Sometimes people lose the will or drive to continue on the roads they have chosen for their creative outlets. Because of this lack of motivation, they find other things to do to fill up their spare time, and most often than not, it isn't really all that productive. Then you hear people say things such as, "It's your free time do with it what you will," or "At least you were doing something." To this I say, no. I realize that people sometimes lose that motivation to do what they originally set out to do, but perhaps it's best to find something more productive to do.
I'm a perfect example of this. I haven't posted on this blog since 2012, and I'm sure few people have actually read it anyway; but when I originally started this blog, I was wanting to get into the habit of writing on it at least once a week, to keep up with writing and keep my mind flowing with ideas and such, that could possibly prove useful to me in the future as a writer. My long term goal was to be a published author and finish one of the stories/novels that I have started, even if it was through NaNoWriMo in November, just finishing a rough copy of one of my stories would be a huge accomplishment for me and something that I want, no, NEED to do. So when I lose my motivation I turn to being online for long, extended periods of time, watching movies, Netflix, etc.
However, writing isn't the only thing I've lost motivation for. I'm trying to get back into doing the crafts that I use to do, and that I use to be so good at. I recently started getting back into plastic canvas crafts again, even giving one of my completed crafts to a dear friend of mine, who said I should do more of them and sell them on Etsy, which starting an Etsy shop has been in the back of my mind for a while now. The good thing with getting back into crafts, is I can watch movies in the background while I work, I've even gone as far as picking things that are popular and making my own designs for them for plastic canvas, which is quite difficult, as all the designs are done by hand.
I have also wanted to get back into walking, and perhaps incorporating small scale exercises to it. For the walking, I've been waiting for the weather to be better, as I live in Kansas the weather is unpredictable. A prime example would be it was 85 degrees yesterday, thunderstorming today with a temperature of 77, and it's suppose to snow about half an inch tonight, so going outside to walk has been somewhat out of my control, but something I can start doing again.
Reading more is something that I've been meaning to do as well, plus, it would help improve my writing style as well, but I always find "something" that prevents me from doing it amongst the other things listed above. I think, having someone to help motivate you and keep you on track to your goal and help you be held accountable for what you have set out to do, will ultimately help you in the long run, and it could easily make you a better person. Perhaps, even finding people with the same interests and same hobbies/goals to help you stay on your goal path would help even more, and you'd get to make new friends. Who doesn't want new friends with similar interests? I know I do. The key, is to have someone to help motivate you, in turn you can help motivate that person with their goals as well. It may not be an easy road, no road you pick in life will ever be easy, but in the end finishing that book whether writing or reading, starting that craft store you've been longing to do for a while, or even exercising more, will be well worth it in the end, and you will have that sense of accomplishment, which is the best feeling in the world.
