So when the big C looked like it would lick me 15 years back, my oncologist said basically- Family, dogs, hobbies.
Jesus won’t call me until I can perfectly sand a seam. Meanwhile, enjoy what you have, who you have and where you are.
bill
Reviving an older thread because I have the same question, with arguably a similar reason (although far milder): I injured my knee at the end of March and it’s still not healed - I tore the meniscus and PT is showing that I may have messed up some other stuff, too. I still have swelling around the knee, and it aches all the time. It’s hard to find a comfortable position to be in, and often if I leave it in one position for more than 30-60 minutes, it’s very stiff and hurts to move into other positions.
One of the unexpected side effects of this is that I’m not motivated to work on models. I sit at a high workbench, so my standard position (no, not “hunched over a model”) is to sit on a stool with my feet pulled up underneath to help stabilize against the seat rotation. That’s painful to do, right now, and I find I’m just not interested in trying to find a workaround, like move stuff to a table. (Mostly, I need to airbrush…and that booth is not going to be relocated!)
Any new thoughts from folks to add to this thread? What are some good ways to get motivated to build again? I tried “wandering” through my stash, but it just depresses me that I’m falling behind on my goals (group build, etc.).
Maybe I can open and start another kit at a lower surface, but then that requires clearing a space, which involves standing and twisting as I move back and forth…and sometimes I’d rather just sit on the couch with an ice pack and a lap cat.
Sorry to hear about your knee. I don’t know what to tell you about motivation except, for me anyway, it comes and goes. Sometimes for years at a time. But so far, I have always come back. One thing that does get my juices flowing is watching a good war movie. Or maybe pick a genre that you haven’t modeled before and see what that does.
Good luck with your knee. And Silentbob33, I hope you’re doing okay.
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The first thing to do is… Stop worrying about it. If the motivation is not there, it’s not there. Take care of yourself first. Even Van Gogh lost his motivation sometimes (although don’t cut off your ear). Try getting better first. Your models will still be there. Clean off your modeling area and make notes. When you are ready to build again, you’ll know it. It’s easy to get burned out by too much.
Hope you’re feeling better soon!
Gary
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Life experiences of all kinds come and go continuously throughout our lives. Whether you realize it or not, we are constantly adapting to these changes and modifying our behaviours. Interests vary and hobbies especially tend to get back-burnered when we have major upheaval in our lives, which is what you are dealing with right now. This is a major change and challenge for you.
Take time to relax, let your body heal, deal with the immediate issues. When you have some time perhaps explore some other interest that has taken a backseat and is adaptable to your current situation.
Model kits don’t go bad like food in the fridge. They will still be there when the urge strikes. When it does maybe start something new out of the box to get it done quickly or complete something that is just around the bend from the finish line. Get the satisfaction of a quick completion to anchor your interest.
Pretty much every modeller I have ever talked to has been through this at least once, usually more than once. Almost all have come back to the hobby with greater interest, just look at the new people joining the forum after years, even decades away.
Don’t worry about the small (scale) stuff, relax, pull up a lazy-boy and take care of yourself first.
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Unfortunately there is more often than not, much you can really do to “fix a loss of motivation” easily. This is where it helps to have more than one hobby, so that you can have something else you can work on while you get your mojo back. Plus it helps when you are waiting on paint to dry.
To be honest, I just stop building for a while. If I don’t feel motivated, I just take a break and do other stuff in my life. It’s super weird, but after a certain period of I almost always get my building drive back one way or another. Sometimes I just am browsing YouTube and see a cool video and I get a neat idea for a project.
So yeah, in short, take a break, breath, and live your life. One day when you least expect it, creativity will strike.
I have the opposite problem, kind of. I’m motivated as heck, but after a long winter, my golf season has finally arrived. As well, I still have outstanding seasonal transition chores to do.
Same time last year, I neglected golf practice, during the month of May, to work on models. My golf game suffered as a result. I’m not making the same mistake this year. That’s not to say the models are on the back burner for months. To the contrary. For me, it’s all about time management and what makes sense to work on what and when. The chores will get done too. Just maybe not as soon as originally planned.
@gomeral Get well soon.
Cheers,
Mark
No point in looking for modelling inspiration if your body doesn’t let you. Get yourself fixed up, that’s what matters most, and maybe do some back to basics modelling while on the bed, you know, brushes, water acrylics and a small 72nd fighter.
Sorry to hear about your health issues.
When I lose motivation I put away any partially built models, and thuroughly clean off my workbench. I organize my tools, and all my supplies and raw materials. I basically refresh my whole workspace.
When I do this I always manage to find tools I haven’t used, detail up parts I didn’t know I had, or decals that would look great on a kit in the stash.
