Anyone else finding it harder to be motivated these days?

[Coventina]

At first, when this "lockdown" started, I was on fire!

I was super productive in my work from home.
I was cooking, cleaning, organizing.

I was loving it.

Now, a month+ in and I never saw this coming:

I find it hard to get out of bed, shower, put on a bra, put on "street" clothes, cook, do anything productive whatsoever.

I'm phoning in my work (so to speak), and procrastinating like crazy.

I don't feel lonely. I don't miss people. If anything, I am more and more reluctant to see or speak with anyone or go anywhere.

But, I seem to have lost my motivation somewhere....



I just want to sleep and I feel tired all the time....

[redstatebluegirl]

1. Me too.

Couple that with losing faith in humanity and it just gets worse.

[Coventina]

5. Roger that!!!!

Humanity sucks.

I'm actually dreading the end of the lockdown, and having to deal with people again.

[SoCalNative]

2. Yes

also been working from home since March 13th, and am finding it more difficult to stay focused and get things done.

[Harker]

3. That's me...

but I am still working outside the house.

There's a huge energy drain left open somewhere.

[Ohiogal]

6. Me (raising hand)

My ambition went from high to low since the quarantine. Feeling very foggy, lazy and tired lately. Forcing myself to do the basics. I still make dinner for my 3 guys every night, which is good, otherwise I’d probably be eating a bag of popcorn for dinner most nights if left to my own devices.

[Coventina]

8. Absolutely!

Cooking was fun at first. Now it's heavy lifting....

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

7. I haven't been motivated to put on a bra in weeks,

and the one good thing about this situation is that I don't have to do it. But I'm also suffering from lethargy and ennui; I have many projects that require attention but I'm not doing them. I'm doing this and watching Netflix and napping. When you know you won't be going out or seeing people for God knows how long it's pretty easy to ignore everything. I do get up (though not early), shower, wash my hair and put on clean clothes (except for a bra) every day. I feed the cats, maybe do some laundry, run the dishwasher - stuff that needs immediate attention - and then I sit. I think I get what you're feeling. Blah.

[captain queeg]

13. Had to look up the meaning of ennui. Perfect word for these days

I don’t get actually depressed much it as the days drag on and run together I feel a lack of energy and motivation. Things are ok for me, I’m retired now and my income is sufficient and steady. My health is pretty decent really. I don’t get much exercise beyond a daily walk. I know I should do more but have settled into a pattern of reading and wasting time on the internet. My sleep is kind of messed up because I don’t really have a schedule, I wake up in the middle of the night and often stay up for hours. Then take a nap during the day.

I try to remember a large part of the worlds population would gladly swap for my circumstances. Well fed, safe, comfortable. I have nothing to complain about. Except politics of course.

[PubliusEnigma]

9. Sailing in the Horse Latitudes on our Painted Ocean

[Aristus]

10. I'm still going to work five days a week at the clinic.

But on weekends, I can't get motivated to do anything; exercise, household chores, nothing.

I just want to vedge…

[woodsprite]

11. Yes. I'm thinking it's depression setting in.

We probably shouldn't have, but we let our 19yo have a 'driveway date' this Saturday. I look out our front door and see our neighbors having a nice huge patio and deck installed. I can't even get hubby to agree to work on our deck with our home grown crew. We usually do all our own work. We have a captive crew with our son and daughter. It would be a great time to do it and it would give us a nice outdoor space, we have a firepit that needs a home, and it would be time to work with our kids. When we croak, they get the house, so they have a vested interest in helping with home improvements

I think a lot of people I know didn't realize that 'working from home' mean really "working" from home for 40 hrs/wk. I was thinking I could take some vacation, but would it be worth spending my vacation allowance. Don't know.

Yeah, I think it's depression.

On the other hand, it's been gloomy I'd say about 50% of the time since we've been quarantined. That hasn't helped either.

[TexasTowelie]

12. I was a bit more mota-vated today than usual

since I completed a transaction for the afternoon 4:20 this 4/20.

[Coventina]

15. Thanks for the LOL!

[Iliyah]

14. No . . .

When I see my 4 daughters. My 17 year old, graduate from high school No prom, no grand night, and maybe no gathering for 12th graders' graduation. 9th grader going to the 10th. 5 and 3 pre-school.

My father-in-law can not leave the house for fear of COVID-19, his immune system is poor.

And I can say more, and I know the stay at home is a pain. Never would I have thought in my lifetime this would happen. But here it is.

Anywho, cheers. Taking my cousin to UCLA for doctor and testing. Wednesday she starts chemo.

[Midnightwalk]

16. I was there a couple of weeks ago

What I missed lost was my semi routine of going out and walking around town and stopping in some watering holes for a drink. My wife and I did that a lot (she doesn’t drink).

We did some walking the first week or so then stopped for some reason.

Last couple of weeks we’ve been doing that again. We’re careful to stay away from people and walk in the street to avoid the sidewalk trap.

Still I miss the people watching and being able to sit and relax every 3 or 4 miles, but so much better than staying home. My wife always said I have pata de perro.

Getting a glimpse of places we walked makes me feel better. Yesterday I was walking alone and sat down in a corner of a parking lot to relax a bit. Someone came up and asked if I was alright. That and just seeing people at distance helps me.

I’m lucky to still be working from home

I think all of will have to go through some difficulty adjusting to the new normal whatever that turns out to be. Uncertainty is very stressful

Hang in there.

[Dworkin]

17. Totally agree with OP

Folks,

Totally agree; no motivation, tired all the time. Can't even remember how many weeks this has been.

As an older 'vulnerable' I can see this going on even after the lock down. I'm going to be looking for that quiet seat in the corner of the cafe, if I ever go into one again!

Phew.

Its good that we can support each other one here. Lifeline.

