Anyone else ever get fed up?

[Micky]

Hi y'all

I'm finding it really hard to get the enthusiasm to shoot these days. I just don't understand - I was really keen for ages, and then it's just.... gone.

Having problems hasn't helped me, but I thought I'd be able to exist as a club/county archer, but it's really not working. I shoot maybe once a week, have only entered for a few tournaments this year, and only miss it when I get the credit card bills and remember I'm still paying for my new bow...

If I don't sort myself out, then I'm never going to work through my problems and get the enthusiasm back, am I?

Any tips?

xx

from a very subdued archer

[Mufti]

I have found that over the years the actual shooting side of our sport has come and gone and come back again for me.

I found great satisfaction in helping/training new members of the club or taking a role in the running of the club. There is much you can do to help others waiting for that right person to rekindle your shooting interest.

For me it was finding a number of peers shooting at very much my own level of ability, we talk a lot about where we wish to go in archery and how we want to get there.

Look out for the right company - that's my motto.

[Kae]

YES, I get fed up with archery on and off.
Its common to get discouraged with something you love and enjoy doing.
I'm having problems with motivation at the moment, but I know that within a month, i'll be chomping at the bit to go out and shoot again.
I've got too much going on at the moment to make myself go and shoot, but you should still shoot as much as possible to stop yourself getting out of shape.

[geoffretired]

Hi Micky, I agree with both the earlier posts. Good advice there.
When you say "Having problems hasn't helped me," do you mean archery problems, like not shooting as well as normal?

[Micky]

Thanks guys

Yes, there was the whole shebang with the flinching, which you really helped with Geoff, but I can't get motivated to work on it any more..

Maybe it will come back to me after Sunday - for some mad reason I've entered the county champs, even though I haven't shot for near on a month!

xx

[Ffish]

It sounds like a motivation issue Micky. What's changed in your life recently to take your (originally enthusiastic) approach to archery away? New job, new home, new man, problems or issues elsewhere perhaps?
Personally, I use archery to escape from the day to day routines of work pressures, or home issues and I just forget about everything else when I'm shooting.
If your 'issues' are fairly strong, then I suspect that they're foremost in your mind, and as a result your archery is taking less of a priority than it used to, consequently you're no longer motivated to go shooting.
From what you tell us, this has had a detrimental effect on your scores, and the whole thing has spiralled downwards, added to which your credit card bills are a constant reminder - so the worse it becomes, the worse it becomes!
Online counselling is hardly my forte, but I reckon you will remain apathetic towards your archery until your overcome whatever issues are elsewhere in your life. What you DO have to do though, is try to remain positive and upbeat about things, and I'm sure your enthusiasm will return again.

I wish you well.

[Murray]

It's easy to get despondent when you're not happy with your shooting. Yes, there's times when I've asked "why am I wasting my time with this"... but then I go up to the field on a nice, calm, summer's evening and fling a few arrows just for the hell of it, my enthusiasm often returns...

I find that my enthusiasm rises and wanes depending on scores... not shooting well... unhappy bunny... shooting well - desperate to shoot more.

My suggestion to you is to go out and have some fun with it. Stop shooting target for a while and shoot balloons, blank bale, furry toys, set up a mock head to head for chocolate, whatever lights your candle, but make sure it's something you really don't care about - just shoot them and enjoy - you may find it will help.

[GreenSteve]

tbh never thought my interest would wane so quickly after starting archery in febuary and coming so close to Bowman scores 2 weeks ago however, this last week i can hardly bring my self to go out and shoot
like Micky said -

Originally Posted by Micky

Having problems hasn't helped me,

just wish the problems were my archery only unfortunately life is never that simple, and i know all i gotta do is get through this with out loosing me head

[Max]

Originally Posted by Ffish

It sounds like a motivation issue Micky. What's changed in your life recently to take your (originally enthusiastic) approach to archery away? New job, new home, new man, problems or issues elsewhere perhaps?
Personally, I use archery to escape from the day to day routines of work pressures, or home issues and I just forget about everything else when I'm shooting.
If your 'issues' are fairly strong, then I suspect that they're foremost in your mind, and as a result your archery is taking less of a priority than it used to, consequently you're no longer motivated to go shooting.
From what you tell us, this has had a detrimental effect on your scores, and the whole thing has spiralled downwards, added to which your credit card bills are a constant reminder - so the worse it becomes, the worse it becomes!
Online counselling is hardly my forte, but I reckon you will remain apathetic towards your archery until your overcome whatever issues are elsewhere in your life. What you DO have to do though, is try to remain positive and upbeat about things, and I'm sure your enthusiasm will return again.

I wish you well.

Spot on Ffish!

Similar situation with me at the moment. Going through dramatic changes at work (total career change in the offing) and lots on my mind. You would think that getting away to the club would be an ideal solution to "get my mind off it" for a while, but, like you, I just can't raise the enthusiasm. This is hardly surprising since people manage change in different ways and go through various phases during the process.

It will come back Micky, just don't force it - do whatever you want to do at the moment (maybe just sat in front of the telly!). If you have hit the wall with a problem and can't work through it, maybe a change of discipline will refresh you, if that is possible? I changed from recurve to compound early this year for that very reason, then ran into similar problems with flinching - thankfully cured thanks to Geoffretired.

I am having to force myself to get off my Butt and go out of the house at the moment, but that will change once my mind gets back into the groove in it's own good time. I suspect you will do the same - just chill and let it happen.

[clickerati]

Have a look here, Micky!