motivation in creative fields

[ghostsense]

Hi! im new here. im desperate for something to help. im a junior in an arts college, studying comic art and etc. im really having trouble staying motivated, awake, passionate, on task, you know, the works. I'm on vyvanse 50mg but i might figure to get my dosage raised, but even if it does keep me focused, i'll focus on diving hours into minecraft or whatever instead of my homework.

im like a month behind in school and every day that passes i feel more useless and worthless and i dont know how to manage my time at all. in highschool i never learned because i was able to get away with it.

i can make lists on my desktop but i end up forgetting about them. i bought a watch that should come in the mail because i forget that time exists, and i'll be eating dinner at my friends in the evening and then suddenly 5 horus have pasted and i cant safely walk home.

anyways. any tips to help me push past this or manage or something. please help me

[dgs2018]

Hi ghostsense, welcome to this board. Please take some time to relax and catch your breath. I felt some real pressure and urgency reading your post. First of all- You are all right. Breath and realize that you have what it takes to hold tight to your dreams. Second, I don't mean this with judgment, but you must realize what your bad habits are doing to your goals and dreams. Think of the end result and see the damage. Okay, you said you can no longer get away with not studying, then make a plan to study and stick with it. Face yourself and dig deeper and you will find that time management is so important in our lives. It's painful to see ourselves in the mirror, but it can bring change. I also want you to see yourself succeeding with your listed goal(s) such as COMIC ARTIST earning a living. Don't just throw in the towel, but find a support group that will hear your dreams and goals and respect them. You have the goods, now make it happen.

[ghostsense in reply to dgs2018]

thank you. i guess i knew all this but i needed to hear it from someone else, too. Everything will be okay, I just need to put in the work. its just so hard.. but I need to think of success as my motivator. because i want to be successful! i want to win! but its not a walk in the park. im struggling with burnout, but thats no excuse to blow off my classes.. thank you!

[EliADHD]

I've had similar issues with my writing. I'm looking for inspiration and/or motivation to get writing and if I don't feel it, I don't write. It reminds me though of what the blogger and author Mark Manson wrote.

Essentially, he said that we think that the way creativity work is through a linear progression: inspiration > motivation > action. Yet these steps are circular. Action can lead to inspiration and motivation.

I myself have found this to be true. Don't wait for inspiration or motivation; just work.

This applies to your studying as well as your creative efforts. Start work. You'll be distracted at some point and perhaps start doing something else. When you become aware of it, gently push yourself back to your work, reminding yourself how important it is and why you want it. (We're more likely to stay on task if we want to do something rather than feel that we are obligated or told to do something).

Soon, you'll become aware of the urge/distraction as it arises and before you do something else. When that happens, take a breath or two, calm yourself and your mind. Identify that your ADHD has reared its head. Congratulate yourself on identifying it and go back to work.