you had me intrigued until you mentioned a cat... no no NO! doggies for me tyvm <3

@demifeministgal some little dogs are content lapsitting....but none purr

@GreenAtheist but those tend to be lil doggies and little doggies are more yappy and barky. I need a chill, lazy, relaxed dog I could vibe with lol

@demifeministgal I agree yappy is not a mellow purring lap cat

@GreenAtheist I should get one of those large mellow doggies that are super chill like a golden retriever

@demifeministgal puppies are nice but by age 12 months most weigh over 60 pounds

well, I think whether I desire these things or not is inconsequential if the things I need motivation to do are good for my health or related to my livelihood, you know?

@demifeministgal I feel ya, but no, I don't actually agree. People end up homeless, yet still live for 30 years. People end up with 5 cumulative heart attacks over 30 years, and still live on. There is no immediate life or death in these choices.

I still think the lack of motivation is because you haven't found the right reason to cause you to be motivated. Maybe it's 3 heart attacks that finally cause motivation to appear...or perhaps it's 3 heart attacks where you give up completely. (Or insert homelessness metaphor).

Up to this point, I have left out the reasons someone may not be motivated that actually have to do brain chemistry...ADHD, or depression come to mind as easy motivation roadblocks. Also, the way we were raised, and our perceived ability to "get things done", which is part of our past experiences also makes a difference. But, in the end, if you don't really care about the outcome, or you feel some vague sense that you "should" care, these are not reasons enough to motivate many people in the world.

So tell me, why do you want to care about these particular unmotivated subjects? Why "should" you do something about them?

I concur !!

@APaleBlueDot I care because I suppose I should be excercising for my health, especially with the newfound weight gain And because everyone, including the doc, keep recommending it. I am not obese or overweight, just gained significant weight in less than a year after not gaining much weight since after puberty.

@demifeministgal Gotcha. Weight is a difficult thing, and many people overeat or eat the wrong stuff. Why should you do something about it? What are the benefits? Long term. And short term?

@APaleBlueDot I suppose short term would be purely superficial at this point but would make me feel better heh. Long term there would be benefits to my heart, my blood pressure, my digestion, my mental health and soo many other areas I would need to be concerned with as a senior.

@demifeministgal Sounds like some good reasons to make the change. Long term goals and long term payoffs are worth it, but its not always easy to keep momentum. Is there anything in the way of making these changes now?

@APaleBlueDot I hate excercising? lol... I think if it were something I enjoyed like taking a dance class it'd be different... but just going to a gym to run or do situps or going for an idle run in a park does not appeal to me.

@demifeministgal Dancing! What a great way to keep in shape, and even be social! Working out a a gym isn't for everyone, most definitely. How would you find dance classes near you?

Do you think it makes a difference if the list is hand-written vs if it is "written" in to a phone? I wonder if putting things to paper is more effective or it makes no difference?

@demifeministgal I hand write mine, & it sits in front of me at all times when I'm on the pc. I have a tray on my lap with a separate keyboard on it & my lists are on the tray. I don't tend to use my phone for anything other than texts, calls, & the occasional photo.

I found that when I put things in my phone, I am not nearly as motivated to get them done...I have tons of little pieces of papers in my purse, in my car, etc. All sorts of lists...list makers seem to get a lot done...there is something wonderful about crossing off something on a list...the feeling of accomplishment makes me want to do even more...it is a high for me that keeps on going and keeps me focused. I am very goal oriented but I also allow for detours and just changing my mind

I started list making pretty young, but really got into it when I was in my early 40's...time is ticking and the there is a lot to do! lol

@thinktwice I like to be organized & have made lists almost as soon as I learned to write. I also would rather have a list than to rely on memory, especially with getting older.
Agreed, seeing the listed items get crossed off is quite satisfying.

which is strange because I am an ambivert that skews a bit more to the introverted side. I blame my upbringing entirely for never being taught how to be internally motivated. Particularily doing things to avoid punishment/abuse. :/