Despondency and Laziness

[JustinHesychast]

How do you all keep from becoming despondent and lazy? Or does anyone here struggle with this? I have the feeling of "it's MY summer and I DESERVE to relax" state of mind. I hate to do anything, and especially work. But I'm quitting work at the start of the school year to focus on studies. So I need the cash saved up. But I just feel so... negative about it all. I am no longer in Crossviille with my grandparents (at least for another two weeks when I go back for 2 more weeks in July), where I was able to be outside all the time and relax and have fun. Now I'm back home where mum drives me mad and I have to work and am cooped indoors all the time. It's so easy for despondency and laziness to overcome me.

How do you all fight it?

In Christ,
Justin

[Dust and Ashes]

How do you all fight it?

Meth.

J/K of course. :P

I seriously struggle with this, especially now that I'm working 7 days a week. It's so hard to get motivated when there is almost no time to relax and regroup. When I get home, I'm so wrung out from the heat that I don't have the energy to play with my son like I should. It's hard.

I've recently started back taking some great supplements that keep my energy level high but I'm in the habit of laziness that's hard to break. I usually just drink some coffee if I need to get something done and that helps me get going.

The hardest thing is keeping a rule of prayer. It's harder than doing physical work.

Sorry for the ramble and I don't have an answer, other than you aren't alone. :sigh:

[kamikat]

it's a struggle, just like the struggle to resist any sin. Don't have any answers for ya, as I struggle this issue myself. Just know that you aren't alone!

[ClementofRome]

As for employment, just having to pay the bills and provide for my family is motivation enough to work hard (even over work from time to time).

However, at home, I can be very lazy. My wife reminds me of this often! :)

Sorry dude, we were meant to frolic in the Garden of Eden, care free.....then the little problem of the Fall entered the picture and the curse upon Adam (work!) went against our grain! :)

[Orthocat]

I would answer this....but I'm just not in the mood.






;)

[Vasileios]

Chalk up another one with the same problem.

My SF said that I personally have a problem of mastering my will and gave me exercises for homework! :) Resisting my will for ten, twenty minutes, thirty minutes... Want to eat that one thing? Wait ten, twenty, thirty mins... Want to go read that thing on the net? Wait... and so on...

Also, he emphatically stated that keeping a specific schedule and knowing from the night before more or less how you plan to spend the next day (and keeping this) is *very* important. Also, regular sleep hours, esp. waking up early.

Another thing: After waking up and washing etc, you can do the morning prayers (small ones, the trisagion, psalm 50, creed for example) plus reading just a page or two (but without fail) of scripture.

I normally wouldn't write about rules and keep in mind this a suggestion because in two respects we are similar: I am lazy too, and I don't have to worry about children (yet), and since you need some practical advice, there you go...

I think both will benefit you. The ten minute exercise thing (let the twenty minutes and thirty minutes for later) and the morning prayers.

Of course, if there is ANY way you can ask someone more qualified (which would mean almost everyone actually) please, please do.

Hope this helps...

[Silentchapel]

There is this method I found on trad catholic forum which REALLY helped me in fight with laziness. Mind you, you need to be persistent - and I'm not saying that I've mastered my laziness, but I'm doing a whole lot better than I used to.

THE SECRET RECIPE (dun-dun-duuuun)
Make a list of all the chores you have to do in one day. I separated them in groups (prayer, chores, studying, working out, computer, evening, other), just to make things easier for me. Now, as you do the thing you ought to do, mark it off the list (I use Word file - it's easier, and saves paper - I just color the stuff I did blue). And make it your personal objective to finish all the things you need to do in a day. It's just that simple. :) Now, I do the list in the following fashion - I do a group (for example, computer group) and after I'm finished, I do some studying. Once I'm done with that, I go over the next group, and study after that one's finished. And so on and on. :) Really helps.

[eoe]

To some extent you should relax and enjoy your summer vacation. You are still a child and should get the opportunity to act like one. Play in a river, swing from a rope and play baseball.... Still you have to do what you have to do. My suggestion is to work on your time management skills. Plan your day and stick to your plan. If you do this your play time will actually be play time and not "sit in front of the tv wishing you had something to do " time. Manage your time and there will be a lot more of it. Start your plan by setting time for prayer, then for work, then for play.

[DonVA]

I work with my son on this as well, but I am teaching him to take care of the things that need to be done before the things he wants to do. When he sets up his time this way, he realizes that the "needs" actually take less time to complete than he'd thought, leaving more time for the "wants" than he had expected.

I have to set the example, though. Fortunately, I can "want" to watch a TV show AND take care of the "need" to exercise at the same time! But dinner's been made, and "my" chores complete before I even think about that TV.

[JustinHesychast]

Thanks for all the tips! ^_^