I have tried hard to take projects forward hobby wise this week. Painted briefly only to find my enthusiasm wither quickly and die upon the vine. Same with setting up games. Last straw was the arrival of eagerly anticipated figures , unboxed and then couldn’t face them after a single colour added. I am not sleeping well, black dog plagued and stressed by real life matters. Enjoying the garden though when rain does stop play. I don’t know wheter to stop hobby activities for a wee break or try to break on through to the other side, as they say. Thoughts?
Reading an inspiring book can help, or tinker with some trains 🚂
ReplyDeleteFor a complete change, watch a bit of sport? I'm not a fan of ball games but apparently there's a big football event on..?
Do what you enjoy! Potter about or just sit in the garden. Go for walks.
ReplyDeleteSo what are you doing when not painting the figures? Personally I find indulging my hobbies is a good antidote to anything disagreeable in my life, that and reading, watching old movies, drawing and so on. There are people and events that are just negative and draining. Doing something entirely for one's own pleasure is a way to forget about that.
ReplyDeleteThere are some physical activities that are also inherently good for mental health. Experiencing nature is one. Another is exercise, my go to being swimming. It exercises nearly every muscle, the water is relaxing and it releases endorphins. It also does not place too much stress on muscles. I swim laps at least four days a week. I pick pool times when there are few people at the pool, easier to do when one is retired.
Another stress release is a pet. I am a cat lover and there is something relaxing about watching a cat relax because it so obviously enjoys it. The animal makes few demands other than being fed and having a warm cosy place to nap, preferably sitting on you when you watch TV or read a book.
Weekends I get the the odd few hobby hours. Weekday evenings after work when tired I get little hobby stuff done, even though if I ‘project managed’ my hobby, I could have got this unit done or that one further forward.
ReplyDeleteI go with my Gut of what catches my interest at the time. For Sci fi gaming at the moment I read around it a little, watch related films, TV series etc. on evenings until something interesting picks up. Walking, gardening, reading …
Sorry to hear you are a bit down at the moment Alan - I can't really offer much useful advice as I don't think I have ever had these "black dog" events that sometimes visit you. My gut feeling is, don't try to push through - it's a hobby that should be fun - forcing yourself to do it, in the way runners force themselves to keep running when they are ready to collapse, isn't the appropriate solution, in my opinion - so taking a bit of a break is probably best?
ReplyDeleteAlan, from personal experience, it can become a negative cycle of not feeling like doing something but feeling like you should, then not actually accomplishing anything and this then feeding the negativity.
ReplyDeleteUnlike RRoss above I HAVE forced myself to do something small, like cleaning up figures. Just breaking the cycle and doing something is often enough. The other alternative is to do something that gives pleasure. Hobby wise, this could be revisiting a lapsed project or planning a brand new one.
I am not feeling positive about work at present and the state of the country is depressing with so much division, hatred, anger, ignorance and outright stupidity. I need my hobby to detract from all that.
My current project occasionally feels like a chore, so I have mulled over revisiting the flats or doing something on the Interwar Imagi-Nations.
Mix it up. The important thing is to divert the brain from the negative thoughts...
Neil
Sorry to hear life is getting you down a bit, I find a good action series like Sharp, Hornblower, Black sails or movies like Treasure Island or Barry Linton helps the mind and is pure indulgence.
ReplyDeleteWillz.
I've been having a similar problem with my current wargame project and I've tried several strategies to overcome the mental inertia ... and once I stopped trying, the inertia began to dissipate. I'm sure that you'll find something that works for you; in the meantime, rest, read, and watch stimulating films and videos.
ReplyDeleteAll the best
Bob
I think this happens to all of us from time to time. It's a leisure activity and I only use time on it when I feels like. Sometimes I simply don't get much done when I'm not in the mood. It usually changes and mostly I enjoy my hobbies. This will change again Alan.
ReplyDeleteLike Keith, I don’t think I’ve really suffered from the black dog, do I don’t know how valid my advice would be. But…..lack of knowledge has never stopped me expressing a view.
ReplyDeleteYou enjoy your forays into Edinburgh or does that not fill you with enthusiasm at the moment? I’d also second Quantrillyoy’s advice. Personally I find swimming helps my mental and physical health, including sleep. Going at a time when there’s not many people in so I can concentrate on getting the technique right I find good. Counting strokes taken to do a length of the pool in order to track the impact of technique places low demand on brain power but is enough to take me out of present demands. As you get tired it gets harder to keep up your technique, and you swim less efficiently making it even harder - the presence of mind required to avoid this spiral helps mentally too. Similar in a way to the effect of painting figures or making models.
Whatever you do/ don’t do I hope this cloud passes soon.
