Laziness. I’m a lazy bum, and I can’t help it. Anybody here has any idea as to how I can motivate Myself?
for many (mainly teenage) years i suffered from the same ailment. i think part of the cure was ageing a little, but most importantly i found a few things that fascinate me, such as law, reading books that i consdier imporant in their original language, etc.
The more i learn about these things the more i become aware of what i do not know, which in turn uncontrolably motivates me to learn what i have discovered that i do not know.
so i guess my answer would be to find search for as many ideas or things to do as you can, and eventually something will stick and draw you in.
of course, you first have to get moving and start searching…
I would suggest caffeine…that’s about the only way I really motivate these days. Other than that…find something you are truly passionate about and focus on it. For me it has been a number of things over a number of years. In my teenage years it was music, skateboarding, and reading (of course girls were always well in the mix, but I digress) these were the things that I could always work up motivation to do.
These days I have a built in motivator…Marj…she’s my wife. More often than not she is the one spurring me on when I get a bit complacent. I wouldn’t have it otherwise.
Motivation, for me, is like friction in some ways. It takes a build-up of force to overcome static friction (when the object to be moved is still), but past that build-up, it’s smooth going for a while since sliding friction is lower. If you don’t get the physics analogy, suffice to say that the hardest part is picking up the Greek textbook, or whatever it is, and once your mind gets back in the groove, your motivation issue is solved.
And this is the first time that I realized that your avatar is from Bleach.
I think it depends on what you want to be motivated to do…
When it comes to languages, as much as I love them I have a hard time disciplining myself to work on them regularly; as a result I do not know nearly as much as I should by now. However, I am currently taking an Ancient World class and it is inspiring me. We keep talking about various characters, authors, and poets from the past and I want to read them ALL in their originals… which means I need to get my butt in gear! Hopefully as I continue to take Classics courses they will continue to motivate me…
This probably isn’t what the forum moderators want to hear, but I’d suggest trying to stop using the internet/your computer so much.
It’s really easy to waste all your time just messing around on the computer and browsing through things instead of in-depth learning. As much as I like these forums, I often feel bad for spending my free time reading about Latin instead of actually reading it. It’s the difference between posting a complaint about your laziness and actually doing something to change it.
You don’t need to cut yourself off completely, but you need to remember that as long as you’re chilling on your computer you won’t be getting much done. The temptation to slack off is too great.
Thank you for the quick response, I’m surprised to see the amount of people who posted here; far more than I expected.
Anyway, the replies.
or many (mainly teenage) years i suffered from the same ailment. i think part of the cure was > aging > a little, but most importantly i found a few things that fascinate me, such as law, reading books that i consdier imporant in their original language, etc.
This is just the point. I have an ambition, and it’s not going to help if I’m 66 years old by the time I’m actually motivated to work on it.
so i guess my answer would be to find search for as many ideas or things to do as you can, and eventually something will stick and draw you in.
I assure you that death will befall you if I told you the inner-depth of the lack of such thing on my account.
Other than that…find something you are truly passionate about and focus on it.
Points above this quote
I would suggest caffeine…that’s about the only way I really motivate these days.
Caffeine is my enemy.
Motivation, for me, is like friction in some ways. It takes a build-up of force to overcome static friction (when the object to be moved is still), but past that build-up, it’s smooth going for a while since sliding friction is lower. If you don’t get the physics analogy, suffice to say that the hardest part is picking up the Greek textbook, or whatever it is, and once your mind gets back in the groove, your motivation issue is solved.
I’m lazy to do everything and anything in general. Be to pick up the books laying peacefully still a few dozen cm. to my left, go research on the subjects I’m currently obligated to do, finish (ha, haven’t even started yet) the book report assignment given to me 2 months ago in which case the deadline is in 5 days.
And this is the first time that I realized that your avatar is from Bleach.
Yes, yes. I made it myself! Awesome, isn’t it? Even though it’s been almost a year and I’ve lost my touch.
When it comes to languages, as much as I love them I have a hard time disciplining myself to work on them regularly; as a result I do not know nearly as much as I should by now. However, I am currently taking an Ancient World class and it is inspiring me. We keep talking about various characters, authors, and poets from the past and I want to read them ALL in their originals… which means I need to get my butt in gear! Hopefully as I continue to take Classics courses they will continue to motivate me…
This be the case, too.However, 1. I’m not in the university and I therefore do not have such classes, and even if I was in the university, I forgot to mention that I live in Israel, I would be unable to attend such classes…because they don’t exist, and 2. It’s not only Ancient Greek, to be honest, I haven’t even began working on it, I’ve only barely touched Latin yet… I mean, I know the rules, and the basics, the works, but not enough vocabulary in general to comprehend the context. Same case with Japanese, only I lack the sufficient amount of kanji to be able to read every word I come in contact with. It’s bloody hard! Especially if you’re unmotivated.
This probably isn’t what the forum moderators want to hear, but I’d suggest trying to stop using the internet/your computer so much.
I did try that, 2 or 3 times. Failed miserably. I was rather shocked to find my very existence to this rotating world bound by a sole inanimate figure one calls ‘computer’. It satisfies my every need.
It’s really easy to waste all your time just messing around on the computer and browsing through things instead of in-depth learning. As much as I like these forums, I often feel bad for spending my free time reading about Latin instead of actually reading it. It’s the difference between posting a complaint about your laziness and actually doing something to change it.
It’s impossible for me. The only way I can read without anyone or anything distracting me is when I’m riding a bus to the FAR North of this hell-hole, and even that isn’t simple when the bus full of brainless ghouls, assholes, idiots, etc.
I should tell you all the story of my life to show you how utterly futile it is to even consider abandoning my holy grail. Like trying to kill your own consciousness and subconsciousness.
You don’t need to cut yourself off completely, but you need to remember that as long as you’re chilling on your computer you won’t be getting much done. The temptation to slack off is too great
I have my flaws, one of them being that I am a sad victim of obsession to the mother-ship and therefore a member of the ‘CAA’. (CAA= Computer Addiction Association)
Well, I guess you have your answer then. 
You either force yourself to do it regardless of motivation, or accept that it’s not going to happen.
I cannot accept this. There are bound to be other means of achieving my goals.
Sure, but you seem to be very committed to the idea (true or not) that you can’t get motivated and that you won’t get motivated. None of us can change your mind on that… it is the choice you are making. Thus the only alternative is to force yourself into a routine.
…or necessity will do it for you.
For me, getting things done, studied, thought about, whatever, is a matter of consistency. If I stick to a schedule religiously, I eventually achieve motivation because results gradually appear. Not that I manage this all the time.
or even jealousy, when in the years to come you find that your peers whom you have considered inferior have by far outreached your accomplishments.
That works too!
How long have I been a member of this board, for pete’s sake… and I’m still just a beginner. All because I am not disciplined (but taking actual language classes helps that a lot!).
What you want is “ambition in a bottle.” Take one pill twice daily. I’m afraid it aint gonna happen.
Maybe Vindolanda tablets would work?
Perhaps. Despite being what I am, I’m still a human, which means that I want the easy way out, so yes, I’d take 'em if they existed and were only available to me or a certain group of people.
Those would only work for Latin. Everybody start scouring the drug stores for “Oxyrhyncus strips” for Greek!