when you just don't want to do anything - no work, no household activities, no meetings, no going out, nothing. It's a state of melancholy or apathy that you get into, when nothing is interesting.
I had such episode several days ago, not sure about the exact reason why it happened - maybe the winter is coming so less sun outside, maybe just over-worked, or maybe some other stress that life is full of had had an impact - don't know. It lasted for several hours, during which I couldn't do anything. Just wanted to sleep or get somewhere and lie down so that noone bothers me :).
At that time I thought that it's probably not me alone who faces such problems (if it is a problem at all :) ). So, I was curious what technics other people use to get out of this state and come back to life. Can you suggest any, just in case, for future? :)
It always happens to me... always..
ReplyDeletehow do you handle it?
DeleteI have the same recurring "problem". I think the only solution is to learn to live with. If your body and brain require you to remain quiet it's because they want you to send a message: take care of yourself. Perhaps you have (like me) too many things that go through your head, desires, disappointments, expectations of others that you can not bear ... I recently learned to take advantage of these moments for me, by breathing exercises and learn to let go by meditation, and i begin to see the benefits. Doing nothing is not necessarily a waste of time if you use it to recharge you and to have one feet on the ground (this is an advantage that those who run all the time for money do not have). :)
ReplyDeletethanks for your comment. I actually read it the time you wrote, but couldn't reply, sorry. I did really have a lot of going through at the time, and agree with you, it probably affected. Interesting is, I had 'problems' in personal life, but looks like they indirectly caused this melancholy in my professional. Agree with you, that doing nothing is not necessarily a waste, but rather a time to meditate and get rest. By the way, I have several people suggest 'breathing exercises', now trying to use it, thank you)
DeleteThis is a good resolution. :)
DeleteLearning to recharge is much more difficult than it seems, in particular meditation, which requires training like an athlete. But the benefit that it brings, is very valuable, and can help find a general equilibrium in life!
I take this opportunity for share with you a reflection on "my effectiveness" regarding once a week function and days of the week. I do not know if this has already been discussed here (I do not speak English very well). I'll take an example to explain my problem :
I am an employee and I have to write a weekly report for a meeting with my boss. This meeting is scheduled every Thursday. My agenda is pretty full, I can only write the report on Tuesday. So there are 2 dates to consider for this weekly action, the deadline for the meeting and the day of the week I want to allow for writing.
So if I sets the repetition on "once a week" and I choose the deadline for Thursday (since the action ends on Thursday), weekplan only indicate the day of the meeting but not the day that I would attribute to the writing of the report.
A good solution would be to separate this 2 weekdays: the day when the action repeats and the day (for the weekplan) when I choose to work. Maybe with the weekday button, next to the letter of priority?
Well, I think I've said everything. I do not know what effect it would have on the code, but maybe it can give you ideas for improvements.
I congratulate you for your application that I find really promising and well designed.
Happy new year with all the success!
I just discovered your My Effectiveness app - I love it. For the melancholy I recommend using an app called buddhify (see http://buddhify.com/). It has a bunch of meditations to help ease the mind and "remember" (what it feels like to not have apathy). It's worth the dollar or so it costs. Try the "embodiment" and "connection" meditations. Gets me going every time - I can't stop now!
ReplyDeleteDavid, thanks for your suggestion, will give it a try)
DeleteI feel that way ... I work 90+ hours per week, so sometimes it's actually a GOOD thing to go take an hour nap once in a while! Your body is pretty good at telling you when enough is enough, especially when you KNOW you are busy and not just lazy for lazy's sake.
ReplyDeleteMichael Hyatt, former CEO of Thomas Nelson Publishing, recently touted the HUGE benefits of a daily "power nap". He cited scientific studies which show that by instituting a 20-30 minute nap each day at the same time actually causes us to be MORE effective and productive than if we just soldier on for umpteen hours straight.
Mr. Hyatt takes his naps seriously. Here is a link to one of his posts about the topic ... http://michaelhyatt.com/videos/the-value-of-naps-from-a-scientific-perspective
Thanks,
Derek
P.S. Also just started using your M.E. app and also love it!
Derek,
DeleteGreat video, thank you! Will use it as a reference for my boss to explain him why am I sleeping at my desk at work time :) I've also bookmarked the Micheal Hyatt's site, though I haven't investigated it yet, I feel there are other useful resources out there.
Psychomotor retardation, when your 'get up and go'....just goes @_@ annoyingly contrite with it's multi-factorial causes, the best response is the one that works for you. Get a pen and paper and draw an assemblage of cogs, all across page, randomly, in different sizes. Now fill each, with words that reflect the roles and actions that define the movement of your life, backwards forwards upwards downwards...hell...black-hole some of those! (With emphasis of substance over style) connect how these operate and relate in your life. Note the progressives, note the stallers, the regressive and the recuperative slows. Now draw your machine...how you work. What gears to use, and when. Ah yes, the fact we are not machines? This is not all defining, but a working blueprint that is unique and only relevant to you. In short. Rest, and in that time reflect.
ReplyDeleteHi, sorry for late reply. I thought to write back as soon as I try the technic you've described. But, since I still haven't tried it, just wanted to thank you for sharing it.
DeleteMusic. ... and more specifically , listening toPandora, helps me "up shift" when things don't seem to have much point. And I have found it is impossible to sing an entire song... full out, and not have my spirits lift.
ReplyDeleteFinally there are a few quotations from history, poetry, and the Bible that remind me indisputably of the human condition and show how only through society do we build meaning.
Hi Louise, thank you for sharing your tip. Music helps me a lot, too. It's often playing in the background, though I can't sing it out loud when I'm at work place :). I have different types of music for different situations - example, when I need to work intensively on a relatively high speed and greater concentration, I put some soft rhythmic rock. And when I can allow myself to relax, I use some classic, pop or folklore.
DeleteSimilarly, I use reading the quotations, too. I have an app installed on my phone.
Start your work without thinking so much.start it neutraly after some time your mind will enjoy it...
ReplyDeleteThis is a nice tip, thank you. And it works.
DeleteI am actually having one of these moments myself. Whenever this happens it usually is because I've neglected to "sharpen the saw", as the 7 habits book says. This is either physically, spiritually, emotionally or otherwise. It is SOOO important to take time out to do this on a regular basis, but sometimes we forget. At least in my case this is true.
ReplyDeleteHope you go through this period of yours fully restored with a sharp saw. This post was written long ago, but since then I've had similar moments many times. And, as you and others suggested here, it was important not to push it, have rest and then try again.
Delete