Sometimes I get that feeling too, like you just don't want to do anything. Not sure what it is. It could be from being overwhelmed by a lot of different things at once. It could also be something as simple as the weather such as a cloudy day that causes a lack of motivation.

I think the best solution is to just do one thing at a time. Pick out a goal for the day and just do it. Start with one. If you have more time, you can move on to the next goal. It might help to make a list to keep things organized. I find that it's easier to be motivated when you actually get into it. It's getting started that is the hard part.

Sometimes a lack of structure results in a lack of motivation. By this I mean that if you don't have a lot to keep you busy, it's easy to fall into the mode of not doing anything. I find that I am more productive when I am actually more busy with work and other activities. When something like a job takes up a majority of your time, you really have to plan and use your free time wisely. This definitely helps with motivation.

I hope these tips help. Let us know what works for you.
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I take motivation very seriously. I work long hours and often complete mundane tasks that just "need to get done". I've come to believe that success is built on motivation and if one can truly master motivation, one can succeed at just about anything. While I haven't mastered motivation yet, here are some of the things that might help you out.

1)
Review what other people are doing and say about motivation.

There are a ton of books, movies and television shows about motivation. Heck, even our own @jasoncalacanis has created the webshow This Week in Startups that has an underlying theme of getting entrepreneurs motivated.

One of the best places to look is right here on Mahalo Answers. Check out what these people have to say:

http://www.mahalo.com/answers/psychology/how-do-you-motivate-yourself-when-you-feel-overwhelmed

http://www.mahalo.com/answers/money/what-motivates-you

http://www.mahalo.com/answers/health/how-do-you-stay-motivated-to-work-out-exercise-everyday-week-or-month

Don't just skim the best answers, read all of the posts because there are some outstanding insights into what drives people in the answers. While reading those questions, create written (hand written) point form notes on which tips apply to you and which ideas you think could solve your problem.

2)
Exercise.

You're a growing young adult. Everyone needs exercise, but you need it more than most. There's nothing wrong with sitting and playing video games (I'm anxiously awaiting Drakes Fortune 2), but when you transition from playing a game to learning VB, do some exercise.

Exercise can be as simple as going for a brisk walk or as complicated as whipping out some Billy Blanks and getting your workout on. Personally, I enjoy quick, brisk walks.

3)
Schedule.

You can not underestimate the natural flow and patterns that emerge in our lives. As much as everyone wants to believe that they can control their own schedule, we simply can't. It is very important to maintain a schedule and while some people don't necessarily need to say "from 9 until 12, I will work", everyone needs schedule to maintain consistency and to tell your body when to be productive and when to rest.

Personally, I'm a morning person. So, I get up early (5am) and work until about 10am. I have some breakfast, have a little rest and then go for a walk. Back to work before 11am and depending on the day and exactly what I started in the morning, my schedule changes but is consistent.

Knowing when you work best and listening to your body when those times change is exceptionally important to motivation.

4)
Light and music.

Buy a full spectrum lamp like this one:
http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51%2B0jeWtOUL._SL500_AA280_.jpg
http://www.amazon.com/Fluorex-Technology-Light-Desk-Lamp/dp/B0012RVX88/ref=sr_1_21?ie=UTF8&s=furniture&qid=1247150749&sr=1-21

"Full spectrum" or natural light is very important to maintain a healthy state and can easily spur and queue motivation. When you're "working" turn the light on. When you're not working (any time you surf the web, play a video game, etc) turn it off. Do this consistently and you'll notice that you "feel" like working whenever this lamp is on. Sounds almost magical, but there is some sound medical and psychological stuff going on here.

Similarly, music is important. I use music throughout the day to encourage periods of work and rest. I have "work" playlists that swing up and down in tempo so that almost subconsciously, as the music plays in the background my natural rhythms of work can be maintained or extended with the help of music.

5)
Last, identify and break down your tasks.

I have several whiteboards in my office. One of the largest is a quick and simple task list of what's going on. I modify this list every night when I stop working and try to complete it every day. I often use this whiteboard as a source of encouragement saying "if you get all of these things done, you can go play".

