How do you get motivated?

[18358414]

I like drawing, but for some reason I never feel like I have the energy to do it.  Then I sit down and draw something repulsive because I wasn't in the mood to begin with.  I figure it's a lack of motivation, but I'm the same with just about everything in life.  I'm have no strong feelings one way or the other.

 

So I wonder... is there a way to condition myself to become motivated?  How do you "get pumped" in a family-friendly way?

[Devilish]

I understand how you feel, I get some pretty bad art block

What I personally like to do is watch speed paints or people draw on youtube/twitch, maybe take my own spin on the drawing as a warm up

October is also a month full of lots of art prompts! I'm currently doing goretober and its helping me keep in the swing and not go too long without drawing.

[mahyar]

17 minutes ago, Caroline said:

that's easy, live in a third world country, if I don't work I don't eat so I kinda have to do it even if I'm feeling down.

way worse then it seems

 

29 minutes ago, Yuri Fury said:

I like drawing, but for some reason I never feel like I have the energy to do it.  Then I sit down and draw something repulsive because I wasn't in the mood to begin with.  I figure it's a lack of motivation, but I'm the same with just about everything in life.  I'm have no strong feelings one way or the other.

 

So I wonder... is there a way to condition myself to become motivated?  How do you "get pumped" in a family-friendly way?

im like you a lot you

i myself think about how perfect the results may became or my work will do good for community 

[Tristerin]

Copious amounts of caffeine.

 

Doesn't matter what the goal is, whether I love it or not, that's the cure-all for me.

[PlayStation 2]

Ironically enough, sleepiness motivates me to do shit late at night. 

[Teddy07]

14 hours ago, Yuri Fury said:

So I wonder... is there a way to condition myself to become motivated?  How do you "get pumped" in a family-friendly way?

I am wake up at 5 AM during the week because I am very productive and focused in the early hours when nobody bothers me. 

[Guest]

Read cultivating burning desire. 

[jones177]

Having an audience. 

 

To help push me to work I found an audience in forums where I would announce a project and give updates.

At first I created 2D video games using budget engines.  Later I started creating textures and for existing video games and simulations. 

 

An audience also helps you get known and that opens doors.

 

[Radium_Angel]

Deadlines are usually a good motivator for me

[Intergalacticbits]

 

My suggestion is to mix things up.

 

Do physical things that push yourself then do reading and then your art.

If you find yourself being listless in physical stuff read for an hour or two first.

Then later in the day do the physical stuff.

Mix up what you do and mix up what you read. Then do your art.

 

Just like with food.

If I just eat one thing meals most of the week like pizza or mac and cheese. I start to feel unhealthy but if I eat balanced meals with different veggies every night.

Then I feel better.

I think the mind is the same way and the body and mind are connected way more then I really understand.

 

This is so obvious I know but for me it was a real discovery.

That I had to mix things up, physical and mental and then even within each of those. I mix things up.

 

I'm not an artist so I'm not sure if this is what your asking but if works for me.

I hope it is helpful for you.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Orange1]

On 10/17/2020 at 1:10 PM, Yuri Fury said:

I like drawing, but for some reason I never feel like I have the energy to do it.  Then I sit down and draw something repulsive because I wasn't in the mood to begin with.  I figure it's a lack of motivation, but I'm the same with just about everything in life.  I'm have no strong feelings one way or the other.

 

So I wonder... is there a way to condition myself to become motivated?  How do you "get pumped" in a family-friendly way?

How is your diet, are you eating healthy?

What about the sex life, its always healthy and natural to have sex.

Are you meditating, it works well.

What prescription drugs are you on, have you read the side effects?

DO you drink booze or take illegal drugs or weed?

[18358414]

On 10/20/2020 at 12:33 PM, Intergalacticbits said:

Mix up what you do and mix up what you read. Then do your art.

That sounds like it might work.  I really don't do much to feed the creative side of my brain and then it lashes out at me.  Unfortunately the only reading material I have is technical manuals and academic papers.  I guess I could always browse writing competitions. 

 

On 10/21/2020 at 12:36 AM, Orange1 said:

How is your diet, are you eating healthy?

What about the sex life, its always healthy and natural to have sex.

Are you meditating, it works well.

What prescription drugs are you on, have you read the side effects?

DO you drink booze or take illegal drugs or weed?

I'm about the healthiest person in my family aside from one or two mental issues.  No boozing or drugs, had a very bad experience.  I never tend to meditate, I guess I could try that.  For halloween I suppose it would be acceptable to think about 'sexy' things, usually that results in some of the creepiest and most disturbing imagery I can produce; but sometimes it scares even me, so I might not want to do that.  I prefer cute and happy things. 

