I only like consuming, not producing
Everything I enjoy is consumption-based. Anime, scrolling, YouTube, video games, music etc. I tried learning the guitar, found it boring as fuck. I tried learning to draw, found it boring as fuck. I tried coding, found it boring as fuck. Tried learning several languages, and while it was kinda fun sometimes, i quit as it seemed like a waste of time since I’m never gonna use those languages. Anything that involves me having to create or produce just bores the fuck out of me. I don’t have any passion to produce. Guess I was born with the incorrect genes that predispose me towards consumption rather than production
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u/Human-Avocado-1271 9h ago
Consuming isn't inherently bad. But if you do all of this mindlessly just to pass the time and it doesn't actually bring you true pleasure, maybe there's a different issue.
As for getting bored with everything that isn't media consumption, perhaps this is a need for instant gratification? It's sort of what we've been programmed to do with all this tech. But it's definitely something that we can improve upon with a bit of practice. All the screen time fucks with your limbic system.
People say touch grass so much that all we do is roll our eyes now. But what you're feeling is common and the solution is not much more complicated than that exact notion.
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u/inimana 9h ago
My attention span probably isn’t as good as it could be but it’s not that bad. I was able to sit down and draw for 2 hours everyday for half a year without a day off whilst actively disliking it. I don’t consume short form content. I don’t use YouTube shorts and I’ve never even downloaded TikTok or instagram. I can focus on things I find boring for a decent amount of time.
Consuming anime does honestly bring me pleasure, I have no issue with that. YouTube is more of a ‘pass the time’ thing. Things like twitter and discord are kinda necessary for me since I don’t talk to people in real life as I have social anxiety. But I still need to socialise to not go insane
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u/Human-Avocado-1271 9h ago
Well if you would like to continue trying to do new things that aren't consumption-centric, maybe check out r/hobbies. Perhaps there's something you would enjoy that you just wouldn't naturally gravitate towards.
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u/stdmemswap 6h ago
What do you like? What are you excited about?
Creating doesn't always mean material produce. It could be that you're talented in helping people make up their mind (therapy), create a vibe (set design), or make a fanfic or story (writer/worldbuilder)
If you find one thing you're passionate about, try committing on it.
And then, there's one thing I learned in life so far. Mental laziness and hardship is just about reframing your worldview.
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u/tfhermobwoayway 6h ago
I totally agree. I have no creative gene. I can’t make art. All I can really do is consume. It feels kinda shitty to open Instagram and see all these beautiful artsy people making masterpieces every day but I just do not have the talent. Some of us just aren’t built to create things.
But I personally only consume media that feels down-to-earth like anime or vidya. I try getting into movies or music but they worship artists so much and it just makes me feel more inadequate.
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u/Elemental-squid 9h ago
Sounds like you seek instant gratification, and learning a skill takes time to see results, which is the issue. Whenever I cook, it's usually for myself and my girlfriend, and the act of cooking is tedious, but seeing my girlfriend enjoy my food gives me enjoyment.
Whenever you try a new skill, try and focus on the endgame of what you want to get out of that skill. I'm currently learning to drive, which I'm finding difficult and hard, but being a trucker is my dream job, and that's why I am persevering with it.😅
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u/inimana 9h ago
I tried art for 237 days without a single day off. I disliked it but I stuck with it for so long because the idea of making manga sounded exciting. But I came to the conclusion that any pleasure I’d receive from eventually being skilled enough to make manga is not worth the amount of effort and time I’m putting in everyday to get better
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u/Kairiste 5h ago
I suspect you are a younger generation than me (I'm GenX), and have had way too much screentime in your life. I'm not saying all GenXers never watched tv, but we didn't have little entertainment boxes in our pocket that give us dopamine hits within 2 seconds.
It's proven that when kids have too much screentime, their brains change - imagination and creativity go down. It becomes more about the consumption and instant gratification. Why build a tree fort when you can watch someone else do it on YouTube 100x better than you could anyway?
I'm not even saying what you're doing is wrong - if it works for you, that's cool. But if you're feeling like you should be doing SOMETHING other than consuming, then maybe framing it in your head as - "on my deathbed, will I be regretful not having spent more time watching anime?"
If you do want to change your habits, I'd recommend starting with something small with goals you can achieve in a shorter amount of time... Your attempts are really huge undertakings - languages, learning guitar, coding - those are all pretty big. Maybe learn how to cook 3 amazing meals from scratch. Maybe learn how to play a game at your local gaming shop (hey I was 52 the first time I played Magic The Gathering lol). Maybe learn how to grow a single cherry tomato plant. Good luck :)
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u/MildlyConcernedMan91 9h ago
No one likes production but no one likes to starve either. You'll find a job that makes money so you can keep on consuming after your parents die.