Simply breaking down what you need to do, having it in front of you and physically removing or crossing off those items is very powerful and very simple.

0)
So, I hope that at least a few of my personal motivation strategies works of you and encourages you to take action!

The most successful people I know aren't the smartest. They're simply the most motivated.
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hi, sounds like you are depressed.

the first thing to do is get an evaluation from a thorough and caring doctor. they can make recommendations.

you need some positive life experiences, that make you energized and happy.

check your diet. a bad diet can make you tired. if you don't have enough water, you can be dehydrated and tired all of the time! ask your doctor!

think about what you can do to help others. join some clubs, get out and see people.

you are becoming a video game closet hermit, sorry. :) Your life is ahead of you. set some goals!
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Ok, Well, it's summer and probably at 17 - school's out and so it's kind of a break time for you.

Your regular routine has changed and that can trip people up. Without asking too many questions I'll just ask in general a few:

1. Have you been eating healthy food? Sometimes when we start feeling a little unmotivated we don't eat well, or don't eat at all and that can make you feel very lethargic and just plain yucky. Try to eat basic healthy meals - fruits, vegetables, drink water and take care not to eat junk foods - you may start to feel a bit better just by focusing on a better diet.

2. Do you get even a bit of exercise each day? It can be challenging when you are feeling unmotivated, but try to get outside and try to walk or ride a bike or do something that you enjoy.

3. Do you get together with friends and family? If you are isolated, it can make you feel down sometimes. Perhaps getting together with some trusted friends or family can help you feel connected and give you some other things to think about and talk about.

I'm not a doctor or therapist, just a person who also (like many of us) can feel unmotivated at times. Keep it simple, don't be too hard on yourself. Find some simple fun, even favorite childhood games can bring laughter and some energy back - and you'll find that you'll be yourself again soon.

If you continue to feel this way, please consult your doctor, they can help.

Good luck.
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As the great Yoda would say:

Do or do not. There is no "motivated".

Seriously, people make the mistake that they wait to "feel like it" before they get started with something. Whereas more often "feeling like it" comes after getting going with doing the thing.

Really often times I've even felt "I'm not in the mood to go to that party tonight". And then I went anyway and had a great time. And it's not just parties. I love tennis, but sometimes I'm "not in the mood". But if I'd booked a court and organised a game with some people, then I go anyway, and it's always fun even though I started off not in the mood.

The same goes for anything from doing my taxes to writing a paper. It's always better after I get started than it felt while I was putting it off,

Tips

- Just do it.

- It helps to have scheduled something specific. Like if you made a date to play tennis, rather than just saying "I'll call you".

- It helps if other people are involved. Esp if you will get your butt kicked, even just a little bit, if you don't do what you agreed

All of that assumes that the stuff you want to do is either important to you or does *sometimes* appeal to you.

And it also assumes you are well, and not just plain exhausted and burned out.

If those aren't the case then there are different things to look at.
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I would love to give you some words of encouragement that would snap you out of your funk, but I'm not sure that's the first step.

See a doctor. It sounds more like you may have a medical condition than lack of motivation, especially with the fatigue.

You're 17, so it's conceivable you could still be growing. If so, we need more sleep when we grow.

Also, consider your diet. A healthy diet will give you more energy. Why not spend a half hour exercising every day? These in combination may do wonders.

If you're feeling depressed, it may be mental as well as physical. Diet and exercise, again, can help, but many people with depression need medication to give them that extra lift. If you are having mental and/or emotional symptoms, be sure to tell them all to your doctor, or you risk being misdiagnosed.
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Reading this question, I had a few thoughts and suggestions...I have been in a place like this in my own life, and when I was about your age, and I think you might just need to alter the way you're approaching the problem.

It is possible, as some have already suggested in this thread, that you have a medical condition related to depression, that is causing your sudden feelings of fatigue and apathy. Before doing anything else, it is probably wise to consult a doctor, particularly if your lack of motivation is accompanied by other uncontrollable or negative thoughts.

