I won't lie, I'm looking for ideas. I'm currently feeling constantly tired and lacking enthusiasm, and need to find a purpose to get excited about.
Hit me (not literally, it won't help).
it depends about what... Very few things in life get me going.. but the things that do (mostly MTB and DH) are a passion.
The rest of the universe barely even registers with me.
Commuting gets me excited. I don't particularly [i]enjoy[/i] it (but it's a lot better than driving), but I always get a twinge of nerves before I set out, cos of the slight danger involved.
Also do rugby reffing which is always challenging and certainly never boring. Gets me running around, brain active making split-second decisions on all that madness going on around me... Absolutely love it.
Maybe find something that gets you nervous or excited 🙂
Do something hard, that really pushes you physically and emotionally, where you want to give up and quit. Sweat, and grind it out. That usually fixes it for me when I feel flat. When life is too comfortable those feelings of being flat and tired creep in.
Difficult.. but fwiw
Maybe take a step back, slow down - creativity and enthusiasm die in busy or stressful times so it'll come from creating space or changing your environment. Inspiration has to start somewhere.
I've been going out for aimless countryside walks recently, started as a way to stretch out tight hip flexors, turns out it's a great time to think, reflect and let ideas develop. It's a lot easier to note ideas on a phone app while walking Vs riding.
I also think enthusiasm comes from believing something is possible even if it's highly uncertain. Do things that are within your own control or are with people you can rely on mostly.
Another recommendation - do some volunteering. It's good to give some time to a good cause, even just an hour or 2 a week. It can be inspiring or put our own concerns or self-absorbed stuff in perspective.
I'm English, as a nation we don't do visible excitement.
I'm with you. The tired and achy thing socks enthusiasm. I need encouragement to do things I love FFS! Get some chums who are more enthusiastic than you and rely on them?
I’m currently feeling constantly tired and lacking enthusiasm, and need to find a purpose to get excited about.
This was me up until recently, it was a spell of high functioning depression. Amongst the various treatments was eating cherries regularly, apparently a good source of serotonin. Deciding not to give a toss about work and moving to a four day week also helped. That and dealing with a load of life problems 🙂
Is there something in the air?
I've got lots on my mind, maybe you have the same?
I manage to get to the gym most mornings and feel great for a little while after that.
I won’t lie, I’m looking for ideas. I’m currently feeling constantly tired and lacking enthusiasm, and need to find a purpose to get excited about.
I'm in a similar position myself, not depressed but just generally can't be bothered with anything. I keep reminding myself some of my best memories were from having a bit of fitness and cycling with friends (especially on trips abroad), I haven't yet convinced myself to do something about it though. I know setting goals is supposed to be key but over my 50 years of existence I've developed a very strong ability to just give up on any goals I set and take the easy option...
There's a club? I'm not sure I can summon up the enthusiasm required for a club...
Deciding not to give a toss about work and moving to a four day week also helped.
Oh my God that's my dream. I'm currently fixated on it but I don't think it's possible. I don't hate my job but I've got zero personal time outside of work. Having a spare day to do whatever I liked would be life changing.
I'd love to just go out on a Wednesday afternoon and sit in a field or something. Anything to get away from trying to feed a toddler, or bath a toddler, or get a toddler to bed, or stop a toddler from fatally injuring themselves etc etc...
Anything to get away from trying to feed a toddler, or bath a toddler, or get a toddler to bed, or stop a toddler from fatally injuring themselves etc etc…
This is it, family time impacts on energy levels, spare time, finances etc etc--we might love our kids, of course 😉 but what's left to us individually time-wise in between keeping the domestic show on the road--let alone worklife--is often pretty minimal.
I can't help you as I'm looking for the same.
I've basically got the go ahead to try doing 4 longer days with a day off during the week but can't get the enthusiasm to do the longer days.
various treatments was eating cherries regularly, apparently a good source of serotonin.
Pop a few cherries? Can I find the energy for a double entendre? (I can't, but might slip one in.)
I feel very meh about pretty much everything. But thats because i'm neither struggling nor do i feel challenged. I think as humans we need some form of challenge, its good for us. But i can't be bothered finding one.
Bouldering - new enough to me that I'm still finding it fun and challenging whilst also being possible (despite weighing a lot and having weak hands).
Skiing - it's pretty much my happiest week of the year every year, I wish I could do it more, but cost, time blah blah makes it harder.
Eating cake/ice-cream, drinking good coffee are all things I'm enthusiastic about.
As for the rest, meh.
One thing the dog helps with, is I can take her on the same walk seeing the same things day after day, but her levels of excitement in the build up to it never cease to inspire me a little - be more dog!
Depends on my mental health tbh. I think MH is not constant, just like physical health. Sometimes we're a bit knackered, or sick, or have a lingering cold, and physically we feel a bit shte. Sometimes everything is well, and we feel dandy!
I think, well for me, MH is similar. Sometimes my head just doesn't feel great, I'm in a fug and lack enthusiasm. But other times I feel really good, and want to do everything!
Sorry for stating what may be the obvious.
I took up Crown Green Bowls a couple of months ago and for the first time in a long time I'm going home on a Friday looking forward to playing in a match tonight. I'm usually just looking forward to a beer (or several!) and flaking out.
I tried it as a joke to shut the wife up as she kept teasing me about it - and I bloody love it. Competitive, but in a relaxed 'no one really cares' way.
I'm not saying it's for everyone - but try something you wouldn't normally do. You might like it!
Workwise - only 12 more years to go before I can draw that pension. Zero enthusiasm for work.
