Trouble with motivation...

[Dreamsindigital]

I almost don't want to admit this to people on this forum, but here it goes:

I have a pretty annoying problem and I'm not sure that there is much I can do about it because its all in my head...

I'm a musician, and trained engineer. I love music, I love technology, I love projects and goals and trying new things... problem is, I can't always bring myself to actually do any of these things.

When I'm at my day job, or driving in the car or have 100 other non-music related things to do, my mind is racing and thinking about a great hook for a song or some compression technique I want to try or some new modification to work on. But at the moment, I'm tied up doing whatever it is.

Then when the day comes to end, or I finally have a day off, and I'm home sitting in my studio surrounded by all my toys and tools,... the motivation drops. I can't even bring myself to plug in the toys or open my DAW. I just sit there with this helpless feeling of paralyzation.

Usually, the only way I can sort of get out of this is to start some distracting project like soldering a patch bay or tricking out a synth with LED's or some other technical hands on project. It seems so strange to me that the things I love doing, I can't seem to bring myself to do.

Sometimes I kid myself into thinking that I just don't have what I need... "oh if I only had "x", then I could bring myself to do it... then I get "x" and sit there thinking, oh if I only had "y"... =/

I'm my own worst enemy. Hell, I'm sitting here trolling GS instead of tracking some synth riffs right now. And I just got a new board to try to motivate me too.

Has anyone else had to battle motivation and focus of energy? Anyone won that battle? It's getting seriously depressing.

[1985MUSIC]

Feel the same way.I have not created anything in 8 months. I have had ENOUGH time to do so , but I cannot just put anything down. Can someone pls help us??

[JoRillo]

Get a friend who thinks/knows he will be famous. Straight up, iron sharpens iron, and you will feed of of each others drive for success if you are constantly pushing each other to put something out. I am the artist/engineer in my neck of the woods, and I often feel the same way you are feeling, but my room mate and best friend for 5-6 years now is always here writing up a storm and making songs with or without me. Not only am I inspired by his drive for success, but he is pushing me at the same time every time I go threw a slow phase.

Aside from that, you should switch it up hardcore for a day or two then plan to make music for the next day or two after that. Don't throw anything away, keep writing the song and see it threw to the end. Even if you hate the song when your finished, it will get your juices flowing, and maybe work on a concept after that, which comes/came to your mind during this period of time. Who knows what you'll create.

[mingustoo]

Quit your lollygagging!!!

[Happy Musicfan]

Put on one of your most favorite up-tempo songs. Try some natural foods - like cashews & blueberries. Then, 5 minutes later, a cup of coffee. Then, 5 minutes later, go for a walk. The entire time, repeatedly tell yourself, "I am motivated". Then, another up-tempo, energetic song. It works for me, as it provides both a biochemical and psychological boost.

[tonemaker]

Read this:

End Writers’ Block

But yeah, I can very much relate.

[KT1]

Originally Posted by Dreamsindigital

I almost don't want to admit this to people on this forum, but here it goes:

I have a pretty annoying problem and I'm not sure that there is much I can do about it because its all in my head...

I'm a musician, and trained engineer. I love music, I love technology, I love projects and goals and trying new things... problem is, I can't always bring myself to actually do any of these things.

When I'm at my day job, or driving in the car or have 100 other non-music related things to do, my mind is racing and thinking about a great hook for a song or some compression technique I want to try or some new modification to work on. But at the moment, I'm tied up doing whatever it is.

Then when the day comes to end, or I finally have a day off, and I'm home sitting in my studio surrounded by all my toys and tools,... the motivation drops. I can't even bring myself to plug in the toys or open my DAW. I just sit there with this helpless feeling of paralyzation.

Usually, the only way I can sort of get out of this is to start some distracting project like soldering a patch bay or tricking out a synth with LED's or some other technical hands on project. It seems so strange to me that the things I love doing, I can't seem to bring myself to do.

Sometimes I kid myself into thinking that I just don't have what I need... "oh if I only had "x", then I could bring myself to do it... then I get "x" and sit there thinking, oh if I only had "y"... =/

I'm my own worst enemy. Hell, I'm sitting here trolling GS instead of tracking some synth riffs right now. And I just got a new board to try to motivate me too.

Has anyone else had to battle motivation and focus of energy? Anyone won that battle? It's getting seriously depressing.

