You Can't Always Be Motivated
I have a rather busy personality, and I don't usually make time to just zone out.
In my spare time, I end up packing in some kind of task, whether it's playing shogi, reading books, playing Dragon Quest Walk, or planning out my next note.
As for work, I don't like having downtime, so when I think I might have some free time, I try to create elaborate documents or schedule multiple appointments.
I'm relatively motivated, and I don't easily get discouraged by adversity. Even if the situation gets worse, I'm the type to resist it. It's not that I have guts, but perhaps I'm just competitive.
However, that doesn't mean I'm full of motivation every single day. If I make a mistake, I feel down; if I clash with someone, I lose confidence; and if a source of worry emerges, it occupies my mind and slows me down.
I'm not always overflowing with motivation, and for various reasons, my activity level often drops.
When this lack of motivation strikes, what kind of mindset should I have?
For me personally, the main premise is that I don't force myself to try and regain my motivation. Even if I try to force myself to be energetic, it just spins its wheels, and a kind of futility awaits at the end of that.
It's not quite 'let it be,' but I believe that anxieties and the like often resolve themselves over time, so there's no need to struggle unnecessarily.
Other than that, I suppose I just immerse myself in things I like.
In my case, when I feel like I'm stuck, I decide to go see a well-reviewed movie. Rather than taking a gamble, I prioritize watching works that I think will definitely suit me.
After I finish watching, I look for pages where people have written their impressions and analyses, and I lose myself in reading them. I ruminate on my own thoughts and verify the work in my mind from every angle.
Enjoying it while watching. Enjoying it after watching. I think that's what makes movies twice as delicious.
Sometimes I also go to a manga cafe. I focus on popular works I haven't read yet and read through them quickly. Recently, it took me several months to read all the volumes (so far) of 'Kingdom'.
Whether it's movies or manga, when I consume works where I can feel the talent, I feel like energy mysteriously wells up. Before I know it, I'm full of motivation again and heading back toward fulfilling my work and private life.
Also, speaking of motivation, it feels like a miracle that I've been able to overcome these periods of waning motivation and keep this note going.
Perhaps writing articles that are more like venting my feelings, like this one, rather than just Fujiko reviews, is what's doing the trick.
You can't always be motivated. When you lose your motivation, it's probably best to just accept that it's one of those times and do only what you enjoy.
Or perhaps, just go to bed early...