4 Things To Do When You Don’t Want To Do Anything

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Every now and then I’ll have a day when I’m completely apathetic about everything. The idea of being productive makes my brain hurt. These little funks can be extremely frustrating, especially when I have tons to do. For example, last Monday I was up at school trying to get stuff done, when a sudden wave of “don’t-want-to-do-anything-itis” hit hard. This state of mind came at a really inconvenient time, seeing that I had a law review article draft to finish as well as some outlining to do. Consequently, I became frustrated and even more apathetic about wanting to do anything.

Have you ever had one of these days? Here are 4 things you can do that will help get you back on track when you don’t want to do anything.

1. Take a walk outside. By taking a walk outside, you can clear your head of all the frustration and angst you might be feeling. It gives you time to think and to work off some of that apathy that has consumed your soul. I also think being outside in the fresh air and sun resyncs’s your body and mind to a more natural state. Being cooped up in a building with florescent lighting probably isn’t conducive to apathy free living.
2. Journal. Writing about why you’re not in the mood to do anything is a great way to work through apathy. Just bust out a notebook and start writing about how you don’t want to do anything and why you feel that way. Don’t think about it too hard. Just free write. After about 10 minutes, you’ll see the source of your “don’t-want-to-do-anything-itis” and you’ll feel much better. Maybe those teenage emo kids are on to something…
3. Review your goals. When apathy strikes, take some time review your goals. This will help motivate you to get started again.
4. Do less demanding tasks. Instead of trying to use brute force to get an important task done when you’re not in the mood to work, try easing yourself into work mode by doing less demanding tasks first. For example, you could organize your desk, schedule your week, or respond to emails. By doing less demanding tasks first, you benefit in two ways: 1) it will help ease you into the working state of mind and 2) you’ll at least get some stuff done.

What do you all do when apathy strikes? Drop a line in the comment box and let us know!

Image from Amel Hanan.

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18 Comments

1. Lise on 10.10.2007 at 09:24 (Reply)

   I suffer from this a lot. I’ve analyzed it to death–it doesn’t seem to have to do with depression; I just feel lazy a lot. I’ve realized that in part it has to do with the amount I have to/want get done–when I have a lot to do, I just get overwhelmed and don’t even know where to start. So I don’t!

   What helps me in these situations is to just tell myself I’m going to take one small step. Just write the next paragraph. Hell, just write the next word. Often times I also use your tip #4–if the dishes need doing and I need to do homework, and I’m having trouble starting on the homework, I’ll do the dishes. It’s less pressing, but it gets my mind moving in the right direction.

2. Christine on 10.10.2007 at 13:47 (Reply)

   Drink. Which is neither productive nor financially responsible.

   1. Brett McKay on 10.10.2007 at 20:23 (Reply)

      Oh man, that’s funny!

3. Ericka on 10.10.2007 at 14:32 (Reply)

   This just happened to me this week. I think it’s the mid-semester blues. I just start repeating the countdown in my head and all the great things waiting for me when I’m done. 14 months to go, 14 months to go. That or I’ll call my mother, she can always put it in perspective for me.

   1. Brett McKay on 10.10.2007 at 17:16 (Reply)

      I think you might be on to something about the mid-semester blues. I just finished up job interviews for next summer and it required more energy than I thought it would. I just think I was burnt out.

4. Katie (Mrs. FLS) on 10.10.2007 at 17:48 (Reply)

   I think there really is something to the mid-semester blues. I’ve been feeling the apathy of late too. The enthusiasm of a new year has faded, and Christmas break seems forever away. It comes right before the point of “its all downhill from here.”

5. » linklings, October 11, 2007 brip blap: learning how to manage life, family, career, personal finance, productivity, self-improvement and health on 11.10.2007 at 03:31

   […] 4 Things To Do When You Don’t Want To Do Anything: We all have times when we feel like doing nothing. We’re not sad, or tired, or much of anything, but we just don’t feel like doing anything. This is a good list of ways you can keep on doing nothing, more or less, but actually do something. It’s not as confusing as it sounds. (@ The Frugal Law Student) […]

6. Amel Hanan on 11.10.2007 at 04:29 (Reply)

   Yep, gone through the same experience. There are times that I become so lazy that I decide to play ‘dead’ for a week - I skip some classes, refuse to answer calls and sleep for the entire day. Unfortunately, the long sleep usually makes me feel depressed.I’m gonna take walks outside next time, and try to do less demanding tasks. Writing journals? My journals are disturbing when I write them in frustration. Better skip that one too.

   I see you put my picture on your blog. I am so apathetic right now that I don’t know whether to feel flattered, uncomfortable or awed. Oh well.