Do you feel unmotivated purely because you are tired all the time? Is it primarily that you are unable to focus? Or is the lack of motivation accompanied by feelings of hopelessness or anxiety about the future? To me, these are the key question to discuss with a professional.

In addition to whatever the doctor suggests, I think a change of routine and scenery is also going to be helpful. I've noticed that most of the activities you've discussed (learning Visual Basic, playing video games) are indoor, solitary activities. Have you considered that this may be part of the problem? Even if you don't FEEL like going out into the world and doing anything in a more social context, it may be just what's needed, and it will probably start to feel more comfortable even if you have to force yourself at first.

Exercise, as others have pointed out, can be a great way to alter your mood and start feeling more positive. But I'd also suggest stuff like volunteering somewhere, joining a club or organization, taking a class, picking up a new (outside of the house) hobby...Anything that will keep your mind occupied and get you out of the house for a few hours. These sorts of things will "get you out of your head" for a while, stop you from focusing on why you're not motivated and just get you actually doing things.

It's my guess that, when you get home, you'll have a few things you are looking forward to doing, because you've been out and about all day. That's a much better feeling that waking up and trying to force yourself to get started with your day.
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Hi metalsand, I am reading all of the answers to your question. I also have the same kind of problems with some tasks in life.
So I am taking all these answers seriously. Did you try any of the tips? Is the VB book has a boring look? Then buy another book and try it. Is there a way you can find a friend to study with you? It will be more interesting to study together.
Also play only if you finish your daily lessons of VB/ or the daily time of VB
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This sounds like me when I was 17.. and even me now sometimes, though I have a daughter to keep me on my toes now.

Everyone is mentioning exercise... And they're right. Exercise helps release endorphins and those endorphins make you feel good and more energized. I always try to exercise as soon as I wake up after I get some water and rub the sleepies out of my eyes. It helps me wake up even more. Then I'll eat breakfast, take a shower and while I'm in the shower I'll plan my day in my head.... so after I'm all squeaky clean, I'll jump right on the ball and start doing stuff. Sometimes it helps to plan your day the night before so you don't have to do much thinking in the morning... because some people just aren't morning persons.

I can understand where you're coming from with the not being able to focus bit... and this is why:

My problem is probably a little different than yours. Since I have Major Depressive Disorder and ADHD, I knew the cause of my loss of motivation and concentration. But I should tell you now, if your mind isn't focusing like you want it to and you think this is a real problem you should contact your PCP and maybe they can get you in touch with a local Psychiatrist to help evaluate your problem more. ADHD is a really common problem in teenagers and young adults, but in a lot of cases it's only minor. It's not as scary as it sounds either so don't worry too much. I was diagnosed with it when I was your age.

I waited a long time before I said anything to anyone about my problems being able to concentrate, though it really showed in my grades in school. I was such a slacker (though I still am sometimes) and I just couldn't figure out why I wasn't able to get my study information to sink in. I would read something then have to read it over and over again until I understood it fully.... Doing my homework which should have only taken me 2 hours would take me 4-6 hours.

Medicine isn't always an option for people who don't have medical insurance, though. If you don't have medical insurance, you can always contact your State Department of Public Welfare and have them send you forms for Medical Assistance.

Please don't think of medicine as your first answer... because there are a lot of other options. These websites list a few:
Try an Instant Motivation Booster
How to Boost and Maintain Motivation
Superb Ways to Boost Motivation Levels
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A lot of times when we are lacking motivation it is because our bodies are lacking something.
Taking vitamins, getting proper sleep along with a daily workout all play an essential role in having motivation. Eating proper meals and adding more healthy things like veggies, fruits and a lot of water a day can add to helping our motivation come alive.
Sometimes depression gets the better of us and action needs to be taken. Whether you decide to do some kind of self help (meditaion is a great source) or if you decide to see a doctor for the problem it needs to be addressed. It is all to often that depression sets in and a lot of the time we are not even aware of why. Consulting your doctor is a great place to start. I am sure that your doctor will recommend a few things that you can try.
Also see what other people your age are doing over the summer and try to get involved. Sometimes when we do not think we would enjoy something or an activity and we try it the results are can be a great experience. Making ourselves do something we hate is also motivation for doing something we love an the outcome can be with great achivement.
Source(s):
personal opinion