Chris/Nundanket
Yoga and meditation calm the mind wonderfully. Lots of stuff on Youtube to start. Try The Daily Calm and Easy Yoga with Kassandra. But there is lots of similar entry level material worth looking into
ReplyDeleteKind Regards,
Stokes
As others have said, if there is something that you are enjoying doing, concentrate on getting the boost from that (the good weather of the next few days should help).
ReplyDeleteIf you feel you want to do stuff but can't summon the enthusiasm, I was told to just do something, however small - don't set goals but do do something (a bit of paint on a figure, etc), enjoy the achievement and hopefully it will help you build from there, in time.
I do hope that you get the black dog back in its kennel soon !
AndyM
Sorry to hear that, Alan. My feeling is that stepping away and doing something entirely different and physically active is often helpful - as others have suggested, get out for walks, and so on. I've been struggling with my enthusiasm for wargaming of late (with a different slant from yours as it has mostly been the impact of too much flag work for the blog and not enough work on my own wargaming projects ) and I plan to take my own advice! So I shall head off to a local nature reserve with my camera. At least that's the plan; an activity as far removed from wargaming as possible! But YMMV... Good luck with whatever you try and all the best, David.
ReplyDeleteSame at my end of the country, eased for me if they send me home. Nothing appeals, wargaming or railways. Seems like I've done it all before. Hopefully the garden railway will get a boost when I can return your locos how about converting painting one or two figures - small project suitable for either hobby?
ReplyDeleteWhat a great community! Wonderful support for a wonderful man. Thinking about you Alan.
ReplyDeleteRich
I have found a change as good as a holiday. Go for a walk, read a book, exercise definitely helps. I have rarely regretted going for a walk. Look up an old friend that you haven't spoken to in a while. Write a letter.
ReplyDeleteThese may not work, but they will at least occupy the time.
DeleteIt happens, mate. But it passes. Dont stress about it, put the toys and paints away and go outside. Walk, garden, go for a drive. Simple little things help.
ReplyDeleteI've a touch of the same problem myself lately. Physical activity--walking especially--is never a bad option. As for gaming, no point in fighting a battle you don't enjoy. But a small project can give you a sense of accomplishment, and it will still be done when you're ready to game again. I spent part of this afternoon improving two unsatisfactory troop carriers, getting a few more colors on some surplus French Napoleonic command and pitching some outdated paperwork. Three of the four are done, and it's all stuff I won't have to deal with when I'm feeling more enthusiastic. Anyway, mny sympathies and good luck.
ReplyDeleteI hope the many responses you have received will chase the black dog back from whence it came! Perhaps a visit to a gallery or historical site that you have wanted to go to or another place that you haven't visited for a long time. Revisiting a happy memory might also inspire. Back in my writing days, I learned that the best chapters came sometimes from just staring reflectively out the window of my research carrel, and realizing that that was "productive work", even if nothing tangible was on the screen or the writing pad! All good luck to you--"After the clouds comes the sunshine" as Nelson observed.
ReplyDeleteMust admit I tend to have 'rotations' - sometimes have painting binges, sometimes terrain making, sometimes just change period or scale. It's rare for nothing to work, just sometime takes a while to find which one works. There's going to be something, may not even be a wargames something - just a matter of finding it.
ReplyDeleteBeen there, bought the T-shirt. Everyone is different, but its pretty clear you need to refer yourself to a doctor to talk about depression.
ReplyDeleteRecognising you have a problem is the first step.
Physical activity can help as it increases the serotonin level. Stay away from alcohol; it doesn't help at all. Seek out activities with other people, like a wargame or even just chatting about nothing. As regards stress, its difficult to handle but writing down what is causing the stress sometimes helps because I found my mind rushing around in circles and nothing was being achieved and I was putting off tasks, which caused further stress. As for painting. I havent picked up a brush in over a year. My table is full of figures and paint, but I discovered one day I didn't want to paint. Initially, I felt guilty as if I'd let a friend down and then it passed. Your health is the most important so painting etc is way down the list of priorities. Accept that you might need some help and speak to a medical practitioner, its nothing to be ashamed of, and best of luck.
Sounds like a good range of responses, I think I echo the physical activity and taking a break, hope youre over it soon.
ReplyDeleteBest Iain
I find that a good laugh helps to elevate my mood. Remember what they say about free advice though, "you get what you pay for." :)
ReplyDeleteThat lovely man Italo Calvino suggests this
ReplyDelete“The inferno of the living is not something that will be; if there is one, it is what is already here, the inferno where we live every day, that we form by being together.
There are two ways to escape suffering it. The first is easy for many: accept the inferno and become such a part of it that you can no longer see it. The second is risky and demands constant vigilance and apprehension: seek and learn to recognize who and what, in the midst of inferno, are not inferno, then make them endure, give them space.”
― Italo Calvino, Invisible Cities
With best wishes
What they all said!
ReplyDelete