[Rybo]

I can't remember where I heard this, but for art, just do it regularly whether you want to or not.  There are "character idea" apps that can give you a subject if you don't want to perform that labor yourself and world generators if you want to draw landscapes, etc.  But the key is to start -- give yourself as much opportunity to get into a rhythm as possible.  Sometimes you'll create nothing but garbage, but if you wait for that transcendent state to come upon you rather than learning to find it through your work, you'll spend an awful lot of time waiting.  

 

The same thing applies to exercise such as weight lifting or endurance training.  Do it on a schedule.  You don't have to PB every week, but you have to give your body the opportunity to PB every week (excepting of course sickness and injury!)

 

EDIT: Just remembered a pertinent, though not completely related video that will also help.  The short version is create a space dedicated to your work and only use it for work.  If for some reason you simply can't put pen to paper, then leave the space and try again later.  
 

 

[TetraSky]

Living is pain and a chore. I just want to drop everything and go live in the forest like a savage, not having any responsibility or work to do. Having some peace and quiet without crappy neighbors making noise at 3am on purpose right above...

Even more so since this whole damn pandemic started. Lost my mom(cancer, not covid), my best friend/girlfriend left me because of the pandemic and I have no motivation whatsoever to do long distance schooling for college. I don't retain any information that's conveyed and we're not allowed to record anything, teachers speak without stopping to let us type out notes or ask questions (Which is reflected in the class average of less than 60%... in all my classes).

 

That said, I do keep looking forward and keeping on... For the next book in the series I enjoy reading every few months (Ascendance of a bookworm). So if I had to say what motivate me... That would be it, I guess.

[WereCatf]

On 10/17/2020 at 10:10 PM, Yuri Fury said:

How do you get motivated?

I wish I knew. I actually, honestly really, really wish I knew. Almost nothing works as a motivator for me and so I don't get almost anything done.

[kelvinhall05]

I don't but I sure wish I was able to.

[Intergalacticbits]

3 hours ago, Yuri Fury said:

Unfortunately the only reading material I have is technical manuals and academic papers.  I guess I could always browse writing competitions. 

Get an iPad if you don't have one already.

A mini or regular iPad are both small but bigger then a phone screen.

So they are easy to read.

They are the cheaper iPads so they are easy on the budget and the wi-fi only versions are even cheaper. 

Sometimes they are on sale at Walmart.

 

You can just use itunes gift cards for your account if you want so it will be no hassle.

With the book app the book store with all the books comes to you.

I love mine for reading.

 

Just thought I'd suggest it.

 

[Gegger]

Getting started is always the hardest part for me...regardless of art or school assignments...Is also pretty hard to get me pumped about something I do enjoy but once I get a chunk done I get tired and sick of it. Generally I just go "fuck it" and start working at an ungodly hour, or 10 minutes before it's due. Then I can usually keep my attention on that until it's finished or mostly done. Having people I have a close relationship with as the person the thing is "for" helps a bit...Motivation is a tricky thing...can't always find it. Good luck

[dizmo]

If you have to force yourself to do it, do you actually enjoy it?

[Guest]

When it comes to artwork, my motivator is to do it for somebody else. 

Not sure why, but art work to me should always be shared with other people. 

 

Here's some mixed artwork  

 

[MewMew]

Being someone who hates themselves and judges themselves too hard, i have this issue constantly. This causes me to judge myself before i even put something into action and encourages a mistake to be made out of expectation. 

Forcing yourself at first to enjoy things can seem tedious and counter intuitive but once it becomes habitual you will actually find joy in it.

You have to come to the conclusion if the action you're forcing yourself to do is actually good for you or not, if not then it isn't worth engaging in.

Examples, such as; forcing yourself to smile more often, exercise, being empathetic towards others, thinking about yourself more, expanding your horizons, etc.

This opens up a new viewership of interpretation which i think in a case of artistic denial, would be beneficial. 

[TechyWinkie]

I get motivated by watching a video game trailer or something worth anticipating. Sometimes when you're down and you feel like ending it all, trailers can sort of help you get through the day. The happiness might be gone, but the anticipation and the hope for better days will soon come. 

[it_dont_work]

On 10/21/2020 at 2:47 AM, Radium_Angel said:

Deadlines are usually a good motivator for me

I find this is more an aspect of discipline than motivation. 

[Radium_Angel]

6 hours ago, it_dont_work said:

discipline

Yeah, I was going for funny in my comment actually, if a project is handed to me, I do it right away, so I can get back to goofing off.