my side job helped me in my day job making me more successful in both. When I feel not motivated or tired, I play video-games specifically the Mass Effect series because it is Leadership training in a nutshell.

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

#7

Post by theparanoid » Sun, Feb 26, 2017, 4:25 AM UTC

If you get in to MIT/Stanford it'll be fun. I did a masters, when I had a dead-end job. It was exciting and opened doors.

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

#8

Post by simplehuman » Sun, Feb 26, 2017, 4:27 AM UTC

rampipod wrote: post #5

thestepafter wrote: post #2

Satisfaction isn't found in money. Focus on helping others and you will find true joy.

Hello, Thank you for the comment. I have tried being altruistic,but I ended up on the receiving end. I now presume that everyone is selfish and will not think for a second they get better deal. Hunt or be hunted - Frank Underwood

To be altruistic means to be selfless, by definition. And you shouldn't expect anything in return. It looks like you expected things in return but didn't get them and now you have become cynical and claim everyone is selfish...

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

#9

Post by dodysw » Sun, Feb 26, 2017, 4:28 AM UTC

Paddle harder. Motivation is like wave/wind on the sea. Easier to get around with it, but we still have to move on with life even without it, even if it's harder, slower, or more painful.

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

#10

Post by aji » Sun, Feb 26, 2017, 4:29 AM UTC

I'm certainly no expert in motivation, and can't give you advice on your specific goals, but I personally find that reframing long term goals into short term goals can be a big source of motivation. for example, don't focus on bench pressing your own weight, focus instead on getting to the gym 3x or 4x a week and working on your bench press. don't focus on finishing that personal project, focus instead on making a little progress on your personal project every day or every week. having long term goals is still valuable, but having short term goals to focus on can make it a lot easier to find motivation. it's easy to get demotivated on big goals, but if in a given day you meet every single one of your daily goals, then you've aced that day as far as your goals are concerned. and you'll ace the next day, and the next, etc.

having a job with big impact and big money is a sizable goal that you won't reach overnight. you might not even reach it in a year, or several years, who knows. it's a big goal that's easy to lose motivation on. but reframing it into daily goals, and focusing on taking one step at a time, could be a source of motivation. just my 2¢