Feeling uninterested and uninspired

[ChuckRamone]

Is this part of getting old? Nothing is that interesting to me like books or movies or other art. I also feel uninspired. I still skate, exercise, play guitar, and whatnot, but there's just not much passion there.

Has anyone else experienced this? Is there a way to fix it?

[MuggsyU]

Is this part of getting old? Nothing is that interesting to me like books or movies or other art. I also feel uninspired. I still skate, exercise, play guitar, and whatnot, but there's just not much passion there.

Has anyone else experienced this? Is there a way to fix it?

2025 was a rough year overall for me (the year started off with my family being stuck in a blizzard in Kansas City and then I flew home to the fires, then Trump got sworn in a few weeks later, so that should’ve been a sign how awful this year was going to be). I think the stress of everything that has happen this year did put me in a funk, so I understand how you’re feeling. I actually feel really inspired to go skate as much as I can, but I’ve only read a few books this year, rarely tried to make any music, and according to my Letterboxd only watched 87 movies (quite a few are skate videos I logged) this year, so I guess I feel uninspired and just plain tired to do most things. I don’t blame it on getting older I just blame this awful year.

[GardenSkater77]

In short, yes.

We were having this same conversation in the old guys post up thread.

Watch this video if you have a second. It may make you feel better about your current feelings. Also, I would caution you against reflecting on the past year. It’s unnecessary and puts too much pressure on you to account for what you didn’t accomplish.

[Shapelessness]

Is this part of getting old? Nothing is that interesting to me like books or movies or other art. I also feel uninspired. I still skate, exercise, play guitar, and whatnot, but there's just not much passion there.

Has anyone else experienced this? Is there a way to fix it?

I have my bouts with this from time to time. probably several different types of steps to take to get back on the greener side. if you can and its not too cold where you are, try going off the grid around some beautiful views. Trees seem to help.
There is also something called Gratitude Breathing. helps me sometimes.
I heard about it on some podcast.
https://www.lukecoutinho.com/blogs/emotional-wellness/gratitude-mindful-breathing/

[ferguu]

I don't think it's part of getting old cuz I've felt it too. . It's more like the result of a stagnant life that enables all-encompassing self reflection. Like experiencing nothing new allows us to understand, or think we understand, everything about our life, thus we lose our curiousity and passion to go further.

Or y'all ever heard of SAD? Seasonal Affective Disorder? I really believe in that. Yeah winter makes people sad cuz they don't wanna leave their house and everythings depressing.

Ya'll remember that South Park episode where Stan thinks everything is shit?

The solution I've found is that you may or may not be talking to your head too much. Try to listen to your heart and do as you feel, not as you think you feel.

So often I'm thinkin, do I really wanna go skate / see my friends / play video games / make music? And in my head I can think of a million excuses why it would probably be boring and suck and I probably wouldn't achieve anything anyway.

Nowadays I just go ahead and do it anyway because I know that my heart loves these things. And hey, I'm having fun! This is cool! And suddenly I've made a sick track and learnt a new trick and so on... Just keep pushing and there's something you don't know yet.

Not saying it's a fix all solution, but give it a shot. The chemicals in your body that affect your mood in any current moment very easily dissipate and can be replaced. And the things that have produced happy chemicals for you in the past will continue to do as they have always done.

The problem with unhappy chemicals is they feel so permanent but in truth all emotion is incredibly fleeting.

Maybe I'm giving advice that only applies to me? Fuck it, pooossstttt.

[Tear Up a Trick]

Couldn't this thread be called "Hey, what's cool?"

[JM]

In short, yes.

We were having this same conversation in the old guys post up thread.

Watch this video if you have a second. It may make you feel better about your current feelings. Also, I would caution you against reflecting on the past year. It’s unnecessary and puts too much pressure on you to account for what you didn’t accomplish.

That was great.

So, @ChuckRamone that video’s message that the not feeling joy is a sign that things are changing, is a good one, and that being still and quiet instead of trying to force feed something to make you feel joyful is a really good message.

What I did (maybe it’ll work for you) is to try skating things that are “stupid”. Try to do things that are completely new.

It’s an accident, but I think also working full time and having family life makes skating a once or twice a week thing that I can’t take for granted. That made it more precious and easier to not take as seriously.