This is in your head so to speak but also in the body. Let me guess ...the moment the weekend is up ...you chill have a 'smoke' perhaps a drink too and make music? I'm right.aren't I? During the week you're not getting enough downtime. Perhaps even sleep. The fact you can't stop thinking is exactly evidence of your motivation consciousness. This is what you want to do and not the day job.

You don't lack motivation ..your mind and body is tired and the result is distraction and zombie like moments as result of your body.clock speaking up.

It can be fixed. Firstly you need to make the evening music task something smaller ....not I'm gonna wright this line tonight or make an amazing patch. Even more simple. The second you get in load it up. Don't touch it go and get.changed have.a bite and the first time you sit down do it oj front of your comp with a smoke or drink. Set the alarm for 1 hr and have some fun. Don't try to get anywhere ...have a good nights sleep ..good breakfeast etc ..chill out for a week ...I bet it all comes back to you.

Bless

Sent from my HTC Desire S using Gearslutz.com

[Dreamsindigital]

This is all good stuff to think about. Thanks. I guess some adjustments are in order ^_^

[soultek]

I've had this problem earlier in life.

Mainly, just learn to have fun. maybe that sounds obvious or something, but sometimes I forget that making music is supposed to be fun (though also challenging)--and it's especially supposed to be fun if it's not your day job (which it sounds like it's not). If you're not having fun then you need to find your fun center. It's about getting 'lost' in it.


A couple other things that could help:

-get a partner (as someone else suggested). should be equivalent of a good workout buddy. Always motivated, not flaky.

-limit your options. when you can do everything, you do nothing. Much has been done with much less than you have.

-stop being so negative. self-critique is the death-nail to creativity. get an idea, go with it quickly, don't doubt it until you've seen it through a bit. even if you have the wrong cable...

[jeremy.c.]

This is where the rubber meets the road I'm afraid. It's easy to get motivated and inspired when there is fun work to do, but a lot of what it takes to make great music or a great mix is a lot of hard work. If you can make it feel like play, all the better, but that's not how it is for most of us.
I write a lot (not as much as I should of course, same problems here), but the reality is it is never easy to get started, this is part of the 10,000 hours of mastery.
I'm not a big motivational guy, but someone showed me the Covey grid from the 7 Habits book. He had four quadrants to map how spend our time
1) Not Important, Not Urgent - television, reading a book, surfing gearslutz... doh!
2) Not Important, Urgent - phone calls to chat, appointments
3) Important, Urgent - your stove is on fire, your kid is crying
4) Important, Not Urgent - YOUR GOALS

So we spend a lot of time in #4 where the work we do is desperately important to achieving our goals, but no one is forcing us to do it. It's tough.

I had someone tell me there's no writer's block that can't be cured by doing the hard work. I think she was right.
Good luck!

[soultek]

Agreed with the above post. I didn't mean to imply that fun and hard work are mutually exclusive. It's like playing sports, a mix of both. But I think what's important is that the hard work doesn't preclude the fun, because that makes for a miserable experience.

Also, I feel like you gotta get into the groove of it, again like playing sports--the first few sessions can be painful but once you hit your stride it's easier.

[Dreamsindigital]

You guys are the best... That's the kind of stuff I needed to hear.

The point about fun is totally spot on. Back in high school I used to play music with the band and friends and it was just a blast to be doing it. I'd write music in my basement and record it on my old packard bell through the mic in.

I think going to college for music really just sucked the life and breath of it out of me. I've never quite recovered from that. I do really need to make it fun again.

And having a "work out" partner so to speak is a great idea. I'm much more motivated when I have someone relying on me and someone to bounce ideas off of. Then I just need to work on the control aspect ^_^, but I'm much better at that.

[feelKlang]

Limitation is the key ! Just one computer, one controller, one synth ... eBay is your friend ;-)

[Dreamsindigital]

Originally Posted by feelKlang

... eBay is your friend ;-)

Limitation might be, but e-bay is decidedly NOT my friend... I've spent WAY too much money on stuff I don't need ^_^

[ferran]

I completely understand this behavior cause I've had the same struggle from time to time. Generally I separate creative tasks from the technical ones. Nothing brings creativity to a screeching halt more then having to mess with wiring or some computer malfunction. I make a short list of what I intend to accomplish. Keep it short & finish it.

[KT1]

Originally Posted by jeremy.c.

