Any Suggestions For Combatting Lethargy And Ennui?

In My Humble Opinion
1

During this past weekend (which, for me, has included the Thursday and Friday I took off after the cancellation of the project on which I was working, following a 90 hour week) I’ve been overcome with, well, lethargy or ennui or what have you. I’ve a list of projects and tasks to undertake–the foremost of those being to actually make a list of projects and tasks to undertake–and yet, have accomplished very little, to the point of actually decreasing local entropy through my anti-motion. This morning, for instance, I awoke at 06:00 or thereabouts, but failed to stir in some significant fashion until 09:00 or thereafter, and even then it was only so much as to slice up some strawberries and have a bowl of cereal. I’ve since done very little; my intentions to put in a good run every morning this “weekend” have been for underrepresented (once on Thursday and once on Saturday), my “plan to make plans” has been more of a plot to erode my motivation, and my one abortive initiative (to go purchase a sea kayak) was stillborn due to an inavailability of the object in question.

I finallly roused from my torpor enough this afternoon to dispose of my REI distirbution, but even that was an effort unjustifed by the actual labor involved. I think the only reason I haven’t slipped back into a near-coma is that the nancy-boy neighbors across the drive have decided to play Cyndi Lauper’s entire oeurve at volume (and apparently, repeating the favorite tracks), which is about as grating as Parmesan cheese in a pasta restaurant. It probably doesn’t help that I had the semi-annual phone “conversation” with the paternal element in which he spews one content-free platitude after another, all the while trying to suggest (without actually bringing up the benighted topic) that I apologize to his wife for my existance. That’s on top of all the other, best left unenumerated, issues and aggrevations that form the texture of my world.

So, does anyone have suggestions for diverting the stream negativity and eradicating the accompaying hebetude?

Stranger

2

Exercise can be very helpful for some individuals.

Actions generally get better results than cogitation alone, when it comes to changing mood.

3

Whenever I find myself in that situation, doing small things seems to help. Small as in minor, and small as in seemingly irrelevant. If I can feel that at least I set the table for something later (or tomorrow) I don’t feel as bad. Something like getting all the clothes together that need to go to the dry cleaner. There are also some household chores that are pretty minor or irrelevant that are necessary and not totally objectionable. I always feel glad when I’ve cleaned my toilet. Some people like to iron things.

Maybe if you did something that would make someone else’s life a little easier. Rub your wife’s feet. Then, at the end of the day, you can say to yourself that the day wasn’t a total waste.

Having said all that, there isn’t really anything wrong with a completely unproductive day. Maybe you need that on occasion. Are you in America? Monday is a holiday. Have your productive Sunday tomorrow.

4

Yeah, that’s what usually works for me, but as I said, I can’t even get myself worked up enough to go on a run, and walking down to, say, Old Town just seems…futile. I’m afraid this is a precursor to another depressive episode; certainly, the whole uncertainty/disappointment about work isn’t any great help, and…well, there’s other stuff; that is to say, same kind of problems everybody else in the world has to deal with (and less than most) but of which I’m just not too adept at resolving.

Part of my list are a number of small things that would take very little effort, including some ironing and cleaning, but I just can’t seem to rouse myself for long enough to even make the effort. I got the iron out and was poking about the closet for the ironing board when I thought to myself, “Oh, what’s the use,” (with my best mental Steven Moore voice).

I just need to get up and go do…something. Anyway, thanks for the notice.

Stranger

5

I’m a list person. I have an irrational fear that I will forget to do something very important if I don’t write it down. A useful side-effect is that a written list usually gets me motivated to actually get things done. It’s like written orders from me to myself.

6

I’m like that, too, except that when the list gets really long, Ill do anything to avoid confronting it. Like hitting the 'ol SDMB. Oops…

7

Maybe your body is telling you to step back a bit after that 90 hour week, which in my book is way off the scale.
Read a book, relax, take a drive in the country (don’t know what the weather is like over there atm), go for a swim…? Reason I’m suggesting these is that it tends to be what I do all the time, probably why projects just don’t get done :stuck_out_tongue_winking_eye: And I’m kinda happy with it that way. Take some time for yourself.
Wish you well

8

It sounds from your posts that you suffered episodes of depression before and you recognize the signs. In that case, I’d suggest seeing a doctor or therapist and getting a handle on it early rather than later.

