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  • Author Author: Fred27
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On a bit of slump

Fred27

I seem to be on a bit of slump when it comes to electronics lately. Just thought I'd ask if anyone else gets this sometimes or has any suggestions how to get out of it. When I say a slump, I mean that I just haven't seemed to find the time - or to some degree the enthusiasm - to get any projects going lately.

 

There are perhaps a few reasons. I was going to mention a few things that have been a bit rough lately, but decided not to. They're probably similar to the stuff everyone's been coping with. I'm not depressed, I'm just sorta lacking the enthusiasm to get on with stuff right now. I've had depression in the past, so know how that can be. It's not that now though - I'm still in a reasonable mood most of the time and enjoy getting out to meet friends when I can, etc.

 

Anyway, it's time to get back on top of things. I almost didn't apply for the Summer of FPGA design challenge. (Not enough time. The DIY job list growing. The usual excuses.) I'm hoping this will give me a reason to kick start things.

  • Hi Fred,

     

    Sorry to hear that, just to add to the list of useful ideas from everyone, maybe a chat group (e.g. Signal/Whatsapp)with like-minded friends or work colleagues can help. I've found joining groups like (say) DIY, tech stuff, even gaming or software, sci-fi, or whatever, anything that a few people have in common, can be great, because then you get time to problem-solve on other people's issues that they may raise on the chat channels, or share your latest DIY or tech or whatever project or dilemma, and basically pushed each other along with ideas, motivation etc. One way to do this is to decide what your colleagues are interested in, and create 3-4 chat groups, and then share the invites with all of them, and hope some will join each group, and even if it is a secondary interest for them, they can just silent that group and still occasionally check-in to get ideas or give suggestions. It becomes motivating when you know people locally that are doing tech/IT-related things.

    Also, any Linux or amateur radio groups.. even if they are not local, since everything is remote/email these days anyway, and they may have video calls weekly on topics.. I don't actually attend many of the video calls (maybe twice a year) but it's still interesting to see what's going on via e-mails etc. I hope we have an element14 Discord channel back up again one day, that was quite motivating for me, seeing the real-time conversation chats.

  • I was going through something similar. I used to get innovative ideas for design challenges or electronics hobby projects in general but suddenly I stopped getting any new ideas. A lot of my old projects were also pending.

    How I recovered? I just took a long break from electronics as well as the community and now I'm back. The last challenge I took part in was the experimenting with inductors challenge in 2019 or early 2020. I came back in 2021 now. It was a real long break for me.

  • Fred,

     

    What you are going through sounds familiar to me.  Ending a huge and interesting project (yeah, with a little extra craziness at the end) is a big let down.  I have gone from the top of the world to the bottom at the end of some projects.  Adding on my own experiences with depression to these events makes them all the more challenging.  Even when depression is not there, the memory of it is.  I find myself getting caught up in the worry that depression will again raise it's ugly head when I feel any sort of emotional bump.

     

    My advice is to take baby steps in looking for the next project.  Do little things.  Allow yourself the time to process the feelings of he last project, before throwing yourself into the next one.  I have found that doing a post-completion review of a project can be helpful, looking at what you got right and lessons that you can take away from the project can be very helpful.  This can also help to gain perspective about the relative nature of the high points versus the low points (usually way in favor of the high points) and allow you to move on to the next project.

     

    As far as baby steps, you can blog on some of the cool stuff you accomplished on your latest project, or even other past work.  Do a simple one or two day project, maybe fixing or improving a tool or step in your creative process.

     

    Good to hear that you may have a path going forward with the last company!

  • I think most people are permanently in the state you find yourself - just never get quite motivated enough to complete a project.

    Motivation is tricky. If you can brainwash yourself into believing all the work will be worthwhile, it is a self-fulfilling exercise - it actually feels worthwhile, and then it actually is worthwhile.

    In my case I have talked myself into believing it is important to push myself to my limits regardless of how hard that is. I just assume the harder it is, the more satisfying it will be to complete.

    Of course, it doesn't always work. I just got a Project14 in under the wire after a lot of procrastination, but the deadline aspect of the project helped motivate the final push. It may not be a grandiose winning project, but it is at the limit of what I can muster right now.

    I would suggest one way out of the doldrums is to pick an area of particular interest and devise a small project. You can do it in your head - no need to lift a finger. Until you feel motivated enough to dive in and do it.

  • in reply to javagoza

      wrote:

    When one has been very involved in a project for a long time, the slump always comes once it is finished. It is a session of internal emptiness.

    One of the details I hadn't mentioned was that a really interesting job at a great company is coming to an end, and the final bit of the project went from fun to a bit chaotic and stressful.

     

    Literally within 10 minutes of posting this, I had a call from my boss to let me know that they want to keep me involved with the company. Not sure exactly in what capacity yet, but still great news. See - talking to you guys is helping already!