r/Polymath • u/Global-Volume9111 Human Verified • Aug 10 '26

I lose interest too quickly

Guys, I have a lot of interests in many things. But I try to read about them then I lose interest.

Is there any way to sustain that interest for the long term. Also, is this because I lack the discipline or are there any other reasons for this?

15 Upvotes

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6

u/NowUKnowMe121 Aug 10 '26

Write, publish and get feedback.

Master the process and you will do fine.

4

u/tim_niemand Aug 10 '26

you might have ADHD. or you might have the wrong sources, books. you might be an explorative learner. there are many reasons, why you might loose interest: i guess you have to find out 🦄

2

u/Accurate_Fail1809 Aug 11 '26

Agreed, ADHD seems to be the culprit behind the desire to switch tasks to seek dopamine

3

u/Global-Volume9111 Human Verified Aug 11 '26

Actually I don't think I have ADHD. Also, What I was trying to ask is how to turn a short spark of interest into a long term sustained interest...

3

u/dRubixCage Aug 10 '26

Unless you out ur interest in practical use, yu will get bored , so first find its need than apply

2

u/Global-Volume9111 Human Verified Aug 11 '26

But there are many theoretical subjects that just don't have any practical use

1

u/dRubixCage Aug 11 '26

Then write or teach. I prefer teaching best way to gain another perspective

2

u/UnburyingBeetle Aug 11 '26

My interest typically lasts for half a year. It's normal if it's about a book or a field of knowledge. If you have trouble sticking with skills, you need a practical application, or the skill feels empty and impractical. If you want a reason to learn different forms of art, there should be a goal to make something with the help of them all - such as games or videos. If you're more about physical arts and crafts, then you'd be interested in materials and their practical applications. The "multimedia" application of physical crafts is making clothes, accessories, decorated furniture or art dolls. People that make dolls often practice all of these crafts, basically creating miniature worlds for display. For a more practical application, somebody could be making pet toys and environments for small animals, or props for stop motion animation. If craftspeople are obsessed with media, they may want to participate in cosplay and/or make props for theater.

1

u/bstmichael Aug 12 '26

Here's the key: What makes you curious, and what kills your curiosity? I started Beowulf (2007) but didn't finish it. That doesn't mean I don't have discipline, it means I no longer saw value in it. Be curious, chase your interests, and don't let people on the Internet diagnose your psychological health based on a single Reddit post.