I’ll also second the exercise recommendation (I know, just make yourself go - put one foot in front of the other and do it), and will also add that doing something for others always makes me feel better. Take the focus off yourself.

9

Go to the pool. Swim twenty or so laps, be very careful to count each lap.

It works the body and preoccupies the mind. Wonder way to get the create juice going.

10

Take a nice long walk, at a strolling pace.
Not for exercise, but to unwind, & stimulate the mind.
A nature trail, park, or outdoor event is prime for this.

11

Stop eating meat for seven days. Clean out your system with raw fruits and vegetables. Get your protein somewhere else.

Make time to something you used to enjoy a lot but not in awhile.

Make time, no excuses, to go do something you’ve always wanted to do. (Me, I’ve always wanted to go to a murder mystery dinner theater.)

Yawn. On purpose. Often. Perks you right up.

12

Well, I had a little epiphany last week that was really helpful to me.

I’ve been the poster child for ennui where my thesis research is concerned for a long, long time. Many’s the day that I’ve come into work, and between surfing the web, reading the 'Dope, and other various distractions, I’ve gotten nothing done on my thesis. Nothing. Not. A. Thing. Lest you think it’s an internet-related thing, I have tried unplugging my ethernet connection. I just get absorbed doing something else, like solving stupid math or geometry puzzles, or practicing my handwriting, or doodling, or staring off into space, or writing really uninteresting, unfinished short stories, or (Og help me) staring, mesmerized, at my screensaver.

It’s really shameful. I regarded day when I spent a half hour actually doing work as a stunning victory.

So, why was I behaving this way? I had considered many reasons. I’m lazy. I’m stupid. I’m burned out. My attention span is too short. Maybe I have ADD.

I have no problem motiviating myself for teaching. Or doing weird little side projects. Or pursuing hobbies. Well, it’s not hard to make yourself do something when there are real, immediate penalties when it’s not done. If I don’t have a lecture ready for class, there’s hell to pay. If I don’t have exams graded in a timely manner, students will lynch me. And if I’m finding something amusing, well, of course I have no problem focusing. My thesis research is boring and not fun. I’ve long since grown immune to my advisor’s disapproval, so the only penalty for not working on my thesis is . . . not getting my thesis done, which is so nebulous and distant that it has no power over me.

I convinced myself that it was out of my control. I’m lazy. This is how I am. This is my personality. I can’t change it. I’m stupid. I’m not cut out for this line of work. It’s too hard. It’s not my fault that I’m not smart enough. I can’t change my IQ. I can’t concentrate. How can I get work done when I can’t concentrate on it? It’s not my fault, and there’s nothing I can do.

Well, last week, I suddenly realized: I am in control of my life. For some reason I have given up that control, given up my personal responsibility for my work, but I have the power to take it back.

I don’t have to sit here, mindlessly following one link after another, or cycling through SDMB fora, waiting for something to spontaneously arise and attract my attention. I am in control. I can stop, and do something productive. If I’m working, and I begin to drift off, I can stop myself and go back to my task. I am in control.

When the alarm goes off in the morning, I’m not so sleepy that I have to roll back over. I am in control. I can make myself get up even if it would be more pleasant to stay in bed. If I don’t feel like going out to run, I can do it anyway, because I’m in control.

I can make myself do things that I’m not wildly enthusiastic about, and each time I do so, I’m reasserting control over my life. I do not have to be threatened in order to make me do something, because I’m in control of myself. I can choose to do work, for myself, for my own reasons, and I can choose to keep myself on track.

So, that’s my little mantra lately: I am in control of my life. I still have bad, unproductive days, but I think things are getting better. This is probably one of those obvious things that I was mentally blocking for my own weird, psychological reasons, and which I have come to understand because I happened to experience the right combination of feelings, stimuli, etc., so maybe it’s useless to anyone else, but I thought I would share.

