How Do You Maintain Enthusiasm???

[musclemom]

... for anything, seriously. I'm looking for suggestions.

I have a very, very bad habit, and my husband is guilty of it too (so he's not much help) it doesn't matter WHAT the project is, we are FABULOUS starters, full of fire and enthusiasm, and then when it gets hard or boring or starts taking too long or other things crop up (just whatever), our enthusiasm burns out or our interest and time gets side tracked.

I HATE THIS and I WANT TO CHANGE IT.

I admire people who set goals and stay focused and are driven to achieve their goals. I want to know what it takes to start a project, start a diet, start an exercise regimen, start a home improvement project, start a new hobby, etc., etc., etc. (i.e., START ANYTHING), and keep that momentum going. How the fuck do yo do that, particularly when it's something you don't necessarily enjoy (like dieting or getting through a required reading of a miserable book). Help me help myself

 

[gotmilk]

I can't stand not finishing a project. I think I HAVE OCD, so I need it started and finished pronto or I get really pissed

 

[Bikini Mod]

I am very good for taking my time completing a project, but I DO get them done eventually. I suppose it is that nagging "leaving something undone" feeling that makes me crazier than the fact that it was left undone.

My husband's birthday present was begun bout one week before his birthday (end of march) and it still sits undone... but I have t get it done soon because I am DYING to see the end result.

I get depressed a lot so that makes it hard. But I always come back and finish... dunno why, I just do.

Yea, I fukkin helped a lot.

 

[musclemom]

I can't stand not finishing a project. I think I HAVE OCD, so I need it started and finished pronto or I get really pissed

Well ain't that a handy neurosis to have!

I can't get that angry over anything, that's my problem. Maybe I just don't really give a shit about anything enough

 

[vixensghost]

I love adding to my list of accomplishments.

Actually, I'm with GM on the OCD issues. It would drive me bat shit if I saw that something on my list was not "checked" off as far as being complete. lol I laugh, but it's true.

 

[cindylou]

... for anything, seriously. I'm looking for suggestions.

I have a very, very bad habit, and my husband is guilty of it too (so he's not much help) it doesn't matter WHAT the project is, we are FABULOUS starters, full of fire and enthusiasm, and then when it gets hard or boring or starts taking too long or other things crop up (just whatever), our enthusiasm burns out or our interest and time gets side tracked.

I HATE THIS and I WANT TO CHANGE IT.

I admire people who set goals and stay focused and are driven to achieve their goals. I want to know what it takes to start a project, start a diet, start an exercise regimen, start a home improvement project, start a new hobby, etc., etc., etc. (i.e., START ANYTHING), and keep that momentum going. How the fuck do yo do that, particularly when it's something you don't necessarily enjoy (like dieting or getting through a required reading of a miserable book). Help me help myself

I am very similiar to this and my husband too. Things like a major landscaping job or a new extreme dieting schedule all sound great the first week. What I do is think about the project for two weeks before even starting it. If I still have the same vibe about it - then that means I'll have passion for it throughout - until its done. (most of the time lol!)Sometimes that means not dieting or not landscaping but at least I dont have the stress of unfinished business.



if its something that has to be done no matter what - I try and start and do it all at once, like a weekend project or whatever. Some things I cant get avoid.

i think its cool to be so laid back anyway.

 

[Bikini Mod]

I am very similiar to this and my husband too. Things like a major landscaping job or a new extreme dieting schedule all sound great the first week. What I do is think about the project for two weeks before even starting it. If I still have the same vibe about it - then that means I'll have passion for it throughout - until its done. (most of the time lol!)Sometimes that means not dieting or not landscaping but at least I dont have the stress of unfinished business.



if its something that has to be done no matter what - I try and start and do it all at once, like a weekend project or whatever. Some things I cant get avoid.

i think its cool to be so laid back anyway.

Actually sounds like a pretty solid way of approaching things!

 

[AAP]

When I feel enthusiastic, it is usually just a sin coming on.

 

[Bikini Mod]

When I feel enthusiastic, it is usually just a sin coming on.

I just may quote that in my sig...

 

[AAP]

Needless to say, my enthusiasm is the stuff that strong meds are tested against.

 

[calveless wonder]

... for anything, seriously. I'm looking for suggestions.

I have a very, very bad habit, and my husband is guilty of it too (so he's not much help) it doesn't matter WHAT the project is, we are FABULOUS starters, full of fire and enthusiasm, and then when it gets hard or boring or starts taking too long or other things crop up (just whatever), our enthusiasm burns out or our interest and time gets side tracked.

I HATE THIS and I WANT TO CHANGE IT.

I admire people who set goals and stay focused and are driven to achieve their goals. I want to know what it takes to start a project, start a diet, start an exercise regimen, start a home improvement project, start a new hobby, etc., etc., etc. (i.e., START ANYTHING), and keep that momentum going. How the fuck do yo do that, particularly when it's something you don't necessarily enjoy (like dieting or getting through a required reading of a miserable book). Help me help myself

It depends on what it is, but you always have to have the end result in mind.
MORE importantly, you have to have the goal written down. You need to keep looking at it. When you write goals, you have to be specific. Without specifics, you will not acheive anything. I'm talking about how you plan to accomplish it, what time frame, etc.

If you write down your goals and review them daily, they will be in your mind and you will force your subconcious to do them. Very few people in the world do this. You have to imprint your goals deep into your mind. After awhile it becomes habit.

You also have to understand the concept of resistance. What separates great people from mediocre are those who are able to persist under adversity. Your mind naturally is inclined to take the path of least resistance (giving up, procrastinating). If you always have the end result in mind, you will look at obstacles from an analytical perspective and not an emotional "this is too hard" perspective. Most smart business people understand that adversity or obstacles just mean you're 1 step closer to acheiving what you want.

of course its also a matter of HOW bad you want that goal. if you don't want it that bad, you're not going to do whatever it takes.