D.

[appalachiablue]

18. Things aren't going badly, but I'm not as fired up as initially.

The novelty of bringing in more cold & cough stuff in case, extra cleaning supplies and more has certainly worn off.

Thank heaven it's spring & sunny w longer evenings, I don't eat meat so that makes the grocery loads a bit lighter.

But am I prepared and ok with being quarantined another 3-6 months? not at all but given the choices...

[zeusdogmom]

19. Seems a lot of us are suffering from very expected, very normal depression

No surprise! We all lose our mojo at times. Life is kind of sucky right now.

Don't beat yourself up. It is what it is. I'm finding as the hours of daylight are increasing and the sun shines a little more often, I feel better. Putting make up on every morning helps, too. And trying not to look at the hair that REALLY needs a beauty salon session. Sigh..... The good news is I might find out what color my hair actually is. 😂 Plus I can use the perfume I love but can seldom wear in public because zoo, band, choir, and handbells are "no perfume" environments. Thankfully so as not everyone's perfume smells as nice as mine. 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

But the biggest difference - exercise. i.e. get up off the couch, turn off the TV. Long walks with Zeus Dog which he thinks is the best thing ever! Yoga same time every single day. And of course there is the yard and garden. 35 bags of mulch spread on Saturday - with triple that to go still sitting in a big pile on my driveway. Eating more whole foods and less sugar helps, too. I do watch a bit of TV after lunch - 1 program with my knitting and a good cup of coffee. The turn it off and go do something productive.

So for me to feel better it is a forgiving routine and moving more. And doing something for others since my normal volunteer activities are on hiatus until further notice. In the void, I have been making masks for the zoo keepers, friends, and neighbors. Signed up this AM to make them for Lutheran World Relief - their goal is to send 75,000 of them with the school supply bags, the hygiene kits, etc. they send to people in need throughout the world. Beginning to make a dent in that fabric stash.

Hang in there DU friends. We will get thru this as ugly as it is. Be forgiving of yourself. And as trite as it may sound, each morning is a fresh start.

[pnwest]

20. Many of us work better under pressure, with deadlines, and in collaborative settings.

All of which are in short supply working alone from home. Maybe these are new facts people are learning about themselves. I learned that I work best with deadlines imposed by forces out of my control, because I will procrastinate the shit out of anything, unless it's due RFN. Even self-imposed deadlines are brushed aside. I need structure (I will NEVER admit that to my mother.......) in order to organize and prioritize tasks. I did not know any of this about myself until I had the luxury of being able to quit work and spend full time being an artist. I would regularly miss deadlines for art submissions because I blew shit off. But, I'm also one who chafes at authority (again, my mother's influence). When I'm working, I whine and bitch because I really want to be making art. It took me several years to learn about myself that I need a 1/3, 1/3, 1/3 balance between work, art and home life to get my best work done in a timely manner.

I'm rambling - my point is, now that the structure of your life has changed, perhaps you're learning new things about yourself, your work style, your need - or lack of need - for deadlines and group collaboration.

And don't forget to factor in a shitload of depression and anxiety that's settling in as time wears on.

[abakan]

21. I've been hermit like for years

but it was my choice. Just like you, this is wearing on my mind or what's left of it. I find my self drinking too much and getting stupid.
I drank too much last week, fell and bruised my whole right side. I follow all the precautions about being around other people except
with my son. He is the air I breath and not being able to see or hug him is just more than I can stand, if seeing him kills me then I'll
never get out of this hell, alive. I have ceased caring.

[ThoughtCriminal]

22. Somewhat

As long as I can keep myself busy, they days roll along.

Not my field, but what you are describing sounds a little bit like depression. Been there.

[kimbutgar]

23. On the days I am by myself I find I am lazier

stay in bed until 10 am watching tv or being in my iPad.


I have a lot of cleaning projects but can’t get motivated. A lot of closets could be cleaned out, laundry room etc but I am having trouble with motivation. I do go without a bra one day but not the next though because boobies hurt without a bra!

[skylucy]

24. Yes. I'm feeling it too. One Suggestion:

Don't fight not wanting to wear a bra. Go with it. It's a silver lining in a world of Trumpian darkness.

[Skittles]

25. I really don't get that one

I wear one for myself, not others, don't want to droop. If a bra is THAT uncomfortable, perhaps a better fit is on order.

[malthaussen]

26. I think I was motivated once...

... might have been, oh, 1973 or thereabouts. But I got better.

-- Mal

[Kaleva]

27. With the snow melting and warmer weather coming, I'm feeling pumped.

Unless it's raining or snowing, I'll be out tomorrow raking the yard.

Working on my garden plan for this year at my desk now. I'll be picking up 8 8' fence posts Wednesday which I'll use 4 of, along with 8' saplings, to make pole bean tee-pees and use the other 4 to support a fence for sugar snap peas. Over half the pepper plants seeds I planted indoors have sprouted already. Later this week, I'll work up the raised beds and get them ready to plant radishes, carrots and cylinder beets. I have enough of those seeds to try for a fall crop.

I'm babysitting all day Thursday and I also want to go to town soon to clean up the yard at the small house. My wife also wants me to help her clean up the flower beds and prep one area for hostas.

[Talitha]

28. It's like my arthritis: it's bothersome until I get my ass in gear and keep myself moving.

Force yourselves to do something. It really works.

[LeftInTX]

29. Same here

Every day I wake up and say I'm gonna exercise, but I don't..

I do housework, but I need to exercise. What gives?

My routine has been flatlined. I'm so used to going to the store late at night and buying milk or what not. Now going anywhere is a big chore. I'm leaving the house no more than one day a week.

I have zoom meetings with Democratic Club, but it's not the same.
I also have a Webinar to attend tomorrow...It's just not motivating.