palabravampiress
Bidet of Evil
I pretty much agree with everyone else. First, go to the doctor and see whether or not something is physically wrong with you. I've gone through two phases of lack-of-motivation in my life: one when I was 14 and one now. That's unusual behavior for me, a natural overachiever type, so when that happens to me, it's a tip that something is off-kilter. Both bouts of laziness have been accompanied by health problems. So if you're having health problems or if you think those might be contributing to your situation, go to the doctor... if you have health insurance, that is. Sometimes, your body can be so busy trying to keep itself afloat that there's no energy left for your brain.
If the problem isn't health related, though, then I think you need to get some hands-on experience on the what-life-will-be-like-if-I-fail side of the tracks. I, personally, never had to look very far. Without getting into too much detail, let me just say that I didn't grow up in the best of neighborhoods and that, in my family, jail or prison are as likely options as are possibly graduating from high school and working in manual labor for the duration of one's career. I, myself, started working (under-the-table_ when I was thirteen. I'm the first one to have gone to college and let me tell you, even that isn't a magic bullet, but it will probably get you a desk job, which is a definite plus. If you've got a parent who will be hard on you, take advantage of that, too. In addition to taking me to doctors when I was 14, (to deal with various health issues, one of which was a heart condition) they also grounded me until my grades went back up. I resented it at the time. In hindsight, I'm very grateful that my parents intervened.
If you are fortunate enough not to have that hands-on-experience in your front yard, try volunteering. I've worked in soup kitchens before. There's nothing like a soup kitchen to make you grateful for the opportunities that you have. If you're more of the hands on type, try something like Habitat for Humanity. These things don't just open your eyes; they look good on college applications and also help you build some useful skills. If you don't know anyone in prison, then check to see whether or not there's any sort of prison outreach program. You might also check to see of you can volunteer at a rehab facility. I don't imagine it's the same when you're not visiting someone you love, but it is a wake-up call. Another good wakeup call is to go to your county's M.R.D.D. home (for adults) or a home for troubled kids and volunteer. Helping the less fortunate doesn't just help the less fortunate; it can also help to motivate you. Maybe you'll find a cause and that will spark your interest in a career field and get you motivated. Alternatively, maybe you'll just be motivated so that you won't end up in any of those places. Also, life the others have said, work is a great motivator. *Everyone* should do time behind the counter at some point. There's nothing like being cursed out by a mean old customer on Christmas - while you're sick, of course - to motivate you to get a better job!
I don't have all of the answers. I'm sort of struggling right now, too. My friends and family keep telling me to get out more, to get back into volunteer work, etc. etc. Their suggestions don't fall on deaf ears. I hear them. But you know... health problems. It's really hard to commit to the next Habitat build when I need a drink of caffeine to even do something easy like the laundry or when I won't have any trusted friends/family members there in case I pass out or something (which, by the way, has happened to me at a Habitat build before). Also, sometimes when you fail at something, it seems easier to give up or to act like you don't care than it is to own that failure and get yourself back on the path to success. I haven't figured that one out, yet, so no help there. Sorry.
I get it. I really do. Most likely, you're just a teenager who needs a strong, supportive adult to light a fire under your butt. But if not, these suggestions are those that have proven helpful for me in the past. Some days, they're helpful for me in the present, too. I hope you're able to get out of your funk.
If the problem isn't health related, though, then I think you need to get some hands-on experience on the what-life-will-be-like-if-I-fail side of the tracks. I, personally, never had to look very far. Without getting into too much detail, let me just say that I didn't grow up in the best of neighborhoods and that, in my family, jail or prison are as likely options as are possibly graduating from high school and working in manual labor for the duration of one's career. I, myself, started working (under-the-table_ when I was thirteen. I'm the first one to have gone to college and let me tell you, even that isn't a magic bullet, but it will probably get you a desk job, which is a definite plus. If you've got a parent who will be hard on you, take advantage of that, too. In addition to taking me to doctors when I was 14, (to deal with various health issues, one of which was a heart condition) they also grounded me until my grades went back up. I resented it at the time. In hindsight, I'm very grateful that my parents intervened.
If you are fortunate enough not to have that hands-on-experience in your front yard, try volunteering. I've worked in soup kitchens before. There's nothing like a soup kitchen to make you grateful for the opportunities that you have. If you're more of the hands on type, try something like Habitat for Humanity. These things don't just open your eyes; they look good on college applications and also help you build some useful skills. If you don't know anyone in prison, then check to see whether or not there's any sort of prison outreach program. You might also check to see of you can volunteer at a rehab facility. I don't imagine it's the same when you're not visiting someone you love, but it is a wake-up call. Another good wakeup call is to go to your county's M.R.D.D. home (for adults) or a home for troubled kids and volunteer. Helping the less fortunate doesn't just help the less fortunate; it can also help to motivate you. Maybe you'll find a cause and that will spark your interest in a career field and get you motivated. Alternatively, maybe you'll just be motivated so that you won't end up in any of those places. Also, life the others have said, work is a great motivator. *Everyone* should do time behind the counter at some point. There's nothing like being cursed out by a mean old customer on Christmas - while you're sick, of course - to motivate you to get a better job!
I don't have all of the answers. I'm sort of struggling right now, too. My friends and family keep telling me to get out more, to get back into volunteer work, etc. etc. Their suggestions don't fall on deaf ears. I hear them. But you know... health problems. It's really hard to commit to the next Habitat build when I need a drink of caffeine to even do something easy like the laundry or when I won't have any trusted friends/family members there in case I pass out or something (which, by the way, has happened to me at a Habitat build before). Also, sometimes when you fail at something, it seems easier to give up or to act like you don't care than it is to own that failure and get yourself back on the path to success. I haven't figured that one out, yet, so no help there. Sorry.
I get it. I really do. Most likely, you're just a teenager who needs a strong, supportive adult to light a fire under your butt. But if not, these suggestions are those that have proven helpful for me in the past. Some days, they're helpful for me in the present, too. I hope you're able to get out of your funk.