This is where the rubber meets the road I'm afraid. It's easy to get motivated and inspired when there is fun work to do, but a lot of what it takes to make great music or a great mix is a lot of hard work. If you can make it feel like play, all the better, but that's not how it is for most of us.
I write a lot (not as much as I should of course, same problems here), but the reality is it is never easy to get started, this is part of the 10,000 hours of mastery.
I'm not a big motivational guy, but someone showed me the Covey grid from the 7 Habits book. He had four quadrants to map how spend our time
1) Not Important, Not Urgent - television, reading a book, surfing gearslutz... doh!
2) Not Important, Urgent - phone calls to chat, appointments
3) Important, Urgent - your stove is on fire, your kid is crying
4) Important, Not Urgent - YOUR GOALS

So we spend a lot of time in #4 where the work we do is desperately important to achieving our goals, but no one is forcing us to do it. It's tough.

I had someone tell me there's no writer's block that can't be cured by doing the hard work. I think she was right.
Good luck!

That matrix is for prioritising. In other words we.don't prioritise effectively. We choose.to do what.is enjoyable .nice touch.

Sent from my HTC Desire S using Gearslutz.com

[Happy Musicfan]

Originally Posted by feelKlang

Limitation is the key !

Yes, sometimes we get bogged down in a swamp of distractions. You never see a good mechanic with a gigantic toolbox, overloaded with tools he never uses or needs.

[semipro]

I recently went through a "burnout" scenario myself, where I knew I should be submitting a demo, writing a new tune, promoting a show, etc. But all I did was sit on the couch and state at the TV. I even got to the point I hated performing live because I felt like a fake because I wasn't enthusiastic about the material I had lost some faith in. What helped me out the most was stomping out my false sense of urgency. I had put my head in such a frenzy about where "I think I should be" in my dream career path that I couldn't appreciate where I was in the moment. You don't always have to be in music mode. If it's apart of your soul, it will always come back around. And from the sound of it, you have the passion, so don't freak out. I think the other suggestions are also good ideas. A couple, or a group of people with a shared ambition are always a force to be reckoned with, as they can pick each other up.

Hope this is helpful.

[Dreamsindigital]

Much appreciated

[BillSimpkins]

I like to have a ritual before I sit down to work. This trains my brain to want to fall into the normal pattern: ritual ---> work. The important thing is to have the same ritual every time.

DO NOT, sit down and fire up the internet.

You can pick your own, but I like to clean my studio for about 10 minutes. Then I go get something hot to drink and sit down to work.

[jeremy.c.]

Originally Posted by BillSimpkins

DO NOT, sit down and fire up the internet.
.

This is where I went wrong about 10 minutes ago...

[Dreamsindigital]

Originally Posted by BillSimpkins

DO NOT, sit down and fire up the internet.

Though not cost effective in my situation, I guess it would be a good idea to have a dedicated music computer that isn't connected to the internet at all. Eliminate the temptations

[vincentvangogo]

I was going to read this thread, but then I thought 'ah, can't be bothered.'

[Beat Poet]

Originally Posted by Dreamsindigital

Has anyone else had to battle motivation and focus of energy? Anyone won that battle? It's getting seriously depressing.

I've hit a brick wall a couple of times, but when I thought the game was up, something happened and I found new energy/inspiration. Judging from your original post though, it sounds like you prefer using/fixing gear, rather than writing your own stuff and recording it? Who knows, being around other players might give you the inspiration you need to get going with your own projects!

[verve92]

Look outside yourself for inspiration. Find some new tunes to listen to. Keep it simple with just a few tracks.

[KT1]

Originally Posted by BillSimpkins

I like to have a ritual before I sit down to work. This trains my brain to want to fall into the normal pattern: ritual ---> work. The important thing is to have the same ritual every time.

DO NOT, sit down and fire up the internet.

You can pick your own, but I like to clean my studio for about 10 minutes. Then I go get something hot to drink and sit down to work.

The point the ^^ is making is not so much the internet it is the ritual! Totally agree with this. If you read back my previous post you will note my - Do xyz and then sit in front of comp. The whole make a drink etc..get smoke rolled up or drink poured whatever works. Habbit is key. If you are in a bad rut then change your habbit. Change is one of the toughest and yet most inspiring ways to get it going again.

I was actually having a discussion with a friend over this thread last weekend. He explained as with us all that he to has been threw this. He explained that he decided to re arrange the studio into a more condusive set up and it reinvigorated the whole vibe of things. If you have any outboard that isnt plugged in or other means - just do it! The change will do you good. Break your cognitive routine which is expressing itself in a negative manner and change your thought process..

