INERTIA

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anyone ever feel like they can't get anything done?

Yes. It's very hard for me to get started and then I get overwhelmed almost immediately. I have infrequent surges of energy and focus and try to get things done in little spurts.
I need to nap every day even if I work only a few hours.

Listlessness is possibly my worst problem.

Yea, I get like that a lot. I think that it's likely depression that causes the problem. I often need to kick myself in the behind in order to get moving and get things done.

Totally, and it is something that seems to be getting worse rather than better with age. It has gotten a slightly better now that I have some depression treatment happening, but it's not as much as I'd hoped.

This morning I realized that if I want to take a shower I have to do it first thing when I wake up. Otherwise, I get into my normal routine and end up stuck in that groove for the rest of the day.

Not sure if it's related, but sometimes I get 'stuck' in my computer chair, where even moving my hand off my lap to grab the mouse takes a big mental push. Ugh.

I know what you mean. I've noticed this laziness as a result of overstimulation.

i am inert

even when I am up and trying to be motivated and "do" stuff I am inert

I get very angry at myself for this "condition". If something gets me stuck, I feel like I have to wait until the next day in order to start over (like I have to wait to reset the counter and have a do-over on my schedule). i don't even enjoy the downtime. I wish I would have a more relaxed attitude when this happens and just ride it out. But no, I sit there, paralyzed, somewhat catatonic, wondering what in the world in wrong with me and how do I get stuck like this. I get so wound up that I'll have a complete meltdown and then later, become mortified if anyone witnessed this or had to interact with me because I know how ridiculous it appears. But it's painful, both emotionally and physically.

Anyway, thanks for thread.

sounds like me, the only time i get up to do anything is to watch tv or get on the computer. i never go out.

Oh I get this too! A million things to do and can't make myself do any of them, "Oh well tomorrow will be different"

Sometimes I get up in some kind of crazy hyper must get things done mood, but its rare.

Often wish I could order motivation from Amazon....

Yes I have this problem as well, so many things that have to be done it becomes overwhelming.
Once I get rolling I’m OK and can get things done but once I stop I need a kick start all over.
I tend to over organise things to the point sometimes where the systems I create are more
work than the tasks themselves.What I found helps is to break the tasks down into small stages
and keep focussed on that.

Me too. Sometimes I get lucky, and my obsessive need to organize works in my favor, but usually, I just make things more complicated because I can't stop categorizing and sub-categorizing. And then I become aware of other ways to organize and then I get stuck on which way I should do it because how do I chose one if it doesn't matter because it must matter, right? I re-invent the wheel every day in every aspect of my life. I'm focusing on creating routine with all the mundane daily tasks, so I can have structure when I get off course. Often, it's like I'm observing this behavior as an outsider and I don't understand why I get so stuck. I have great ideas, I'm very logical and methodical as well as technically savvy and whimsically creative. I put so much effort into everything I do, even when I'm stuck. It's like I'm exerting the maximum amount of pressure and energy but I appear to be inert. This is a running theme in my life. I have chronic sleep paralysis which causes the same sensation- maximum effort and exertion of energy but unable to move.

I guess that's my long way of saying, "I can totally relate." It's a big help to read these posts and I'm greatly for the interaction.

I think it’s funny that although I put a tremendous amount of energy into organising I’m still quite disorganised. The quest for the ultimate protocol and system to do everyday tasks is a never ending obsession. And then deciding on which system to use is another cause for more obsessions before getting stuck. It has to be just right and fit into place in sequence otherwise it will just never work. I too feel exhausted just keeping to my systems before I have really done anything. If I can keep obsessed with focusing on one individual step at a time I can get things done. I can’t say it’s really inertia for the want of effort because I put plenty of effort into getting nowhere.

If you ever do find that ultimate organisational tool share it with me please.

I have this really bad. I can't motivate myself to do anything and even if I try to start doing something, I just get overwhelmed. If I can get started though, inertia works the other way for me too, I can stay super focused for hours and hours, so that I have to remind myself to eat or go to the bathroom. This worked well in college actually since I could normally wait for the bursts and get a ton done. At work it is not a good thing at all, since I am supposed to be working at certain hours and the bursts do not cooperate. In college I could work 24 hours straight and then take some time off, but at work I am supposed to work every day in two 4 hours slots (sometimes its more broken up if I have to go to a meeting). A lot of times, I really get going and the work day is over. I think sometimes about asking for some sort of alternative schedule, but I'm not sure exactly what would work.

If I really have to get going, sometimes doing one very simple task will get me started. There are days though where nothing works and it really is a waste of time for me to even show up. It bugs me that I can't seem to figure this out, because I know I have the ability to be far more productive, and it stands in the way of me being more successful. I worry frequently that it might even get me fired, but I really hope that I am doing enough that it won't come to that.

I put things off literally for years. I mean if I have to make a complaint to somebody and I wait long enough, they may die, and I won't have to. This has happened to me several times.