On a practical, gimicky side: I like timers. I find it really hard to get started on work sometimes, but if I say, “I’m going to commit to working 15 minutes,” or 10 minutes, or 5 minutes on a really bad day, that’s unintimidating enough that I can make myself do it. Often times when the timer goes off, I’ve gotten into the groove and I can just keep going. Timers are good for goofing off, too. I tell myself that I’m going to surf the Dope for 15 minutes, and set the timer. Usually after 8 minutes, I’m bored, and thinking, “Meh. I’ve read all the interesting threads. Might as well go back to work.”

13

Ah-ha.

14

All good advice.

I would give yourself permission to waste a few days.

This might be the beginning of a down swing for you–or it might not. I don’t work 90 hours a week (at my job anyway) but I know that after 2 brutal 12’s (say we were short staffed or had particularly difficult pts those days), I promise myself that that Monday (I only work 2 in a row on weekends), I will do the minimum. I will skip working out (I may go for a walk), I will not dust/do uneccessary housework, I will lay down for 30 minutes in the afternoon.

I really think that we drive ourselves too hard in this society. 90 hours of work? No wonder you’re fried to a crisp! Take a day-take 2. Find something that replenishes your spirit–a book, a walk, music, a friend–all of the above with a friend/spouse. Or lay down on the bathroom floor and sob–whatever it is. Is there any way for you to not obsess over the family issues? I have my share and they can become a continous loop of negativity in your brain–very draining.

I think the key is what was said above–set limits on your ennui. Set small, doable goals–one thing, not ten.

My take on your OP is that you feel guilty for NOT running, for not using this away from work time to be productive and creative etc. I disagree–I think your body and mind are recharging.

best to you.

15

Wait-you put in a 90-hour week, and you’re worried because you couldn’t get motivated for one weekend?

There are only 120 hours in a 5-day week! You worked 90, which leaves 30 hours. Assuming you slept 8 hours a night, that takes 40 hours. Ok, so that doesn’t work. Say you spent 1 hour a day eating & doing other things. That’s 5 hours, putting you down to 25 left. So you slept 5 hours a day (or maybe less). No personal time. No private time.

On the contrary, I would *recommend * at least a couple of days of introspection. Humans need time to reconvene with themselves. Go to a park and watch a waterfall.

16

Hmmm…I had a list of ways to combat lethargy…where is it?..ah, forget it…

My so-called cure for depression is stupid and worthless anyway.

17

Wow, I’ve been thinking of starting a similar thread for some time now…of course, I keep putting it off. I’m getting a whole lot of nothing done lately, especially at work. I was considering buying some vitamins, but I haven’t gotten around to that either.

I think I’ll try Podkayne’s control mantra. See you guys in a few hours…or a few minutes, depending on how well things work out. :slight_smile:

18

Okay, it worked really well for a while…then a large spider strolled out from under my desk. I smashed him with a 3 1/2 inch thick catalog and now I’m going to take some “me time”, dammit!

19

Would having something to do actually planned help? My husband (Spiny Norman) has a sea kayak and would love to have someone to go out on the ocean with, instead of going alone. I know you don’t own your own kayak yet, but you could come down to the beach and rent one at the marina (I think they’re $30 for the day?). Maybe having a great day on the waves in a rented one will be just the inspiration you need to finally go buy one – you never know. Our email is tsk at surfcity dot net, if you’re interested.

20

It’s actually more of an ongoing thing; the problem is that I don’t like what I do and don’t like the fact that, when it sporadically kicks up that it absorbs all of my time, but I’m not a good layabout and introspection (as in,“Gezeus, what a mess I’ve made of my life to this point,”) just brings me down further. Worse yet, compared to many, even most, I’ve got very little to be so muffish about; I’m in good health (if not the best shape of my life), the job pays sufficent for me to live comfortably without undue budget restriction, I’ve time to undertake hobbies and so forth…but I’m just not, for the most part, very happy, and efforts to figure out what does that for me have not been productive.

I’m also in my “no crowds, no strangers, don’t touch me” mode right now, so I don’t relish the thought of being around other people, even if I had friends to hang out with, which I don’t. I don’t mean to be whiny about it–it’s pretty much all my fault–but I’m just…blah. And if I don’t head it off now, it’ll just get worse.

There’s been good advice from people in general, even if some of it doesn’t directly apply to me. Thanks, all.

Stranger