Doing this reorganization and cleanup alone might be enough to get me going again. If that doesn’t work, the next thing I do is watch some of the TV shows or movies that inspired me to buy a kit to build in the first place.
And if that doesn’t work I’ll watch how to model building videos, and videos of builds other people have done in the hopes that one of those videos will cause me to want to try a new technique.
Finally, if none of that works, I’ll grab a bunch of plastic spoons and try out some of the paints that I have. Test new techniques. Try new color combos. Play with metal flakes, pearls, layering, and all that. I build the super easy kit, and then spray the new color combo on it. This gets me at the bench and producing something. I get a kit done and a great paint job done.
This is a lot of info, but one of these things always gets me going again.
Pain is a strong demotivator. I’m not sure that anything we say can work around that. As others have said, heal up your body. Modeling will still be hear when you are better.
Sorry to hear about your health issues. Hopefully that will all be resolved sooner than later.
I have been through many ‘modeling slumps’ and here’s some of the things I’ve done to try to shake up my motivation. they don’t always work, thus the variety.
- Research and design, on paper, dioramas that you’d like to build.(cause I primarily build dioramas) Search out kits and supplies etc.
- Try building a simple kit outside of your area of interest. If you build cars, try building an aircraft or small armored vehicle.
- Movies & documentaries
- Internet model galleries, Reddit, Pinterest etc.
- Museums & related venues that are of interest to your modeling
If all else fails, or to coincide with the above, get outside. Hike in parks / walk trails. Clear your mind of all the stuff that is bothering you and reminisce about how modeling used to clear away every day stress.
Any way, good luck with your endeavors & hope to see some of your builds here in the future.
Cheers,
C.
Hi @gomeral,
I can sympathize with the challenge you’ve shared. It’s hard to enjoy doing something when it creates constant discomfort.
I too work at a high bench, use a stool, tend to tuck my feet on the stool’s foot rest, and I’ve been dealing with knee issues for a long time. My knee issues are injury and not age related. My problems are with both of them. I experience the constant ache of the bent knee, the “joy” of trying to straighten out my legs after sitting on the stool for a while. And the added fun of trying to bend them again. There are of course good times and bad ones. Though thankfully, I have almost no issues with turning. One of the things I found helped was placing a foot rest in front of the stool. Something high enough that I can rest my feet on it without stressing my knees. In this instance one of those large Rubbermaid tubs. It tended to slide away from me so I tucked a few things behind it to keep it from moving. That took care of the majority of discomfort for me.
It was an easy solution for me that eased the discomfort enough that I was able to greatly increase my bench time. Good luck!
Silentbob, sorry to hear about your health issues. Pray that a donor comes up soon for you.
As for motivation, i was in a slump myself for quite awhile. What broke it for me was variety. I was a heavy WWII builder, tanks and planes. Then i moved into Sci-fi, mostly Star Wars. Then i got into gundams, then went into 3d printing and now i am working with cars and trucks. When i feel a slump coming on i will move to something else.
As a long term disability sufferer with neck issues I’d just like to say that the most important thing is to try and get yourself healed. If the doctors says go walk. Do it!
I’ve gotten so many shots and surgery that my issues just become background noise of pain. When it’s louder, I alter my days plans.
When it’s quiet, I try to do things that I can.
For me, a simple quick turn of my neck, a pothole in the street, watching TV. All have their effects.
So, my advice is not to get so down, try to look for the brighter side of situations, and also keep working on your health.
And lastly I’d say that you need to speak with your doctor about your feelings. Depression is a quiet killer and it doesn’t take much to lose sight of the things that make us happy.
Silent bob, I am also so sorry to hear about your health issues and I wish you nothing but the best and I’ll keep you in my thoughts & prayers. To regain my “Modeling Mojo” I employ a number of strategies. Try watching modeling videos on You Tube or listen to modeling podcasts. Try a kit from a genre that either you normally don’t work in or one that you know very little about. I find that going down the "Reference Rabbit Hole"helps to get my mind off of things and to spark an interest in a topic or subject. If it’s possible go to a local model show/contest. Seeing all of the models on the tables might inspire or motivate you to get back at the bench. Good Luck my friend.
I wanted to thank everyone that replied and commented and update y’all. PT progresses, but earlier this week I finally got a steroid injection into my knee (owww) and the swelling is waaay down. I can actually bend this thing now! We’ll see how the month looks with Mother’s Day coming up and my wedding anniversary next weekend, but I am feeling like I can finally sit down and start working again!
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That’s great news and happy upcoming anniversary!
So exciting! Congratulations on both the knee and the anniversary! I’m sure we can all agree that we look forward to seeing you work! 
Happy Anniversary gomeral and I’m glad that the steroid injection helped and gave you some relief. Good Luck with the rest of your rehab.