Pick up a book about cognitive behavioural therapy. I know you're not a mental case in need of therapy but the lessons you can learn by understanding what is a known human behavioural trap will help you understand why you do what you do and how to resolve it.

in conclusion this post was great..change the routine!

[diogo_c]

Nice thread, keep it up guys!

[themixtape]

I feel ya, bro.

I have (count them) 479 unfinished song ideas (arranged by key) right now. Stuff I've come up with since early 2008... not counting previous years' stuff I never finished. This is only the last 4 years.

Life tires me.... work.

Making excuses here, but....

Wake up, eat... exercise a short time later... check email... go walking/jogging... eat again, fix lunch before work (I work afternoons/nights)... clean room, straighten up studio... laundry, shower...

It's funny how much time mundane shit takes up in our lives.

I really want to finish all of these song ideas. Some of my blockage comes from "I think everyone's gonna hate my music if I actually finish it and release it out there"... some blockage comes from my interest in SO many things (filmmaking, YouTube vlogging/tutorials, etc)... I also make buttons for bands and whatnot... and I blog (songwriting/recording blog, plus a blog where I talk about underrated bands and songs that should be heard)..... plus, I love movies... watching them, listening to music in them, studying them and the dialogue..... so many things... just distract me from finishing songs.

The internet is of course another problem. I could be working on a song, but I'd rather be browsing threads at gearslutz. It makes me inspired in a way (studio techniques) but I also like to laugh at the moan zone, or chime in if I can relate to someone... etc.

I should cut this reply short... I'm too tired to go into more detail. Gotta get up tomorrow, do music lessons, and try to "meet a girl online" because I can't meet one in person....

So again, I feel ya.

What CAN we do, though? More will power?

In a perfect world... I would work on/finish a song with the 3-4 hours of free time I have before work PLUS the 3-4 hours AFTER work. 8 hours a day, and I can't at least WORK on a song?

Here's another dilemma I have--

Which STYLE should I write in? I love all forms of music. I write underground hip-hop, indie folk, shoegaze, post rock, pop/alternative, and trip-hop. And I'm pretty good at all those styles. What the hell should I write today? Or finish? Which file should I open?

ughhh.... overwhelming to say the least.

Seriously.. what CAN WE DO? We need solutions... we need to team up and kick each other in the butt and say "do it!" No excuses.

I need help just as much as all of you do.

[petimeter]

Allow yourself do do nothing for a while. Maybe some weeks or even months. Theres nothing wrong with that, especially when your not getting anything done anyway. Watch movies, work out, hang with friends, all the things you have been sacrificing. Music is not supposed to feel like a duty. Even pro-athletes take some time off to recover

[Pale Pyramid]

Maybe keep in mind that many famous creative people have been documented to have this same "condition" . Your not alone if it brings you any comfort .

I read A book a few years ago about the creative mind and how encountering these speed bumps of laziness and suffering peaks and valleys is all part of the process . This book had a lot of info about personal accounts of those close to Leonardo Da Vinci . I'm assuming everyone here knows of his many accomplishments in both , painting , sculpting , architecture , designing weapons of destruction , conceptualizing the helicopter amongst other accomplishments . He is the poster boy for a Renaissance Man . There was seemingly nothing his mind and hands didn't excel at . So you would think he was on fire night and day thinking , tinkering , creating . Not so , he would spend long periods of his life thinking but had a mental block to actually role his sleeves up and get to work . Rich Barons would pay him to design a siege tower , castle or mosaic . He would take the money , present a plan and agree to start work on Monday . Monday would come and he would be depressed and not go in to work . This would stretch on for months . He had no problem spending the money though ! To cope with this ever building mountain of work he would drink in excess an have promiscuous sex . Generally self destructive behaviors not befitting a genius . He would eventually get around to completing a task or many times not at all . The uncompleted idea to this day is only a pencil sketch on paper, behind glass in a museum somewhere .

Your in the company of greatness !

I'm just like you . I have many songs and ideas and plans on how to execute them but often times (not all the time) I lack the discipline to see them to fruition . I'm tired from work , generally lethargic , hung up on rolling up my sleeves to begin a 48 writing/recording mini marathon . I can read manuals , surf gearslutz and watch tutorials all day with out complaint however...