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Ask HN: Motivation

12 points by usernamebias 10y ago

Background: I'm 22, I work as a Full-stack dev & solutions architect. I work full-time for a local company and continue to work at home on a SaaS that I've built and some ideas for other SaaS I would like to at least prototype. I typically put in my 8 hours at work, get home (gym -> eat -> work on my stuff). Mon - Fri. There where lazy days but I was always able to pick up where I left the next day. Recently however, I'm finding it difficult to get stuff done. At work, I drone the day away. Working without any thrill. The work is mundane and repetitive. When I get home, I often lay in bed after gym and eating. I keep telling myself that I'm tired that night, and that I will wake up at 6AM and get stuff done before work 10am. I wake up at 6am, but still lack the motivation to sit down in-front of my computer and do it. I should mentioned one of the things I keep putting off is updating my resume so I can find another 9-5. Question: I'm I burning out? Is it habit I just have to retrain? Anyone experiencing something similar?

JSeymourATL 10y ago
> The work is mundane and repetitive. Deep work is hard, not always satisfying. Generally speaking, progress equals happiness. What's important to you? What do you want to achieve? Why? Robbins has a good system for creating an action plan > https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=78pwjZ7lzBI https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=78pwjZ7lzBI
RUG3Y 10y ago
I feel the same as you. Completely unmotivated and burned out. I wish I had some good advice for you, but I'm still trying to figure it out myself.
Jtsummers 10y ago
You mention work, exercise, and work. What do you do socially? Try to keep up the current routine, but change some nights for nights out with friends (or nights in) each week. You may be experiencing some loneliness with your burnout. In my experience, burnout comes from too long as a student/worker (even self-employed) without giving yourself a break (among other things, but this is a common start to it). Maybe find some other hobbies to help you out, even if they're only intermittent (like my infrequent gaming hobby). They give you something entirely different to focus on for a few nights each month. That break can do wonders for your motivation and focus when you return to your other projects.
fnightingale 10y ago
Are there any learning opportunities that you can ask for at work? New technologies you can explore while improving the company in a small way? If you're not excited about the technologies you're currently working in you can find ways to grow. It's kind of up to you to ask for them, though.
mynameislegion 10y ago
Do some open source stuff, go to some open source conferences and make friends with open source people. Eventually the community will be a major motivator. Eventually you'll find a job doing open source things.
ryanlm 10y ago
You haven't mentioned how long your commute is. How long is it? I think that is a significant factor in how much energy you have after your done with work for the day.
android521 10y ago
You need to spend time with other people (non co-workers) at least once a week as a way to recharge yourself.
- J-dawg 10y ago
  I feel the same as the OP, and had never thought of this as a possible cause. Unfortunately none of my friends live close to me.
  - cauterized 10y ago
    Find a weekly meetup or a place to volunteer (doing something different from your workday activities) once a week. You'll see the same faces over and over, get some social interaction, and develop a bit of comraderie, maybe even a new friendship or two.
    - J-dawg 10y ago
      I think you're right. Time to get out of this rut.
ak39 10y ago
Until you ship a minimum viable and usable product in the hands of a user who depends on your software, you'll languish with crushing torpor. It happens to almost all of us. Focus efforts now to release v1. Find your willing user first, commit to deadline with the user, deploy version 1 for user to start off with, then watch life take on new motivation as criticism, comments and compliments start coming in. MVP or bust

Ask HN: Motivation

12 points by usernamebias 10y ago

JSeymourATL 10y ago

> The work is mundane and repetitive. Deep work is hard, not always satisfying. Generally speaking, progress equals happiness. What's important to you? What do you want to achieve? Why? Robbins has a good system for creating an action plan > https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=78pwjZ7lzBI https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=78pwjZ7lzBI

RUG3Y 10y ago

I feel the same as you. Completely unmotivated and burned out. I wish I had some good advice for you, but I'm still trying to figure it out myself.

Jtsummers 10y ago

You mention work, exercise, and work. What do you do socially? Try to keep up the current routine, but change some nights for nights out with friends (or nights in) each week. You may be experiencing some loneliness with your burnout. In my experience, burnout comes from too long as a student/worker (even self-employed) without giving yourself a break (among other things, but this is a common start to it). Maybe find some other hobbies to help you out, even if they're only intermittent (like my infrequent gaming hobby). They give you something entirely different to focus on for a few nights each month. That break can do wonders for your motivation and focus when you return to your other projects.

fnightingale 10y ago

Are there any learning opportunities that you can ask for at work? New technologies you can explore while improving the company in a small way? If you're not excited about the technologies you're currently working in you can find ways to grow. It's kind of up to you to ask for them, though.

mynameislegion 10y ago

Do some open source stuff, go to some open source conferences and make friends with open source people. Eventually the community will be a major motivator. Eventually you'll find a job doing open source things.

ryanlm 10y ago

You haven't mentioned how long your commute is. How long is it? I think that is a significant factor in how much energy you have after your done with work for the day.

android521 10y ago

You need to spend time with other people (non co-workers) at least once a week as a way to recharge yourself.

J-dawg 10y ago
I feel the same as the OP, and had never thought of this as a possible cause. Unfortunately none of my friends live close to me.
- cauterized 10y ago
  Find a weekly meetup or a place to volunteer (doing something different from your workday activities) once a week. You'll see the same faces over and over, get some social interaction, and develop a bit of comraderie, maybe even a new friendship or two.
  - J-dawg 10y ago
    I think you're right. Time to get out of this rut.

ak39 10y ago

Until you ship a minimum viable and usable product in the hands of a user who depends on your software, you'll languish with crushing torpor. It happens to almost all of us. Focus efforts now to release v1. Find your willing user first, commit to deadline with the user, deploy version 1 for user to start off with, then watch life take on new motivation as criticism, comments and compliments start coming in. MVP or bust