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Do you have a goal? WHY do you want to learn Visual Basic? Your lack of motivation could be telling you something. I would suggest you find someone you trust to talk to-- to help you sort out what you are aiming for--college? a job? what field? After you have a clearer path, it should be easier for you to get excited about something other than video games.
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Hi!
My experience says me that a little percentage of the people I know do really what they want to do... thought.. or actions...!!

I understand that your problem is about MOTIVATION and difficulty TO MANAGE ATTENTION....

NO MOTIVATION :so sometimes you don't feel the wish,the desire to a thing... an specific action...

DIFFICULTY TO MANAGE ATTENTION:and I understood that also when you manage to start to do such thing you're not able to be concentrated...to focus...

########################################

so for the MOTIVATION part I agree with @philipy ...

the real MOTIVATION came from inside.... not from outside!

ask you:
what I want to do what I'm going to do?
is this important for me?
why I'm waiting for the motivation when I can be MOTIVATED??
motivation it's an interior state that you can create yourself... just remember the last time you were motivated and try to feel again IN THIS WAY...

then start to do the specific action and try to be interested in what you're doing... now don't ask you similar things: what I'm feeling.. why I'm not still motivated and interested?... JUST DO IT... then..:

YOU HAVE TO LEARN HOW TO MANAGE ATTENTION BETTER:
how?
when you're doing a thing don't do other tasks... don't think to other actions... especially if you're working at computer... close all the softwares that are not for Visual Basic... and remember to close the tv or the radio if do you have one around... but I suggest you to try listen music while working if it helps you!

then if you're still de-concentrated.. continue to work asking you more about what you're doing... think to the possibilities about visual basic.... about the functions you're studying ...

I suggest you to do some "exercises"...
"challenges" in order to be became to really do what do you want to do... and to manage attention better... one of these is VIPASSANA... a simple meditation... but not easy! that can demonstrate one of our unknown incapacity! incapacity that consumes time and real feelings..

some links for this:
http://www.activemeditation.com/OtherModalities/Vipassana/Vipassana1.html
http://www.ehow.com/how_2101400_meditation-as-taught-sn-goenka.html

There are more type of Vipassana but I suggest you to become with this one:
sit down on a chair.. not on the bed: you risk to sleep..
relax... then begin to focus on your respiration.. without VOLUNTARY influence it .. don't stop it! just try to observe it... don't worry if it changes.. it is normal... .. respire trough the nose...and start observing the air entering ...... and exits from the nostril of the nose ...it comes ... .. it leaves .... focus on the sensations of the skin in that place .. without thinking at nothing else ... the thoughts that come ... let them go .. and return to focus on the air entering ...... and exits from the nostril of the nose... to focus on the sensations of the skin in that place...

These helped me! I had the same problem! ... after this will be more conscious of what is around you .... more sensitive .... more perceptive .. you'll certainly learn after some practice to not lose in the thoughts ...as we usually do...

FEEL FREE TO ASK ME EVERYTHING ABOUT THIS!
TELL ME IF MY ANSWER WAS USEFUL FOR YOU!

P.S. not give up! understand and practice vipassana & not give up
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There are a lot of good tips here.

If I could offer this other tip.

Change your environment, get out and do something else besides sitting in front of a computer or video game.

I end up getting tired of being in front of a computer and lose motivation to do stuff that I want to do. What helps me is to change my environment, either re-organize or step away from whatever your doing. Go outside, listen to music, do something besides the thing that is draining you.