As for getting old, yeah… it may just be that several decades of life leads to having done many, many things, so there isn’t as much novelty.  But there is novelty out there still.

And after trying some new things, you may find the break from the things you did like doing, have regained a new sense of novelty and excitement.

But such are just the ramblings of an old man, himself. Good luck to you

[steve]

Dimethyltryptamine

Lysergic Acid Diethylamide 

Psilocybin

But really, it sounds like that feeling of not being able to get out of your own way thats also known as depression

Exercise, outdoors, meditation, and therapy might help

[Skibb]

I don't think it's part of getting old cuz I've felt it too. . It's more like the result of a stagnant life that enables all-encompassing self reflection. Like experiencing nothing new allows us to understand, or think we understand, everything about our life, thus we lose our curiousity and passion to go further.

Or y'all ever heard of SAD? Seasonal Affective Disorder? I really believe in that. Yeah winter makes people sad cuz they don't wanna leave their house and everythings depressing.

Ya'll remember that South Park episode where Stan thinks everything is shit?

The solution I've found is that you may or may not be talking to your head too much. Try to listen to your heart and do as you feel, not as you think you feel.

So often I'm thinkin, do I really wanna go skate / see my friends / play video games / make music? And in my head I can think of a million excuses why it would probably be boring and suck and I probably wouldn't achieve anything anyway.

Nowadays I just go ahead and do it anyway because I know that my heart loves these things. And hey, I'm having fun! This is cool! And suddenly I've made a sick track and learnt a new trick and so on... Just keep pushing and there's something you don't know yet.

Not saying it's a fix all solution, but give it a shot. The chemicals in your body that affect your mood in any current moment very easily dissipate and can be replaced. And the things that have produced happy chemicals for you in the past will continue to do as they have always done.

The problem with unhappy chemicals is they feel so permanent but in truth all emotion is incredibly fleeting.

Maybe I'm giving advice that only applies to me? Fuck it, pooossstttt.

Nah dog, I think you nailed it. Relate to all of that super hard.

[Jamie Fortuneteller]

Skate faster! Depression can be from low T so maybe build some muscle. Bodybuilders get mad but never sad. Beibel might piss you off but he's always in a good mood

[Sedition]

I don't think it's part of getting old cuz I've felt it too. . It's more like the result of a stagnant life that enables all-encompassing self reflection. Like experiencing nothing new allows us to understand, or think we understand, everything about our life, thus we lose our curiousity and passion to go further.

Or y'all ever heard of SAD? Seasonal Affective Disorder? I really believe in that. Yeah winter makes people sad cuz they don't wanna leave their house and everythings depressing.

Ya'll remember that South Park episode where Stan thinks everything is shit?

The solution I've found is that you may or may not be talking to your head too much. Try to listen to your heart and do as you feel, not as you think you feel.

So often I'm thinkin, do I really wanna go skate / see my friends / play video games / make music? And in my head I can think of a million excuses why it would probably be boring and suck and I probably wouldn't achieve anything anyway.

Nowadays I just go ahead and do it anyway because I know that my heart loves these things. And hey, I'm having fun! This is cool! And suddenly I've made a sick track and learnt a new trick and so on... Just keep pushing and there's something you don't know yet.

Not saying it's a fix all solution, but give it a shot. The chemicals in your body that affect your mood in any current moment very easily dissipate and can be replaced. And the things that have produced happy chemicals for you in the past will continue to do as they have always done.

The problem with unhappy chemicals is they feel so permanent but in truth all emotion is incredibly fleeting.

Maybe I'm giving advice that only applies to me? Fuck it, pooossstttt.

•APPLAUSE•

[GnarAlarm]

Yes and no, I kind of get this.

I skate 3 days a week and almost every single time I have to force myself to go. Don't get me wrong, I love skating more than anything, but it's so, so, so much easier and more relaxing to sit on my ass reading, playing video games, listening to records, or just binging YouTube.

Thing is, I never regret going skating once I'm there.

Same thing happens with basically anything that requires me to leave the house, even going out to see friends, I'm like "please please cancel please cancel" but once I'm out with my buddies I'm so glad it didn't get cancelled and I dragged my ass out of the house.

