Burnout

[PierreParticipant @pierre]

I have 2 half finished models staring accusingly at me in my workshop – I haven’t been near them for weeks. My soul quails when I think how much work needs to be done to complete them!  

i enter my workshop full of good intentions,  then something more urgent crops up and I wander out again, nothing having been achieved.  I’m sure many of the members here have suffered from the same thing at one time or another.  How did you recover from burnout?  What tricks, if any, or is it just a matter of letting time run it’s course?

Despondent Pierre

[PierreParticipant @pierre]

[Bob Abell 2Participant @bobabell2]

Hello Pierre

 

I know the feeling!……………..Cutting out dozens of frames, or planking a big boat is pure tedium at times……..but the boat won`t build itself!

 

Just switch your brain off, go into Zombie Mode and get on with it!

 

I`m driven on by a vision of the completed model and a big rest!

 

Just coming to the end of a massive stressful, no fun, veneering exercise, on the Slo Mo Shun……..the size of a Welsh Dresser!………Oh!……The relief!

 

Bob

[neil hpParticipant @neilhp]

my tip……….only build one boat at once……your concentration is then solely and fundamentally channeled into one area only.

 

[Mike PendleburyParticipant @mikependlebury45959]

My  tip is just the opposite !!  Build two boats at once then when one drives you to distraction then work on the other!!

[neil hpParticipant @neilhp]

bloody hell…a bloke that can multi task……you are a rare breed indeed, Mike, lol

[Ian GardnerParticipant @iangardner62867]

Hi Pierre,

 

I have suffered from this too  and I think there can be many reasons- here are some that have applied to me in the past.

 

Are you building a boat which is just too long a project? It took me six years to finish my first boat and I’m amazed I persisted with it. When I was younger I had very lofty ideals about scratchbuilding and consequently achieved little. I am not so ‘snotty’  about kits now and perhaps a simple kit would fit the bill-at least as a kick start. I knew a chap who built very simple models out of junk basically – he said if it took longer than a week he lost interest! You couldn’t find a  model boater who was ‘happier in his skin’.

 

Who are you making models for?  Only yourself in the end, surely, and if you don’t enjoy it what’s the point ? It’s easy to fall into the trap of building to some high ideal that you see another or others doing and it’s so easy to beat yourself up over perceived failures.

 

Sometimes the rest of life can get in the way-  carving out a career and bringing up children makes it hard to get motivated, especially after a long day at work.

 

I have found this forum a tremendous inspiration- post some pictures of your boats and people will most likely be very encouraging and that may give you the boost you need to keep you going.

 

I find having a realistic idea of what you want to achieve in a session helps- ‘lying in bed thinking time’ is useful here.

 

Finally,  keeping my workspace tidy helps- if you are faced with a tip then it’s easy to turn round and go out again- but a friend of mine says that if it isn’t on the bench then he doesn’t know where it is! So we are all different- whatever works for you -maybe, like me , you are just a slow builder. I’m not saying any of this applies to you, but it has all applied to me over the years!

 

Sorry if this sound a bit  ‘preachy’ – just my thoughts.

 

Have fun,

Ian

 

 

 

 

 

[Tony HadleyParticipant @tonyhadley]

Pierre,

 

Must agree with Neil, build one boat at once. Divide the project into ‘blocks of building’ e.g. hull, deck, cabins, masts, fittings, install r/c, install motor & power, painting, to name a few. You must create your own ‘blocks of building’.

 

After each ‘block’ has been sucessfully completed,  you must take a break, be selfish and reward yourself.

 

Do not hesitate to take a break and go and treat yourself to an RTR. As per a previous posting I have a Hobby Engine ‘Southampton’ (there are others) and they are great fun and stress busters, always ready for sailing whilst work progresses slowly on the main project.

 

Like Ian I have also suffered. Only by sectioning the work in to manageable pieces will you start to make progress.

[Paul GodfreyParticipant @paulgodfrey14946]

I too believe in breaking down the build into mini ‘sub-kits’. Take my Sir Lancelot for example, it’s a long term build, and if I try to envisage the huge amount of work required to complete her, I would probably break down and cry!!  So, I just concentrate on the next task only (but taking into account that forward planning in some areas is essential).

 

What has helped me the most, though, is having a build log on this forum. Not only does this mean that the hobby goes from being just boat building, to photography, writing, sharing experiences, and hopefully being helpful to someone, but it also spurs me on to make an even better job of the build, as many experienced eyes are viewing my efforts!

 

Paul

[Colin BishopModerator @colinbishop34627]

A good tip when you do get back to building is to quit while you are ahead. By that I mean that is you have a session in which you make some useful progress take a break then rather than starting on a problematic part of the build which you have to stop part way through not knowing whether you are going to solve the perceived problems. Come back to it fresh and they will often melt away.

 

Colin

[PierreParticipant @pierre]

Thanks to all who answered this thread  – I found a lot to ponder about

.Bob, Ian, Tony, Paul and Colin, you all had some points which I need to think carefully about  – I think my life at the moment is a little chaotic, I need to simplify!

Thanks again

Pierre

[Len OchiltreeParticipant @lenochiltree67043]

I always leave a job nearly finished ( not painting of course ) then next time I am in the workshop I continue with it while thinking ahead to the next stage of the build ( well I know what I mean ).

 

Len

[Andy BaileyParticipant @andybailey80218]

Ive currently got 2 boats on the go but i make sure i have a keen interest in whatever i build , i often have enough in the workshop so come in and play on the pooter to do some research then the wife starts nagging and all of a sudden the workshop is the place to be  Sorted 

Regards Andy

Edited By Andy Bailey on 21/11/2009 12:38:27

[Dave MilbournParticipant @davemilbourn48782]

It might not be 100% relevant but when I’m faced with making up say 20 of our most complicated and time-consuming units then I’ll do maybe five and then “treat” myself to building a few different and very simple ones. That way I can sit back once in a while and see that I’ve actually finished something, instead of looking at a sea of part-finished assemblies. You could possibly translate this into say making a few deck lockers every now and then while you’re building up a complicated superstructure.

I’m afraid that since joining the trade full-time I can’t remember what it was like to build a model boat!!

Dave M

[Phil Winks 1Participant @philwinks1]

A wise old fella I once knew told me quite simply stick two bits together each day and it will get finished and it works for me. that  and colins trick of having something to sail thats just fun as a distraction. for me its a brushless powered airboat that surfs nicely down the outflow of the weir at the bottom of our club pond  it won’t quite make it back up though  just needs a bigger prop/motor

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