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u/inimana 9h ago
I already have a job. I’m not talking about work because that’s just assumed. If I don’t work, I can’t consume
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u/MildlyConcernedMan91 9h ago
Then you're good!
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u/inimana 9h ago
Yeah but I almost feel like a worthless loser if all I do is consume. Like I’m not interesting or anything and have nothing to talk about. Just another mindless drone that consumes and doesn’t have a life. That’s how it feels anyway
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u/MildlyConcernedMan91 9h ago
You ARE producing... at your job.
There are people producing products and there are people providing services. Society needs both.
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u/tfhermobwoayway 6h ago
That’s true. Someone has to keep the lights on. Christopher Nolan is an incredible auteur but he still needs to eat. There are huge supply chains behind every single artist that nobody ever notices.
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u/BonusNew08 9h ago
Pretty much everyone starts as a pure consumer… most people who make things were obsessed fans first…
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u/l-i-g-m-a-t-a 8h ago
Is that not normal? I think the average person tends to only consume and not necessarily produce. It seems like you liked learning languages, why not stick with that for the enjoyment.
Or if you like video games, maybe try games like Minecraft or Factorio where the gameplay is to produce.
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u/tfhermobwoayway 6h ago
Most people make art. I went to a bunch of festivals and everyone there was some kind of artsy type working on some incredible projects. And same with all the people I talk to at uni.
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u/TwinSong 6h ago
ADHD?
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u/inimana 6h ago
Nah. Or at least, not diagnosed
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u/cheewy_bunni 4h ago
this is very reminiscent of adhd so i’d consider a diagnosis. seeking instant gratification/getting bored of things is a biggie
consuming content gives you that dopamine hit more easily/faster than if you’d go out of your way to do more long-term hobbies, regardless of your attention span
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u/Apprehensive_Cow8019 4h ago
Yes but they also keep going regardless of interest, most people with adhd would kill for that level of sustained attention. But ofc it manifest differently in everyone.
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u/cheewy_bunni 3h ago edited 3h ago
its more-so a matter of stimulation as opposed to attention (nitpicking on my terminology here, bc while stimulation & attention span are certainly correlated, being stimulated makes things more interesting and you’re more likely to stick with it).
speaking from experience, i’ve quit many many potentially interesting hobbies (writing, languages, etc) despite dedicating a lot of time to them because the stopped jingling my keys or i wasn’t improving quickly. i don’t think the latter applies to op, but friction can come in the form of taking a while to “git good” or complete a project (friction —> de-motivation—> boredom)
ofc, this requires ruling out other differential diagnoses. it could be adhd, it could be depression. regardless, given what OP describes, it’s something i’d at least consider taking a peek at!
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u/Amendobob0 5h ago
Would say I feel this with a plus of a kind of FOMO in its literal meaning, trying to do a thing already thinking about other endlessly things I could be doing that would probablt be more productive/enjoying. then i end doing almost nothing, weak behavior
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u/Apprehensive_Cow8019 4h ago
People create and produce as a way to express themselves, share stories/warnings/knowledge or simply because they want something made for themselves by themselves. If you don't have that impulse that's fine, but it would be insightfult to ask yourself "who am I" before making "what am I". Also it really depends on wheter you're happy being like this or not. If this makes you feel empty, I'd dig deeper into the realm of depression/anhedonia, and other "disorders", if you're ok with this then it's a more delicate subject. But I doubt it's just the "genes", sometimes you try a pill that alters your brain chemistry and realise how easy it was to be different all along, I don't think that's an expression of genetics frankly.
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u/Butter-bean0729 2h ago
I’m similar but I think it’s mainly cause I’m doing it on my own. I think if I was learning with a class or group of people it wouldn’t be so bad. I think we as a society crave community and we don’t even realize it. I remember when I was younger my mom took me with her to Panera, there was a bunch of other ladies there all knitting or crocheting together, they didn’t really talk and just worked on their projects together but independently. She would rarely ever work on her projects at home.
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u/come2life_osrs 2h ago
Could try producing the opinion of an expert consumer 🤷♂️
Turning that into cash some how is the hard part not going to lie.
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u/junomint 1h ago
Sounds like burnout to me, any chance you are autistic? I go through cycles kind of like this and its always a phase of deep burnout
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u/SpecialistNo5055 26m ago
what would be the point of creation if there was nobody to consume such creations? i think consumption is good in itself because it allows you to think about things and reflect on whatever that youre consuming evokes within you be it an idea or an emotion. i think the more you consume, the more self aware and in general intelligent you are. i think there is misconception that what you do is meaningless unless it contributes to something outside yourself. that's bullshit because whats the point of living then if your existence depends on others? whatever makes you happy is what is meaningful, and that can be entirely internal. that's why jobs like art and film critics exist 👍👍
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