Breaks from our main focus, helps us recharge or focus again. There is no time limit on how long of a break you need. it could be a few minutes to a couple of days and so on. Whatever makes you feel good. And when you feel good again, you regain your focus to attack the tasks you so want to do.
Source(s):
experience

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I know I have gone through a period of time similar to what you might be going through. I am not going to say I know how you feel because I don’t. For a while one summer all I could do was play video games. Before you can get over this period of lack of motivation, it sometimes is important to figure out why you have had the loss of motivation. There are many reasons why people lose motivation for example: Lack of confidence in one's ability to do the task at hand. Low self-esteem. Lack of enough interest, you might feel interested with whatever you are doing but at the same time you might not really care. Laziness. Fear of failure, due to failure in the past. End Examples lol. Well there are tons of other reasons and maybe non of the ones listed relate to you. The first step I think is figuring out what it is, but if you can not figure that out, its ok, don’t worry, you can still continue. Try to fix this lack of motivation by starting a task. Other than beating a new level in a video game.

Alright now you need to figure out where you want to or where need to have some motivation. Whatever it is, making a game out of it can be fun. For example: My grandma always had me do chores with her, so she would make it a game. When we peeled black eyed peas, we would peel them into our own bowls and see who could get the most, of course she always made it so we tired. It was very fun.
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Ask yourself a few questions and jot down a few things. When your mind starts to wander what does it wander to? Jotting down ideas as your mind wanders may help capture your next great idea.

Have a motivation journal. If you are feeling uninspired ask yourself why. Jot down how you feel. One word answers are often enough: restless, sad, tired, board, . . . Look for patterns, if the answer restless keeps popping up perhaps you need to work out and get moving, if tired pops up allot look to your sleep and eating habits, if board pops up often perhaps you need a new side hobby for a change of pace, if sad pops up often try to get to the bottom of why . . .

Find ways to reward yourself for learning. Perhaps you have to earn an hour of game play by programming for an hour.

There is a site www.chorewars.com that allows you to turn mundane tasks into silly "adventures" that help you build a virtual character. They are geared towards house-hold chores but the create your own feature allows you to put it to anything like working out or programming.
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This answer has been voted unhelpful by users. Please click to view

Stop smoking weed.
Hide

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I hardly think my answer will be worth $20 but I'll answer for free because you seem cool.

To be honest, I used to be the exact same as you. Part of it was due to having mono... I had no energy... but I didn't find that out until later.

1. Keep lists. Write down everything you need to do, any errands you have to run, any emails you have to write, anything you have to send, EVERYTHING. Sit down right now and write EVERYTHING you can think of. The trick is to break it in to small, manageable chunks, which will give you a sense of accomplishment when you complete it. I keep mine on my cell phone so it's always with me. Instead of saying "Clean Bedroom" (which could take hours/days), break it in to wash clothes, wash sheets, organize bookshelf, organize top drawer of desk, etc. Don't write anything on your list that will take more than 1/2 hour... if it does, cut it down. Each thing is simple and fast to complete, and then you can cross it off your list. While you think of more, add to the list. Every once and awhile, go through the list and cross off things that are no longer relevant and make a new list with the leftovers. The key is small chunks. It's nice to go to the grocery store and pick up all the things you need and cut your list in half, or run all your errands at once and see your list shrink.. it's really an accomplishment. The cell phone make it easier because you never have to re-write and worry about lost lists.

2. Exercise. I know everyone's said it, and it sounds crazy when your lazy, but DO IT. I was so lazy/tired I was going to bed at 8pm and getting 10 hours of sleep, then napping when i got home on top of that, and sometimes falling asleep at work too! So I decided to get back in to running (which I did in highschool)... I started slow, doing a bit everyday on my lunchbreak at work. I started drinking more water too, and cutting out caffiene (coffee, pop, red bull) and oh my gosh, i never expected such a change. Before I couldn't stay up past 8:30. Now 7-8 is a reasonable amount of time to sleep, and I wake up feeling refreshed! I don't fall asleep at my desk (ok, occasionally) , but not nearly as often, and I don't need to nap. I just have so much more energy, and when I'm home I feel like doing things like errands rather than watching TV!
I do about 20-30 mins of pretty intense cardio every day.. a short, manageable amount.... I run or do elliptical but maybe walking is more your style. Really anything that makes me sweat is good. I love the machines (treadmill, elliptical, stationary) because they keep stats on time, distance, and calories. Again, it's easy to set goals. Say "i can go 5 mins". then when you go 5 mins, say, "10 more calories", or "0.02 more miles!", and just keep increasing your goal until you can't.. Again, making small manageable goals will give you a real sense of accomplishment, and it'll keep you going much more than "i'll go for 20 mins" will.
I mean, still give yourself a lazy day every couple weeks to lay in bed all day... it's good to give yourself a break. 5-7 days a week are my style but maybe every other day is for you.

