Apathy
Growing up I was told that “television will rot your brain”. Wasting time consuming mindless entertainment was frowned upon by the previous generation. Thankfully, there was a limited supply of “good” entertainment and we were forced to play outside or interact with real people. But then there were also video games. Also in limited supply, but not as limited by the amount of time you could waste avoiding others. You could spend hours just playing one level of a game, much less an entire game.
Things have obviously changed with the advent of streaming services and online gaming. You could binge watch your favorite show in a single weekend, all while avoiding any responsibilities of life or social character. Social media is an endless source of content to consume for an endless number of creators. So much so, we have the term “doomscroll” to describe how much time you can waste. We all need time to get away, and for those of us who are more anti-social, we need time away from other people. Media in its various forms can create that escape and help keep us sane in an ever insane world.
Each generation has its issues, but recently, apathy has become an increasing source of frustration. It is a legitimate mental health issue, but the growing population that uses this as a crutch is beyond infuriating. Apathy is one of the biggest hindrances to success. It can manifest in many different ways, from lack of motivation to indifference towards important issues. I want to explore the topic of apathy and its impact on individuals and society as a whole. I will also provide some tips on how to overcome apathy and stay motivated towards achieving your goals.
When we are apathetic, we don't care about the things that should matter to us. We don't feel motivated to take action, and we might even feel numb to the world around us. This state of mind can be caused by a variety of factors, such as burnout, depression, or simply feeling overwhelmed by the challenges we face. This can also be self-induced from not seeing success where others do (or appear to) and avoiding challenges altogether.
When we are apathetic, we are less likely to take action towards achieving our goals. We might miss out on opportunities or fail to complete important tasks. In the long run, apathy can lead to feelings of regret and dissatisfaction with our lives. Apathy can also have a negative impact on society as a whole. If we don't care about the issues that affect our communities and the world, we are less likely to take action to address them.
The first step is to identify the root cause of our apathy. Are we burnt out from working too hard? Do we feel overwhelmed by the challenges we face? Or are we simply feeling unmotivated for no apparent reason? Are we simply avoiding responsibility because “it feels tough”? Once we understand why we are apathetic, we can take steps to address the underlying issue.
One way to overcome apathy is to set small, achievable goals. When we feel overwhelmed by a big task or goal, it's easy to become apathetic and give up before we even start. By breaking down our goals into smaller, more manageable tasks, we can build momentum and stay motivated. We can also celebrate our successes along the way, which can help us stay positive and motivated. Many of us learned these techniques from playing video games, and the term we use is gamification. These techniques are now commonplace in education and the business world.
Another way to overcome apathy is to surround ourselves with positive, supportive people. When we are surrounded by people who are passionate and motivated, it can be contagious. We can feed off of their energy and enthusiasm, which can help us stay motivated towards achieving our own goals. Just like having a workout partner at the gym will help to keep you motivated, having positive people around you will help to keep you accountable for your actions and keep you showing up each day. Even when you don’t feel like it. To a small extent, finding motivational people on social media can also help. I know I have spoken out against social media, but it does have its merits when used appropriately. Music can also be a great motivator. Listening to your favorite artists and their inspirational words can help to get you motivated and moving forward.
It's important to take care of our physical and mental health. Apathy can often be a symptom of burnout or depression, which can be caused by a variety of factors such as stress, lack of sleep, or poor nutrition. By taking care of our bodies and minds, we can reduce our risk of developing these conditions and stay motivated towards achieving our goals. You don’t need to get ripped at the gym or workout during all of your free time. Anything is better than nothing. Even taking the dog for a walk around the block can be all that you need. Get your body moving and your mind will follow.
Apathy is a common problem that can hinder our success and negatively impact society as a whole. By identifying the root cause of our apathy and taking steps to address it, we can overcome this obstacle and stay motivated towards achieving our goals. Whether it's setting small, achievable goals, surrounding ourselves with positive people, or taking care of our physical and mental health, there are many ways to overcome apathy and stay motivated towards success.
