So bummed out with daily routine.

LegacyUser

Hi, I am a 22 yr old male student. I'm don't enjoy college at all but have come to terms with this long ago and now treat it like a job as I know I will benefit from completing it. My social life isn't great at the moment either but can and has been amazing so I remain positive that it will pick up again in the summer. Basically I am just going through the motions at the moment and while I am usually able to stay positive, very recently I have been feeling really down and just fed up. I have gone through these rough patches before and always seem to bounce back as I am a naturally positive person and I have plenty of things in my life that I derive much enjoyment out of. I attribute these current feelings to situational depression and I really don't think I am actually depressed or anything. I have great things to look forward to and great friends also, its just I get very down about my present routine and how my life is going.

In other words I am just really struggling with the grind of my current daily routine. I find myself very dazed out for a lot of the day and even when I am talking to people in college I just don't feel myself. I don't see my close friends often so for most of the week I just have casual conversations with people who I do not know very well. I have travels planned in the summer and am very excited about this so I should consider myself lucky that I will be doing something very different soon enough. At the moment though I am just counting down the days until college finishes and do not get any enjoyment from it at all. Has anybody got any advice of how to cope with being unhappy with your daily life, or perhaps ways to try and motivate yourself to be more positive?

Any advice is much appreciated,
Thanks

Kevster

Hi,

The first positive you can take is that you are clearly intelligent. Your post was well-structured and you phrased it in calm way. Take a look at other posts here on this website and it'll become apparent why I'm highlighting this fact. Anyway, do you think that these depressed thoughts have been strong because you are coming to a crossroads in your life? The crossroads I sopeak of is the end of college. For some of us, uncertainty is a killer and it just makes us fel anxious and sad. Start to really think about what you would like to be doing, but if it's too much then stop [thinking about it].

I was about your age when I cast aside my then life's plans and completely changed them. It's never too late to change things. I'm not saying that leaving your course is something yuo should do, but introduce - and be warm to bringing in - new things in your life. You don't HAVE TO do the same things over and over. You can get the necessary college stuff done and then at the end of the day do your own thing.

Kevin

unreggd

Why do you feel you'll benefit from finishing your course?
What course is it / how far in are you?
I very much doubt that you'll like the job it's qualifying for, if you don't like the course at all

I suggest making a list of what bothers you about life in general at the moment
Then under each thing, brainstorm for ways to make this better

Sounds a bit silly, but putting it on paper will clear your head

I'm the same. Back from Oz, on the dole, no job yet. I'd kill to be back in college right now, but hafta wait til september, so tryin to be proactive with gym, and join some clubs etc

As you said, life tends to have these sh;t buzz patches, but its the best time for a change!

JonathanAnon

gettingworried wrote: »

Has anybody got any advice of how to cope with being unhappy with your daily life, or perhaps ways to try and motivate yourself to be more positive? Any advice is much appreciated, Thanks

Since when I finished college things have changed hugely in the employment market, so I'm sure the consistent bad news isnt helping you to see the value in doing your degree. But all you can do at the moment is get your best honours degree. I would assume that you are in either in the penultimate or final year of your degree.. ? Also you never said if you like the degree course subject? Could you transfer to something a bit more stimulating / relevant?

I have a degree in Applied Physics, only because I didnt know what I wanted to do and just ran with what I was given on the CAO form. If I had it over I would have transferred to Computer Apps. Also, if you get a decent honours degree, you will have the opportunity to do a postgrad in something more inspiring.

pronoiaparty

From a fellow student this may sound weird but make the most of the time you have in college. If you're just going through the motions then make sure you are constantly trying new things and challenging yourself. I spent a good deal of my undergrad years drinking and partying and although it was thoroughly enjoyable at the time I have little to show for it now.

Squeeze in as many extra curicular activities as possible. See if you can still get on a team sport and if you're already on one try something totally different. Do things you'd never normally try with people you'd never normally hang out with. You can make the greatest of friends in the strangest of places. If you keep your mind occupied with novel things (be they people or activities) you'll find yourself both more engaged and happier.

LegacyUser

Hi, thanks for the kind replies. No I am in my second final year of college but I made a big decision 2 years ago to return and since I am over half way there I feel I have to finish it. I am not interested in the job market to be honest, not in this country anyway. The main reason for finsihing my degree is so that I will have as much opportunity as possible to move and work abroad when I graduate. I have some ideas in my head of what I might do next year and all of these involve moving abroad. I know it sounds a bit irresponsible to be doing a course I do not enjoy but at the time Business was the only think I could really get in to as I was applying directly and had previously completed a cert in the subject.

The degree is just something I want to have behind me regardlesss of whether or not I actually end up using it. I am hoping it will act as a gate way in to something I enjoy doing and it is also to keep my family happy. It means a lot to my mother especially that I have a college degree. As I said in the OP I have no real expectations of college in terms of enjoyment. It is like a job I hate and going in there actually depresses me at times. The second I step foot on campus I am overwhelmed with a strong feeling of how much I don't want to be there. I don't relate to the people or share anybody's enthusiasm and to be honest makes me feel like a bit of a recluse. This bothers me because outside of this environment I am far from a social recluse. I guess the only positive thing is that the year does go by fast and next year I will be very busy throughout. I prefer being busy as at least here I don't have time to stand around feeling crappy about myself and can just get my head down in work. I actually welcome the exam season to be honest as while it signals the end of the year it also occupies me enough to keep me from getting down about things.