Again, if you can't envision yourself getting there step by step it won't happen.
There will ALWAYS be setbacks and sometimes when you slip, but you can't let that defeat you ever. You just need acknowledge it and move forward.

 

[calveless wonder]

oh...and when you write your goals. write them in the PRESENT tense as if you've already acheived them. and always in the positive

there's clinical evidence that when you perceive something as already being you are much more likely to reach it.

 

[-SD-]

Because you dont have Jesus.

 

[ceo]

... for anything, seriously. I'm looking for suggestions.

I have a very, very bad habit, and my husband is guilty of it too (so he's not much help) it doesn't matter WHAT the project is, we are FABULOUS starters, full of fire and enthusiasm, and then when it gets hard or boring or starts taking too long or other things crop up (just whatever), our enthusiasm burns out or our interest and time gets side tracked.

I HATE THIS and I WANT TO CHANGE IT.

I admire people who set goals and stay focused and are driven to achieve their goals. I want to know what it takes to start a project, start a diet, start an exercise regimen, start a home improvement project, start a new hobby, etc., etc., etc. (i.e., START ANYTHING), and keep that momentum going. How the fuck do yo do that, particularly when it's something you don't necessarily enjoy (like dieting or getting through a required reading of a miserable book). Help me help myself

I have a friend who is very much like this. Some things he is great at though, like the home improvement projects. I think what helped him the most on those things is he would break one large project up into smaller projects. That way he could accomplish something soon enough to keep himself inspired.

Another thing he is good at is knowing which parts of the project he is capable of doing and those which he either isn't capable of, or has no interest in doing. Those things (or parts of a project) he will pay to have someone else do.

 

[Razorguns]

... for anything, seriously. I'm looking for suggestions.

I have a very, very bad habit, and my husband is guilty of it too (so he's not much help) it doesn't matter WHAT the project is, we are FABULOUS starters, full of fire and enthusiasm, and then when it gets hard or boring or starts taking too long or other things crop up (just whatever), our enthusiasm burns out or our interest and time gets side tracked.

I HATE THIS and I WANT TO CHANGE IT.

I admire people who set goals and stay focused and are driven to achieve their goals. I want to know what it takes to start a project, start a diet, start an exercise regimen, start a home improvement project, start a new hobby, etc., etc., etc. (i.e., START ANYTHING), and keep that momentum going. How the fuck do yo do that, particularly when it's something you don't necessarily enjoy (like dieting or getting through a required reading of a miserable book). Help me help myself

Set goals in something you enjoy, love.

I cannot imagine you burning out, taking too long, distracted, etc. over a goal that you "enjoy" doing.

And set small goals and complete them. Set up a habit of always starting and completing goals. Most people have a long history of failures, and it always follows them.

r

 

[musclemom]

Set goals in something you enjoy, love.

I cannot imagine you burning out, taking too long, distracted, etc. over a goal that you "enjoy" doing.

And set small goals and complete them. Set up a habit of always starting and completing goals. Most people have a long history of failures, and it always follows them.

r

Sometimes achieving a goal means slogging through shit we don't like, that's a fact. I have to do several things I really, really don't want to do and it's very, very easy to fall off the enthusiasm wagon. I want the goals, but damn I hate the scut work, seriously.

The most pressing one is I have to finish reading a book as part of my coven work (there is no substituting). This book is ... heavy. I normally enjoy reading, but some of this esoteric stuff, particularly this specific book (which has a lot of Hindu terminology/concepts), can be like trying to understand quantum mechanics. Five pages and I've got a headache, I kid you not. I loathe this book. I'd dig the damn author up from his grave and kick his ass if I could.

I have a couple of things that I've been trying to get on with, and I just lose steam so easily anymore. It's just seems a lot harder to keep the momentum up anymore, not like when I was in my 20s, that's for sure.

 

[Wulfgar]

Its called discipline
I really dont think there is any substitute

 

[Razorguns]

Sometimes achieving a goal means slogging through shit we don't like, that's a fact. I have to do several things I really, really don't want to do and it's very, very easy to fall off the enthusiasm wagon. I want the goals, but damn I hate the scut work, seriously.

The most pressing one is I have to finish reading a book as part of my coven work (there is no substituting). This book is ... heavy. I normally enjoy reading, but some of this esoteric stuff, particularly this specific book (which has a lot of Hindu terminology/concepts), can be like trying to understand quantum mechanics. Five pages and I've got a headache, I kid you not. I loathe this book. I'd dig the damn author up from his grave and kick his ass if I could.

I have a couple of things that I've been trying to get on with, and I just lose steam so easily anymore. It's just seems a lot harder to keep the momentum up anymore, not like when I was in my 20s, that's for sure.

Don't read a book you don't enjoy. You're just "forcing" yourself to read it - hence, any goal that is being forced - your sub-concious will REJECT.

I bet you enjoy reading EF right? Good. Now find something similar and exciting. And now you can do that all day, just like you won't get "burned out" reading EF.

This won't happen in 1 day. Taking care of your body, friends, family, attitude, all play in a role. But it is something you can work on, on a daily basis. Start with small, fun goals. And work up.

r

 

[rudeboyja]

Its called discipline
I really dont think there is any substitute

WORD!!

Just gotta do it. I set daily, weekly & monthly goals. I keep a spreadsheet and look at them every morning. I also use this site http://webtodo.wndmll.com/

My problem is i'm a little over motivated and set some pretty fuckin high goals....

 

[biteme]

Don't ask me I have the enthusiasm of a slug.... I just look forward to the next time I can have 6 drinks... I'm a wannabe alcoholic.