   1. Brett McKay on 11.10.2007 at 22:21 (Reply)

      Amel-
      I hope you don’t mind. I saw it on Flickr and thought it caught exactly the way I feel when I don’t want to do anything. So you’re a fellow law student as well? How’s that going?

      1. Amel Hanan on 12.10.2007 at 20:29 (Reply)

         Guess I don’t mind. I was actually surprised to see my pic in here actually. Yes, I’m a fellow law student in my final year right now and for 3 years I find that depression, laziness and madness comes along neatly with the law course package I’m taking

         Hey, this is a great site! I think I’ll hang out here often from now on. It beats the tension of reading all that stuff about mareva injunctions, bankruptcy, res judicata, habeas corpus, etc. Ooh… major headache.

7. Jeff on 12.10.2007 at 21:57 (Reply)

   I usually do two things:

   1) Eat something. Getting a snack usually provides enough energy to at least get something done. Careful though, if you eat too much, you may feel lazier than before.

   2) Read something entertaining. Since most of a law student’s work is reading, read something that doesn’t seem like such a chore. I usually check in on my sports teams, check in with some friends, or read a blog or two.

8. Bob on 14.10.2007 at 02:24 (Reply)

   Wow, this is amazing…It’s 4a.m. and I can’t get to sleep…I was (and have been) feeling the exact same way you guys have been describing, so I googled “law students thoughts/feelings/journals” and a few different combos of that and it brought me here hahaha I can’t explain it, but it is ALWAYS like this around mid term…I am in my final semester as well, and I should be excited…I have my gig all set up for when I go back home, and have NOTHING to be depressed about…I lost 50 lbs since January, interviewed and got a sweet externship at a great firm back home, and got a great place of my own…It’s hard to explain, I just don’t want to do ANYTHING…Like someone else said, I ignore calls, I will skip class for NO REASON, I won’t go to the gym, I play X-box 360 or watch reruns of the Office, Seinfeld, or Everybody Loves Raymond, and do NOTHING. I think perhaps this term (being my last) is so bad because I was the moving party for my pre trial skills class which means my brief was due the same week at my advanced writing brief…So most people do it opposite thus giving substantial time between briefs…Only benefit for me is no I have no big hurdles between now and graduation except for appearing in court for a pre-trial motion argument, and my actual trial skills class (2 separate classes) - Sorry I am rambling, but I think this is therapeutic LOL like you said journal or go for a walk I think are both excellent suggestions…All 4 were great suggestions; I will say I think the fact that we ALL get this way says something…there must be more to it, because people from each year feel this way, so there must be something to this…Good Luck to all of you, and thanks for this great site…

   1. Amel Hanan on 14.10.2007 at 09:56 (Reply)

      Bob, I feel comfortable after reading your ramblings. You sound like someone I can have an expresso duel with at Starbucks. Yes, trial skills classes are horrifying when you feel you have to catch up with the time between briefs. It’s in the middle of the morning where I am now, and I still can’t sleep. Thank God there’s the Playstation 2.

      I agree, there must be something to this madness. Graduation day seems so sweet as well as bitter in our grasp. Sigh.

9. Marsha on 14.10.2007 at 09:58 (Reply)

   I totally agree with the “take a walk” idea! This helped me in law school. Not only did the exercise do me good (even if I was just going at a slow stroll), but I think getting some sunshine was also a key benefit.

   Sometimes (but not always) I would listen to something like the “Sum & Substance” audios, so I didn’t feel like I was totally running away from work.

   I understand Jeff’s suggesting to read something entertaining, but that didn’t work for me. There is so much reading in law school, I didn’t want to read anything in my free time.

   Cleaning and organizing were also good things to do in these funky times. If you can catch up on a little sleep, that’s good, too. Hang in there!

10. Bob on 14.10.2007 at 10:09 (Reply)

    Haha you said it…Graduation will be bitter sweet…Leaving my new friends and my routine I am so used to…No more sleeping in…Much will change…But it has to happen ya know? I adjusted well coming from undergrad to here and I knew nobody and nothing, so going back home should be an easier adjustment - I hope anyway LOL…And Coffee is another law student common thing…My aunt and uncle have always been hooked and I thought they were just being dramatic with “We need our coffee” but I can tell you the addiction is quite real and headaches often come if you don’t get that cup lol

    1. Brett McKay on 15.10.2007 at 06:45 (Reply)

       Bob-
       I hear you, man. I just want to play NCAA Football all day on my xbox instead of going to class. I’m starting to get pumped up again for school. Hopefully, I can maintain the enthusiasm.

11. Decidedly Unprestigous | Anonymity on 25.10.2007 at 19:58

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