Other A Motivation Roller Coaster

[GojiBean]

Hoyo all!

So, lately I've been struggling with depression and anxiety. And they've both been contributing to a motivational roller coaster I've been dealing with when it comes to both role-playing, and studying digital art.

For example, I can go to any art website like artstation, deviantart, etc, and take a look at the amazing artwork and save a few for references and study material for various techniques and practices like how to do hair, clothing folds, musculature and anatomy, etc. And I'll be all hyped to open my digital art software (Clip Studio Paint) and try practicing...

... That is, until I open the software and my motivation just tanks out of nowhere and I close the software and suddenly find myself not interested or driven to continue for the day.

The next day, same thing. I'll be thinking about some of the reference photos I found and be all excited to try practicing. But once I open the software it all just tanks and I can't draw a single line or shape before I close it and go watch youtube or play a video game.

And lately, this has extended into role-playing too.

I'll be all hyped up to try starting one, or continuing an ongoing one, but as soon as I sit down at the computer and open the site where the RP takes place, motivation just tanks and I wander away from the site and do other things.

I realize that the majority of this is due to the depression and anxiety preying on me. But at the same time, I do recall a time in my life where I wasn't suffering from either of these two things but still found the motivational roller coaster to be a hindrance to other artistic and hobby pursuits like role-playing.

Have any of you ever had this kind of issue, whether it was related to mental health or not? If so, and if you found a way to overcome it, what was your method for doing so?

 

[Daisie]

Ohhhh yess, this is a universal struggle of artists and writers everywhere, lol. All the inspiration in the world for matters of the imagination, but actually doing it is so much different than imagining doing it. And starting is half the battle, lol.

Honestly the best thing I've found is to just try. Even if you don't want to at first, just try.

Set a timer for 5 or 10 minutes - you can do anything for 5 or 10 minutes. And then if you still don't want to draw or write by then, then fair's fair.
It generally works!

 

[Chordling]

It's a natural experience to go through when you're feeling burnt out, I think. I often recognize this the most when I'm (subconsciously) striving for perfection, doing it for the sake of meeting a certain expectation, rather than just doing the hobby for the sake of doing it. But there can be a lot of other causes and strategies to fluctuating motivation. Mental health can definitely affect that but it's not always the case.