3. Cut out caffiene. Another thing I did. I cut out all soda, coffee, and energy drinks. I still enjoy them occasionally, but i don't need 8 coffees a day to feel alive. A coffee is still good in the morning after a late night, but if your a coffee drinker you will understand, that after you get addicted you have to have a bunch and you stop getting a kick, but you still need them. The first couple week of withdrawl suck, but then you will feel way more full of energy.

4. Watch your diet. You don't have to go on a "diet" but go on the "don't be stupid" plan. Clearly chips and crap aren't good for you, and fruit is a better snack. And regular snacking is important! You should be having 3 meals and 2-3 snacks a day. I still have some sort of junk daily because I can't resist (a few chips, some ice cream, w/e), but i mean, clearly there are better choices then eating half a pizza. Have lots of fruit and veg as snacks.
Remember to have a "free day" too, where you can eat crap all the time. This is the same day as my lazy day! It doesn't have to be a "diet" but be reasonable!

Good luck and I hope you find some motivation! (i had more but i can't remember them now)... :)
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A lot of people are mentioning depression, which could be right. The reason your not motivated is your not really interested in the things your doing. Lack of motivation and general lazyness are very subjective. If you could find a hobby your interested in, you will be motivated. I don't know what that is. I've been through this myself. I had a crappy job and things weren't great at home so I never had any energy, but now i like my job and things at home are good, I can't be kept down. If you are smoking out, its fine from time to time, but don't smoke so much you feel like the only way to be normal is to be high. If you have a lot of depression in your family, this will be harder for you to get over than most, but you can do it.
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From the details what we get is you have lost zest of life .

Common young man you have only one life to live hence make a mark on the world around you. Let be a thousand man crying when you say your last good bye because life is not what you earn or posses but life is measured by the crowd which comes to your last rites.

So wake up you man note down all the things you want to be or you like .
See the most achievable one . Write it down somewhere . Discuss it about this to your friends and family member . Declare it to the world your aim and goals of your life . Settle for smaller steps toward your goal . Dont procasinate as procastination is death . Move forward even one step at time but please move on .

You would feel the pleasure of achieveing some thing ,this would draw you to your next move . Bigger moves , Bigger plans Hence Move on .

Throw your arms as the popular saying goes "" SKY IS THE LIMIT .""
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It is very common for teenagers to feel overwhelmed and depressed.

You probably have a lot of tension and problems you are not able to deal with. Depression often can be solved by opening up to someone, specially who you think is causing the main problems, and just talking. Don't bottle up your feelings, that's the worst thing you can do.

Sometime it's better to just accept you are depressed. I wouldn't advise you to do something just for the sake of it, or because you have to. That can just worsen your state.

Get to the bottom of what you are really feeling. From that point on it will be easier to feel better.
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I am sorry to hear that you feel like doing nothing and have no energy or motivation. I understand your concern. Probably you are thinking that your classmates and friends are not feeling like you. I mean you are only seventeen years old. You should be out there, taking over the world.

First, if you want to feel different push yourself to do things. For example, make yourself get up every morning and take a walk. Do it because it is good for you. Do it because you love yourself and you want to do good things for your body.

Second, if you want to feel different go out. Do not stay in the house. Get in your car; take a bus or a train. However, do not stay in your home the entire day. Even if your family is great, go out everyday. You can go out by yourself or with somebody. I prefer by myself. Go to a store you like. Go to the movies. Go somewhere you want to go and enjoy your company. Look at people. Think about what they are doing and laugh.

