Ask HN: How to "Relearn" Motivation?

6 points server_man3000 | 6 comments | 22 Oct 24 02:44 UTC | HN request time: 1.017s | source | bottom

After a few years of sleep deprivation, mix of burn out and stimulants I want to approach this industry (big tech) with some normalcy.

I’m realizing I’m wholly unmotivated and easily distracted. How can I improve this long term? I still love tech and development, but having trouble right now focusing and being productive.

Without describing my lifestyle, habits and schedule, I’m curious what has worked for you from personal experience.

1. sandwichsphinx ◴[22 Oct 24 02:51 UTC] No.41910743[source]▶
> I’m realizing I’m wholly unmotivated

"He who has a why to live for can bear almost any how." What I learned that keeps me motivated is figuring out how to dangle a carrot in front of myself, some goal that depends on me figuring out something so that I can reach that goal. It helped me asking myself, "if I could have anything in the world, no matter what, what would it be and why?" and then going about bridging the gap between A (where you are now) and B, that future where you have that state you really want, even if it isn't very realistic. Might not work if this end state doesn't relate to tech but in my case it has and is proving to be sustainable thus far.

replies(1): >>41910786 #
2. server_man3000 ◴[22 Oct 24 02:59 UTC] No.41910786[source]▶
Can you give an example? I think my current problem is that I can’t formulate a goal that I deep down find motivating enough to attain. Maybe that’s depression, but I’m not sure.

I get that it’s pretty subjective, but I am just curious how people think.

replies(1): >>41910826 #
3. sandwichsphinx ◴[22 Oct 24 03:06 UTC] No.41910826{3}[source]▶
My ‘unrealistic’ motivation is this dream of designing my own chip based on the POWER ISA to use as a dedicated workstation. The idea is so exciting because of how much technical expertise is required—it’s not like anyone has a semiconductor fabrication facility in their garage… oh, wait.

https://www.wired.com/story/22-year-old-builds-chips-parents...

replies(1): >>41910883 #
4. dotcoma ◴[22 Oct 24 03:15 UTC] No.41910883{4}[source]▶
https://archive.is/iGei9
5. cc101 ◴[22 Oct 24 05:52 UTC] No.41911557[source]▶
We tend to get so buried in what we are doing, it's hard remember what it will feel like when we succeed.

My lack of motivation to start a task seems to be because I have forgotten to day-dream a bit about the future benefits of completing the task i.e. what it would feel like to actually finish the task and to enjoy the benefits.

Gold Panning Example: I really don't want to go panning for gold. The water is cold. It's hard work. It's windy. It's cloudy. I rarely find much anyway...

So, I imagine what it feels like to actually find a 1/4 oz nugget. Wow! What a trip! I did it! I remember what it was like the last time I did it. It was great! Now it's easier to start.

So far I have focused on "starting a task." Not continuing it, nor finishing it. I find that once I have finally begun a task, it took so much effort to start that I am very reluctant to stop.

When I recognized I had two different problems (not one), things seemed quite a bit easier. I just remember what it will be like when I succeed, and once I am going, I remember that it is easier to continue than to quit.

Hope that helps.