Do you get the "blahs"?

[Learning]

Does anyone else just get the "blahs"? What's this like for you, and how do you get over it? What word do you think describes it best (i.e.-laziness, apathy, paralysis analysis, etc.)?

[Julian]

All the time. The thing that works best for me is going outside and doing something(fix something, hike, bike). Since its like 6 Fahrenheit here right now, I go to the gym and run(?) on the elliptical for like half an hour. It releases all those good brain chemicals and what not. A good old fashioned beer does the trick if I'm feeling exceptionally lazy. I also have the unusual habit of taking everything out of my closet and reorganizing it, but I think that probably only works for me :)

Hope this helps.

[karen]

Well, I get two varieties of the blahs...

One: at work. I have to have something new and challenging going on at all times. Now that I'm teaching, it can besomehting like totally gutting a curriculum that is getting on my nerves, or even rearranging the classroom furniture which totally changes dynamics, etc. When I worked pre-degree jobs, I would either get a new job or take on new responsibilites (if you're like me, every decent boss you have will have total faith in you and let you do just about anything you want).

Two: at home. I often runout of exciting things to do, especially during the winter. I find a project: cleaning, designing, building or scheming about somehting. I have learned that any new project has to be either really complicated or must be finished within 2 weeks or I lose interest. Art, architecture, gardening, anything that makes you feel productive.

[Meyer]

I get them when I have no direction or nothing exciting/challenging to work on. I know there is more to life than goals, but really I am a miserable monster when I do not have some sort of project going. The gym works best for me in combatting this state. Also something like an art museum or an interesting documentary to get the wheels turning can help.

[briancastellanos]

I do...when I feel overwhelmed (which is sometimes always..I usually have ideas that I jot down all the time throughout the day in a notebook. Just things like, what I want to include in my software engineering contracts, how to restructure my website, setting up frameworks, just stuff like that. But I never seem to have time to do that stuff that I want. I feel like I don't ever have enough time for anything -- i do contract work in addition to my full time job, and then I still want to work on my own projects. So rather than getting anything done, i just feel drained....

I wake at 7, be to work by 8, get home by 6 (after traffic), go to the gym for an hour, back home by 7, eat dinner, 730-8p, catch up on news, mail, etc on tivo (usually by 8) work on contract work till 12, then try to unwind by catching up on blogs, or reading until 1-2. Then get 5-6 hours of sleep and start it all over again the next day..

It never seems like I have time to do what I need to get done for myself? Anyone got ideas how I can get better structure in my life? I usually am good at setting plans and strategies, but this..i don't know what I can cut out..

[quentin]

No.

I experience existential crisises.

[Zilal]

I wake at 7, be to work by 8, get home by 6 (after traffic), go to the gym for an hour, back home by 7, eat dinner, 730-8p, catch up on news, mail, etc on tivo (usually by 8) work on contract work till 12, then try to unwind by catching up on blogs, or reading until 1-2. Then get 5-6 hours of sleep and start it all over again the next day..

It never seems like I have time to do what I need to get done for myself? Anyone got ideas how I can get better structure in my life? I usually am good at setting plans and strategies, but this..i don't know what I can cut out..

That's tough... if you haven't thought something up, you might be at the point of having to make some really difficult moves. Like just working less and making less money, or changing jobs. The exercise and unwinding may seem less essential than working, but lawdy, when you're working that much you do need that much time to unwind. Definitely start to think about job changes even if it seems impossible now.

[axiomtangent]

I'm not sure what the technical term for this is, maybe someone here can put a name to it.

At times I get overwhelmed with a sense of absurdity, like we're all just going through the motions and not really accomplishing anything. I believe I yearn for significance, which is not to say fame, just the knowledge that there is some purpose to my being aside from because.

Aside from my various obligations such as family, country, community, etc., I fear there isn't a whole lot to me; I often "fake" a personality just to keep people from annoying me about whether or not I'm "OK". I've learned what people expect of others and generally ape the necessary characteristics that will create the perception that I find the most useful at the time.

I’ve often categorized myself as being not dim, nor brilliant, but bright; which is to say, I’m intelligent enough to know what possibilities there are, but not quite brilliant enough to realize them.

Does that count as the “Blahs”?

[dandylion]

I've got a case of the "Blahs" right now. Usually when this happens I take the day off for mental health, temporarily withdrawing myself from the world. I'm not really overwhelmed; I just don't want to deal with anything. I only want to be alone and contemplate my life so far and the outlook of my future, realign my perspectives and whatnot.

[Tsuru]

Does anyone else just get the "blahs"? What's this like for you, and how do you get over it? What word do you think describes it best (i.e.-laziness, apathy, paralysis analysis, etc.)?

I'd say pretty much my whole life is a case of the "blahs." ;P

[anthrogirl]

Yes, there is always something niggling me and saying 'are you being effective? what is the point of life? are you fulfilling your purpose for being on earth, and what is that purpose anywhy, and why do bad things happen to good people? You get the picture.

[Learning]

Julian,Thanks for your honesty, that does help:) Definitely need to get a line on that chemical production! (and you're not alone in your closet-organizing...just usually doesn't happen when I'm feeling "blah";))
karen, Very specific & helpful, thank you. Especially the 2wk part-very insightful. I'll have to check myself there.
Meyer When I'm really feeling blah, a documentary is a super idea! I'll definitely have to remember that. I pretty much have projects in place that I'm working on, just had kind of a lack of motivation I guess? I think part of it was I was overwhelmed by everything I needed to do.
briancastellanos - Is the contract work necessary? Also, figuring out how much time you'd like/need to yourself sounds like a good place to start. Plus, it's super important to your health/functioning. (oz. prevention= lb. cure)
quentin, axiomtangent- I really relate to this especially. quentin worded it much better than I could have:) Thanks quentin. Does that work for you axiomtangent? "Existential Crisses". I was watching the Dan Millman story the other day, and one thing it said was that "We are not our thoughts". That was nice to hear. All kinds of thoughts pop into our heads, but it makes sense that our actions define us more clearly than whatever happens to cross our minds. (I have to say I do think motives are important, as well.) It's funny, I usually do have a pretty strong sense of purpose, and it can make the mundane seem more mundane at times when I feel this way. These thoughts come & go though.
dandylion- That thought seems to be resonating here. Contemplating life, our part in it, how we perceive that, and how fulfilled we are in carrying it out. Thanks for your honesty.
Tsuru-Did you relate to the other posts, too?
anthrogirl-Absolutely! Please share more if you gain more insight into this...

[Bossy Mom]

It's time for an adventure when I get the blahs. The same old routine, the same old job. It's just too boring! It's time for a long road trip and seeing new sights and old friends. Iron, Vitamin B-12 and folic acid help, too.

[IMnice]

No.

I experience existential crisises.

Yes...as do I..I do not know what I am to conquer next...therefore I experience the existential crisis...until my next challenge presents itself to me..or I create it