[Chalupa]

You have to change your routine. Watch skate parts and listen to music that you aren’t familiar with to get inspired. Learn new songs and new tricks. Change your exercise routine. When you play the same music and do the same tricks over and over, it will get boring at some point. Don’t compare yourself to others.

Take a couple days off work, if possible, to go hiking and camping. Consume certain substances mentioned previously, if desired, but spend your time meditating in the woods whenever you’re not doing something. It’s a good reset we all need from time to time.

[ChuckRamone]

Thanks for the replies everyone. I wasn't ignoring the thread; I just needed some time to think about what to say. There's a lot of good advice and philosophy in here, which I really appreciate. What's weird is I just happened to have watched that Alan Watts YouTube video a little before posting this (the algorithm knows what's going on in my life, which is kind of annoying). His thoughts remind me a little of Buddhism, which I happen to be into lately.

I think what I'm experiencing comes from being middle aged and somewhat jaded. I've seen a lot in my life and nothing really surprises me. But I also think I was in somewhat of a funk when I posted this. Like I'll browse the Netflix selections for a while and see nothing that really interests me, even though there are a lot of classic films and new shows, and it reminds me of other aspects of my life where I'm just like meh. I still do get excited about some things though, like trying to get better at Street Fighter, which sounds ridiculous, but there's constant room for improvement in that game, which is what keeps me coming back. I also try to keep up physical activity as much as possible, which helps a lot with the gray blanket of weather during Seattle winters. I must have some degree of SAD, because on sunny days like today, I feel totally different and more optimistic.

Anyway, gnars for everyone who wasn't trolling. Keep pushing bros.

[botefdunn]

I went through something similar, it led to me going pretty crazy, making some pretty rash decisions, and choosing to leave behind big parts of my life. It worked, and I have dreams and feel things again, also emotional stability. Takeaway for me is that you can't let things get too stale, or sink into a feeling of entitlement about your life, happiness takes work that is never over.

[JM]

Whoah, yeah! Don’t underestimate SAD. it’s definitely a thing.

Are those sun lamps useful? I heard about them years ago…

[in love w/ fs shuvs]

same

life hits different > 25 + a bad injury

I’ll skip the Alan Watts though

[in love w/ fs shuvs]

Dimethyltryptamine

Lysergic Acid Diethylamide 

Psilocybin

But really, it sounds like that feeling of not being able to get out of your own way thats also known as depression

Exercise, outdoors, meditation, and therapy might help

been thinking about the first one, but I’m lowkey scared of getting one shotted by it ngl.

[him him]

Expand Quote

Dimethyltryptamine

Lysergic Acid Diethylamide 

Psilocybin

But really, it sounds like that feeling of not being able to get out of your own way thats also known as depression

Exercise, outdoors, meditation, and therapy might help

[close]

been thinking about the first one, but I’m lowkey scared of getting one shotted by it ngl.

DMT is just temporary psychosis, Ive done both, I dont really see it helping op it's kinda stupid really. I injected it twice) not extracted from the plant you can die like that) and I've shot coke,heroin, meth etc but DMT gives you a bellringer quicker and harder than anything else that exist, the ear ringing is intense I thought I died for a sec. Eh

If you want drugs to help with inspiration and motivation pick up a kratom habit, cheap and will get you moving.

But I found as I get older I'm completely chill with just hanging at the house and not doing shit, I actively enjoy not doing shit its the best. But at the same time I was living at 200mph in my 20s and had enough fun, creativity, projects completed and partying for multiple lifetimes. I'm good without it now. I'm basically retired.

[him him]

I had a creative spurt in my 20s off the drugs that I'm completely satisfied with is what I'm saying basically

And almost died a couple times that shit will make you chill

[theloniousmonk]

Yes and no, I kind of get this.

I skate 3 days a week and almost every single time I have to force myself to go. Don't get me wrong, I love skating more than anything, but it's so, so, so much easier and more relaxing to sit on my ass reading, playing video games, listening to records, or just binging YouTube.

Thing is, I never regret going skating once I'm there.

Same thing happens with basically anything that requires me to leave the house, even going out to see friends, I'm like "please please cancel please cancel" but once I'm out with my buddies I'm so glad it didn't get cancelled and I dragged my ass out of the house.

