Can someone please post a proven way to snap out of a funk, or slump, or whatever you want to call it!  I got to get back to work!

Bill <><

Here is what works for me. What ever project I am involved in when I get bored or lose interest, I just try to forget about the project and spend at least one day (two is even better) doing the most boring thing I can think of. I find that after I am just about bored to death I begin to think how much more fun it would be to be working on the project. I mentally start back to work on it. When I get home I start doing what I had thought about earlier.

" wake up honey!"

Often, the cause of a building funk is that we either, 1, arrive at a point in construction where we are not sure of the best way to proceed, or, 2, don't particularly like the design, or the task needing to be done. It isn't often the excuse we give, "I'm just too busy."

I have a plane on the building board, going on two years now. I have lost interest because I'm not really a fan of the design, and I fear it'll finish up too heavy and be a dog. For the second reason, I should just get in there and lighten up the framework. It could be done easily, but, because I'm not really a fan of the design, I don't spend the time on it, so there it sits. I've built three planes, while this design has been sitting there.

If the problem was that I wasn't real sure of the best way to proceed, I could seek suggestions from friends, both in person, and online at the several forums. Still, After laying off, I might need a slap in the rear to get back on the project.

So, after that buildup, what can we do, additionally, to get re-energised?

See, we often convince ourselves that we're just too busy, rather than recognise the real reasons, All of us can find 15 minutes each day to do something other than our work. Right?

So, here's the drill. Make a pact with yourself to spend at least 15 minutes a day with your project. It might be hard, or boring, or frustrating at first, but, eventually you'll work your way through the cause of the funk. Eventually, you'll see that progress is being made. You'll see that you're past the problem area, and are spending a lot more time, and enjoying it again. You might even be suprized that instead of 15 minutes, it's becoming an hour and a half spent in the shop.

Discipline is the key. You've got 15 minutes to build each day. just do it.

Best wishes,

John Miller

Well my solution may not work for all, (ok so its not really planned but hey it works!) Simply crash all your airworthy airframes and not be able to fly, it sure got me motivated to do some building,, especially with contests around the corner!

Not an option!

 
"Billy Boy"


    HOW BOUT A GOOD SWIFT KICK IN THE  ------------------------------- ? It works for me.


                "Billy G"           

I went into my shop some years ago. Got busy doing somethin' or other, and about the time I finished, I looked around and realized that the lighting was terrible; very hard to see for detail work...no wonder I don't like being in here very much. Went to plug in another light or two, and guess what? No handy electrical outlets. So, I got busy and put in a bunch of lights and electrical outlets. Next time I went into the shop, I decided it was too cluttered, so put up a bunch of pegboard and hooks to hang hardware and stuff to keep it available and easy to find. Put a sheet of plywood up against the floor joists for hiding rifles and storing fishing rods.  Then I put up another sheet of plywood as a very high shelf for dry storage of kits and balsa stash.

But it's still cluttered, because my future  ex-wife keeps piling stuff in there when I'm not looking. One of these days.......to the moon!  Steve

Hey Bill
Get your thyroid gland checked out first! I have to take 200 micrograms of oroxine daily for a hypo active (slow) thyroid gland. I've never had the same drive and vitality as I had before the problems with my thyroid.
One thing that I have found to improve my enthusiasm and get up and go is 4-6 weekly shots of B12 vitamin. I get it from the Chemist and my doctor then gives me the injection. It costs about US $10.00 for 2 shots so it's not expensive.
Check with your doctor to see if will interfere with your diabetes, but worth a look if you are struggling to get the enthusiasm cells firing. Takes a week or two before you suddenly find yourself looking to get on with more than you usually do!
Cheers John

Sounds like lazyness to me. Probably enough going on at the moment where constructing stuff seems too much like work. Other things easier and less mentally of physically taxing seem more attractive. For everyone there comes a stage of building that they do not like. So if you have enough real life stuff going on tackling a chore on a model that you really do not care for you rather relax with something else.

There is a way around this hump. That is to make the place you need to do the work in as comfortable as possible. If it means moving a couch in there, or TV etc you do it. Me I used to bring the work up, into the living space (Wife not happy but I kept it neat) Found that by sitting on the couch, watching TV and sanding or cutting trim etc, even if it was during commercials, I got through the parts I did not enjoy.

Obviously if you do not have to drag the potentially messy work into the dining room dont, make the work space as much like you fav part of the house you can. Then just go there to watch TV, get on the puter etc, and while there you will find yourself picking up and finishing stuff almost without realizing it.

Call it productive distraction if you will. Pretty soon you find that you are missing your favorite show because your attention is focused on what you are doing, but you still hear the TV or scan the puter or doing something that you enjoy better than the modeling task at hand.

The mind is a peculiar thing and sometimes you have to approach things sideways.

    I STILL SAY A GOOD SWIFT KICK IN THE -------------- WILL WORK JUST FINE !

                 "Billy G"   

Bill, Last time I got building burnout, I got a Cardinal AFR and just went out and few it for a month. Not thinking about finishing what I had to do on my latest build project. Cardinal flew OK with only engine mount mods, Have flown it enough to cause me to want a new plane to fly. That got me back on building.
Change of pace and just enjoying flying may help ya. So forget about building and get that part of your head processor rebooted.
Hope any or all of the other folks suggestions help.
Kick back and smell the castor.
Jerry

spend a butt load of money on electric RC Helis. then smash them constantly........get the wife annoyed enough to say " You should just stick to the planes" and go from there....

worked for me