How to stay motivated?

[clear_skies]

Heya! How're you doing?

I'd really appreciate some help and advice on staying motivated.

As a typical INTP, I've never really had much passion about anything. I'd get interested in something, do it for a bit, and jump ship. The interest always fades for some reason. Now I've found something I feel like could be "the thing" that I stay passionate about for more than 2 months. I'm just scared that I'll lose interest sometime, or lose motivation, and I'll be back at square one. Where I'm just flopping through life like a blob fish with no aspirations or purpose.

How do I end this cycle and remain motivated and passionate about something?


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[Ex-User (14663)]

For me, it comes down to two things:

- Be a part of a group of dedicated people who do the same thing.
- When "jumping ship", do it within a certain radius of your general interest. I.e. have a theme that you stick to.

 

[clear_skies]

Ahhh I see. Thank you! I'll try finding a group of people to do it with. Hopefully, since it's a creative thing where the sky's the limit, it'll be harder to lose interest


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[Cognisant]

When "jumping ship", do it within a certain radius of your general interest. I.e. have a theme that you stick to.

This is really good advice, build experience in an area and your diverse experiences will work to your advantage.

- Be a part of a group of dedicated people who do the same thing.

This not so much, people can be a great resource but that goes both ways so generally anyone that wants to work with you is a parasite and anyone you want to work with will see you as such.

 

[clear_skies]

Haha I think I'd rather be "parasite" than "hermit" at this point in time


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[PmjPmj]

Take lots of drugs which encourage the release of serotonin, dopamine and / or adrenaline.

You'll go from 0-100 in ~ 40 minutes. Even the things you really couldn't be arsed doing will now seem like fascinating endeavours.

Helps me through the more mundane aspects of my jobs, anyway.

 

[Happy]

IMO the key is routine (not our strong suit as NPs, but an ability that can nonetheless be learned). If you keep doing something that interests you every day, you'll gain a deeper interest in it which will feed your drive to continue. Also, sticking to the routine and pushing through the mundane bits feeds the routine, which feeds the depth of knowledge which feeds the (etc etc). It's a circle, and the key is routine.

 

[Ex-User (14663)]

This not so much, people can be a great resource but that goes both ways so generally anyone that wants to work with you is a parasite and anyone you want to work with will see you as such.

This is a very foreign notion to me. Collaboration is not a zero-sum game.

 

[clear_skies]

I don't know if you're joking about drugs or not...

I think it'd be pretty detrimental towards my life if I get expelled from school. But thanks for the advice anyway!

Maybe I'll try coffee.


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[clear_skies]

This is a very foreign notion to me. Collaboration is not a zero-sum game.

Haha actually same. I usually don't do things with other people unless circumstances force me to. But I suppose life is all about trying new things. It probably shouldn't hurt to try collaborating. I'll try it out!


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[clear_skies]

IMO the key is routine (not our strong suit as NPs, but an ability that can nonetheless be learned). If you keep doing something that interests you every day, you'll gain a deeper interest in it which will feed your drive to continue. Also, sticking to the routine and pushing through the mundane bits feeds the routine, which feeds the depth of knowledge which feeds the (etc etc). It's a circle, and the key is routine.

Routines are so hard. I've never had any routine that isn't set by mandatory things like school, work, etc. Couldn't even make it halfway through Guild Wars 2 that's how easily I slack off. And I LIKE gaming.

But I can definitely try out a routine. My life could probably be much improved with some order. And maybe I'll stop jumping ship with interests.

Thanks for the advice!


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[JR_IsP]

Start a diary. It works (but as an INTP with the same problem of focus lose, I know it's hard).

However, it really works. When you read what you've just written (say idk... physics), you'll be more motivated, and it also helps with some emotional trouble....

You should try creating a private wordpress, it's more private than a physical diary (unless you hide it very well and it's in code).

 

[Ex-User (8886)]

You can be motivated only for a short period, so in this short time you need to make a habit. With a habit you dont need motivation. (I know it's ultimately difficult for Ne people, but it's the only way to do something you dont really want to do for a long time)

 

[AndyC]

Remove the self/ego- this is something you must figure out on your own but is the most critical component of any action you take.
Have an intrinsic goal such as to learn as much as possible (must involve experiencing the world in some way)
Recognize lack of motivation is a result of attitude
Recognize attitude is inertial
Recognize attitude is a result of self
Attain flow by removing the self and directing energy towards the world for the sake of your intrinsic goal.
Maintain the inertia of flow
Master anything.

 

[ZenRaiden]

A ship my friend is useless in a pond or dryland. Travel the seas and oceans and dont ever jump ship. Go full steam ahead and dont let the storms stop you to find a faraway harbor of success and immense satisfaction. Hope this didnt sound too un INTP....

Something I learned from psychology is that we often are good at picking the right interests despite not trusting those intuitions and changing our interests. This goes double for INTPs and quadrupel for ENTPs. I regret everytime I jumped ship. I never regretted staying focused and going through with my plans and interests. It payed back always to stay focused dozen times over.

 

[ZenRaiden]

For me, it comes down to two things:

- Be a part of a group of dedicated people who do the same thing.
- When "jumping ship", do it within a certain radius of your general interest. I.e. have a theme that you stick to.

I wish someone told me this 20 or more years ago.