This feeling of resistance is something that Steven pressfiemd wrote about in his book the war of art, it’s a good read/audiobook for anyone. But I think as skaters it’s normal for us to know how hard it is to get out but how great it is once we are out

[noxiousPond]

Yes and no, I kind of get this.

I skate 3 days a week and almost every single time I have to force myself to go. Don't get me wrong, I love skating more than anything, but it's so, so, so much easier and more relaxing to sit on my ass reading, playing video games, listening to records, or just binging YouTube.

Thing is, I never regret going skating once I'm there.

Same thing happens with basically anything that requires me to leave the house, even going out to see friends, I'm like "please please cancel please cancel" but once I'm out with my buddies I'm so glad it didn't get cancelled and I dragged my ass out of the house.

This is also me. Every time I go skating I’m somewhat forcing myself to do it. I technically never wanna skate (unless it’s been awhile like currently with the winter)

But like you said every time (almost every time) I do it I’m glad I did. I’m like this with nearly everything now. I just attribute it to getting older. The older you are the less likely something is new to you because you’ve been there done that.

I dont know how this would work for you but lately I’ve been wanting to find a new hobby and what I got into recently has already helped me go skating. I bought a hobby RC car and took it to the skatepark today. Had a fun time and guess what? After the battery died I got my board and skated the park for a bit. I was hoping RC’ing at a skatepark would get me to skate more because I’ve been slacking a bit. Perhaps if there’s something you e been slacking on but don’t want to stop doing then find a hobby that’s similar to re-spark your original interest.

And yes I am fully aware most skaters dont like people bashing RC’s at the skatepark. I would never use it if the park is crowded and I let the one guy there know I won’t be in his way.

[steve]

Expand Quote

Dimethyltryptamine

Lysergic Acid Diethylamide 

Psilocybin

But really, it sounds like that feeling of not being able to get out of your own way thats also known as depression

Exercise, outdoors, meditation, and therapy might help

[close]

been thinking about the first one, but I’m lowkey scared of getting one shotted by it ngl.

If you have ever tripped on the other things, it aint no thang. There and back. Ime, unlike the others, the profundity comes afterwards. Sure, the experience is something while happening, but the you/I isn’t happening, so you’re not recognizing it. Maybe the best part is coming home with a clear heart/mind/soul

[j....soy.....]

Chuck you should hit up Rawb on street fighter tips….with skating now I’m still pretty good at always going and always having at least an OK time. I often don’t feel like trying too hard because I’m not crazy about slamming or coming up empty handed.  This isn’t the best train of thought but I try to make peace with it, take it in and enjoy what I have and can still do.  That said, if I don’t skate it’s easier to not do it and give it time.

  There are rainy days that I’d religiously go skate parking garages or drive around the city looking at spots or a little bit of dryness… on those days I try to go to the gym or I enjoy just hanging out at home or checking stuff out in the city…. It sort of reminds me of a time when I had more interests than just skating, but somehow I have a lesser positive slant to it.  So no…I’d say you’re not alone in this. 

[in love w/ fs shuvs]

last time I went skating cause I forced myself to, I broke my shit

[AnimalChinaski79]

last time I went skating cause I forced myself to, I broke my shit

there's that fine line between cutting a session short because you're not feeling it that day, or trying to push through it and see what you come up with.  I mentally get down on myself if I end a session early.  I might now slam that day but I beat myself up in my head so either way it kind of sucks, ha.

[Sila]

Is this part of getting old? Nothing is that interesting to me like books or movies or other art. I also feel uninspired. I still skate, exercise, play guitar, and whatnot, but there's just not much passion there.

Has anyone else experienced this? Is there a way to fix it?

This is exactly how I am with a lot of things. They are also hallmark symptoms of depression of which I'm treated for and these feelings were slightly alleviated when I found some medication that worked.

The only solution imo is to just shake things up a bit. Take a trip somewhere new, hang out with different people etc. Obviously this can be difficult without the drive or motivation.
I also think these lulls in life are natural. Maybe you're just comfortable in life and things have become a bit routine?

[LUGR]

Get checked for Vitamin D deficiency.

I was surprised I was low. I raised my levels over 6 months through supplements and noticed some improvements in mood and energy.