I'm a pretty upbeat person in real life, mostly because I can vent all of my misserable instincts on here 😉
For me, having a couple of options for activities keeps the interest a bit higher. I haven't been riding much recently (one ride since July..!), but have been bouldering a lot which needs a lot of focus in the moment, and that helps a lot as it's also usually my physical limit too. I will ride more now, but keep pushing the bouldering and maybe get back on some old projects that need ticking.
Get back to racing that road bike in vets races. I've missed it and it has improved my outlook. Mind you, any bike ride that has not left me unable to get out of bed with fatigue has done the same in recent times.
Today? Not so much.
Wow, like others I’m exactly the same!
Anyone want to join me in forming a group to talk about things I should and want to do, but not actually get around to it! Although I actually HAVE done that by seeking some potential ride buddies on here but never got around to doing anything with them!
Seems fair few of us are in the same boat
Are you deficient in B12/iron? Liver for tea is my recommendation...
Anything to get away from trying to feed a toddler, or bath a toddler, or get a toddler to bed, or stop a toddler from fatally injuring themselves etc etc…
This is how I feel about my dog, aren't they supposed to make life nicer, I just don;t seem to be able to do anything without the bloody dog now. Holidays ended up as stress fests, and I'm still paying for them! We need to up our training game.....
I've been feeling this way (no enthusiasm, bored, tired, achy) for a good year or so now. Been waiting for certain things to start up at work but stuff just keeps getting pushed back and I just can't be arsed chasing stuff. Another thing for me was my diet, I've been vegetarian (medical reasons but my choice) for a year and was really missing certain things. I've decided I'm going to be 95% vege now, so every now and then I can have something as a treat.
100 days to christmas starts tomorrow though!!!......
Actually saying all that, I managed to get out for some proper MTB action with my 15yr old son recently who had seemed to have gone off all bike stuff a bit. We ended up at Grenoside, and he absolutely loved it, which in turn gave me loads of enthusiasm to get out with him more. Maybe thats the start of the turn around. Hopefully.
Tonight's newsletter is dedicated to all of you! Thanks for the inspiration!
Maybe see if there are things that you can take out of your schedule, that frees up enthusiasm for the activities you enjoy.
A couple of years ago I stopped commuting by bike, and found I then enjoyed my leisure rides much more. I still commute every now and then, on a nice summer or autumn morning and even that has now become a treat as it is my choice rather than just my routine.
I feel very meh about pretty much everything. But thats because i’m neither struggling nor do i feel challenged
This is some of it. I've not been able to acclimatise to my current employer's cadence which is an issue. I've coming from high paced successful sales to medium paced sales expectation tinged with every other departments reason as to why it can't work. I'm used to having too much work, rather than periods like today whereby I can't find enough to keep me busy.
On top of that, I'm in a window of rest/restart with my bike training, having been on Hols and gained 2kg. I start a hard six week block next Tuesday tinged with consequential weight loss and alcohol reduction none of which fills me with expectant joy currently. Interesting note about Vit D also, I stopped multi vits & Vit D mid August and havent restarted.
Anyway, meh, mumble mumble.
I'm the same, I think the time of year doesn't help. Summer holidays are over, work gets busy with people trying to get stuff done by Christmas or year end. Not to mention it getting darker in the evenings, getting cooler etc. The long, cold, muddy slog that is winter is just around the corner.
<span style="color: #000000; font-family: Roboto, 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, 'Noto Sans', sans-serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', 'Apple Color Emoji', 'Segoe UI Emoji', 'Segoe UI Symbol', 'Noto Color Emoji';">Skiing – it’s pretty much my happiest week of the year every year, I wish I could do it more, but cost, time blah blah makes it harder. </span>
Do you live near a dry slope? We're in a club and I get 2 hours on the slope, including coaching, for £16.
If it tickles your fancy races are a similar price and there's a category for all levels from beginner to ex National Champ.
Bargain, and keeps the skills sharp all year round to maximise the time on snow.
I'm also doing some weekends ski touring in Scotland this year. I've now got a purpose for winter and am excited about it after similar feelings to OP.
Try a new sport of some kind. I also much about on a surf board. I'm awful, but get better every go, and it's quite invigorating. Checking for swell in the North Sea gives something to do during Zoom calls too.
I did catch myself just sitting staring at the carpet.
Trying to do my best to keep on keeping on but the desire just isn't there.
having been on Hols and gained 2kg.
Mate, it's 2kg. It's not important. You could drop 5 and still not win races. Ride your bike for you, for fun, just because you like it.
Stop sucking the fun out of it with pressure
Its not so much about racing weeksy, its just that I'm very bad at managing bored, inactive and frumpy. If there was a training course in how to enjoy doing **** all I'd be the first to sign up. 😀
I could run that course. Doing nothing is ace
Today I am mostly enthusiastic about exploring the variability in treatment regimens for pancreatic ductal carcinoma between and within different regions and how those compare with regional treatment guidelines and drug approvals.
An exciting day!
Due to restrictions on my daily exercise, finding enthuiasm to ride the same very local roads recently has been very testing at times, despite telling myself that I might finally be able to do a loop to my closest "proper" hills in the coming weeks. Finding it quite hard not to renew my monthly Zwift subs until October, because so often this year it's been short races that have given me motivation to ride, but with the nights drawing in and the winter weather there might only be a couple of months left until I would normally give up on the South Downs lanes until spring.
I could run that course. Doing nothing is ace
I think this thread shows a good business opportunity for you, if you can be bothered lol.