Third, talk with someone that you can really trust and that can give you good advice.

Last advice, pray. Even if you do not go to church, pray. Every morning, before your feet touch the floor pray at least for one minute. Something as simple as: Thank you God for this day! Help to have a great day. Amen!
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Hello,
The same was happening to me earlier this summer. I was bored to death and wanted something to do, and i couldn't contact my friends because most of them were out of town. What i did to combat this was go over to my neighbors house and we'd just hang out there.

What im saying is go to a friends house, and if none are around, make some new ones.

It might also be a good idea to go to a doctor to see if you might me depressed or similar.
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I can't give you any advice that hasn't been said better by someone else here already. What I can do however is give you some advice on learning a program language. Learning a programming language is 1000x's easier if you have a task in mind to solve.

Pick something like a cuckoo clock that plays your favorite music upon the hour change. My personal coding example is a file re-namer for images that then prints out a sheet of the renamed images. Having something useful to build will apply the concepts far better than just reading the tutorials.

I frequently get depressed and I find that learning new concepts that I can use snaps me write out of it.

If you have any questions about programming concepts -- feel free to message me any time you want.
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That lamp sounds like something I need to check out myself. As for learning a new programming language, I've always felt that the best way to motivate myself to learn that kind of thing, is not force yourself to learn it for learnings sake. But learn it for the sake of creating something you need.

I bet you can probably think of some software application you need in your life. Maybe it's to organize your video games, or manage your work/excersise/play time that fits your workflow. I don't know what it is, but I bet there's even something that's pretty small that you felt you needed or something you already use that you feel could be better or simpler. Give yourself a small project to make something you need, and then use that as an opportunity to learn something like Visual Basic.

This is exactly how I got myself to learn Ruby and Ruby on Rails. I wanted to create an entire business (http://inklingmarkets.com) around an application and that was a ton of motivation to force me to learn the ins and outs of Ruby and Rails.

I don't want to make this a flame war about programming languages, but I've been around the block when it comes to learning a bunch of languages, and Ruby has by far been the most enjoyable language for me. Guaranteed other folks have had the opposite experience. But like me, Ruby and the Ruby on Rails framework, might just capture your attention a bit better than Visual Basic, so might be worth your look.
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metalsand,
you've certainly recieved alot of answers on this, and most are great answers, and as you know some are very poor advice.

in the end of it all, no matter how hard everyone else tries, the sole responsibility lies with you. I think you know that. I do wonder maybe about depression, but before you say no, please understand that it doesn't mean you necessarily sit around in a dark room and cry all day. Depression can manifest itself in a myriad number of ways. Apathy, lack of motivation, lack of energy, can can be a symptom of depression. the UV lights can work, but sunlight can work just as well. The UV lights are usually used with Seasonal Affective Disorder, that comes on with a lack of sunlight, like in winter, or prolonged rainy weather.

You are so young, and I really think that maybe seeing a doctor would be a good way to go, you don't have to go see a "shrink" per se, a normal doctor is able and willing to diagnose depression , and even prescribe medication that could make all the difference in your world.

best of luck to you

~pawsalmighty
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Hi metalsand

There could be so many reasons why you could be feeling drained. Here are a few.

Staying up to late.
Eating to many snacks, and/or junk food
Nutrient deficiency: iron, protein (maybe you need to see a doctor)
Emotional stress will drain a [person in a hurry.

Suggestions:

If you are staying up to late, every night make a point to go to bed earlier.

Everyday do some mild stretches or go for a swim, anything.

Walk the dog or the neighbors dog just to get out of the house.

Eat more nutritious foods. If you want a snack make sure you grab fruit or a sandwich instead of chips.

If you drink coffee or soda, cut back and drink herb tea, water, or juice instead.

Put on your favorite music: dance, sing.

Start a new hobby, make a list of the things you like to do and choose one.

Call a friend and plan something together.

I hope this helps.
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