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Withdrawal symptoms

I’m stuck on the side of the road with a flat tyre that’s nuts are tighter than a ducks arse! I’ve tried jumping on the tyre iron but still no joy. It’s gone against my masculinity but I’ve called roadside assistance grrrrrrr…

Anyway, while I wait I thought I’d vent a little. A wise buddy of mine told me recently it’s good to write problems or issues down sometimes so here we go.

My life is super busy and there’s a big change going on at the moment. Therefore the hobby, for the most part, has been cast into the shadows.

I’ve got to say that I’m really having withdrawal symptoms now. One of which is constantly thinking about the hobby but not being able to do it. Looking at minis on line and longing to build or paint something. I did paint Mr Rotter a little while ago which was fun but it wasn’t exactly miniatures hehe. I’m missing getting stuck into my more recent project which is the Wild West CoffinWood.

There’s not much I can do about it at present but there is a dim light at the end of the tunnel which is the end of June. It’s around this point that I’ll be in a position to pick up the scalpel or the paintbrush and CREATE.

How do you guys deal with withdrawals when you can’t get lost in your hobby and real life takes over a bit too much?

Cheers

IRO

40 thoughts on “Withdrawal symptoms”

  1. I keep dreaming or make sure I have a rule book or army book close by. In fact., I generally keep an army book or a DnD book in my bag at work for those rare moments of down time. I don’t work in an office, so I carry everything I might need for a shift with me. I pass through those periods too frequently. Kids in sports, house chores, etc. I feel you IRO, it sucks.

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    1. I find the busy life – too little time to paint can be linked to growing the lead pile… Yes, I end up busy more stuff which I do not have time to paint/use. A vicious circle I expect there

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    2. Ahh a book is a good idea. I have a whole bunch of rule books AND novels from the black library so I might need to visit some of those. I also have a book called The Throne Of Bones which is very inspirational. Thanks mate

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  2. You really should not get into someone’s masculinity or femininity challenge only finding great defeat to counter “Depression, The Great,” moreover, one (1) thinks maybe using the words of others is so palatative and plageristic intuitively assuming you know of no ass. Therefore, ask yourself; why would a wise man ask for me? If I am not wise and I boo hoo the all mighty always then I accounted for in my withdrawals of addicting myself to drama and romance I may not get from a laclustion of no hair in steps and stones needing a throw at the reader… no need of thought, I yet to find mine still with no adherence to there wherewithatints of about facing my Hoorah of TenHitzpahge, I too busy wondering when I get out of addictions call of there falls of withdrawals to get to the Heiahaye and when I final LYrically sting to Stan the once and for all-D, notes not included but monotone and repulse for sure, “Taight,” ENd.

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  3. I hope a wallaby or a dingo or any random marsupial doesn’t take you out while your manhood level is suffering from an inability to change a tire! Anyway, how is it that you know how tight a ducks ass is (and why do you guys add the “r” to it. Mysteries. Oh yeah, you asked a good question which I will now get to. I withdrew for 33 fucking years, and I came back! Of course, I, much like Rip Van Winkle, found a very different hobby world. But during that time I had other hobbies and life to deal with. As you do now. I actually got so wrapped up in golf a few years ago that I had not time for anything else. I decided that had to change, and here I am. I focus on what I have a passion for, and try to do stuff, for lack of a better word, well. I know I’ll get back to my stuff if I fall off, and as I give myself goals to finish things, I usually have enough discipline to to finish stuff for a game, a convention, or even my contest. But that’s a self-imposed obligation based on the goals I set for myself. So, withdrawals are okay, as long as they happen because of life’s priorities- just keep passion and focus. Passion you have in abundance, and focus has been excellent lately for you as well compared to a few years back. And it’s showing. I’d just work on Coffinwood when you can, as long as it drives your passion forward. You can always come back to the rest. It will wait for you.

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  5. The key to answering this question lies to some extent in knowing what the big life change is that you are experiencing but that is private so let’s try and work around it.

    For some life changes there is little option but to weather the storm, let things settle and move on. The sort of thing I am thinking of here is a bereavement, marriage split, moving home, going to prison, serious financial issues or major problems with the kids. Shit happens and has to be dealt with and until resolved it is hard to return to the previous normality.

    If we are talking about none of these, and I hope we are not, then there is a good chance we are talking time stealers. Put simply, not enough time to do everything that you are being asked or required to do. As a general rule this comes down to prioritisation. There are 24 hours in a day, you sleep for 8, maybe work for 10 and have 6 left. The wife and three kids take an hour each so now you are left with 2 hours. An hour lost elsewhere is inevitable but dedicating an hour to yourself seems reasonable and shouldn’t be a guilt trip. Besides a quality hour to yourself will bring better quality out of the other 23 so consider it more of an investment, after all right now it is just leaving you frustrated! OK this might not work out daily but aim for an average over a week.

    Now how you spend that hour to yourself is entirely up to you of course but we can deal with that in the next instalment of TIM’s new book “Fuck the World and Just Focus on Modelling”.

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    1. I like the sound of that book. If you need a co-author or even someone to proof read it I’m your man hehe 😉 Wise words mate, as always. I think my focus is so much on everything that when I do have time to myself I’m exhausted so I just fall in a heap and watch horror movies. Roll on the end of June though because that’s when life should get back to normal. Or as normal as it can hehe. Border guy mentioned reading a book to do with the hobby which I think will help.

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  6. I will sometimes either watch some old favourite YouTube videos or just look through pictures of painted models. Sometime I will browse websites but that can be dangerous…

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  7. I hear what you are saying. Due to Covid-19, I lost my about this time last year. I did not realize how much time through out the day I was assembling and painting and photographing miniatures, until I started a new job three+ weeks ago. It hardly seems like I have anytime to much but work, prepare for work and vegetate during the week. Now I have forced myself to get out on Tuesdays and Thursdays to cycle (my other time sink hobby), with he hope of using Wednesdays and one of the weekend days to hobby/craft. Of course, the cycling mostly happens, because I joined a group and the “Makes” me go. I have yet to find a local gaming group (face-to-face indoor stuff is just starting back up, so that may change), thus, there isn’t that hook.
    Much Ike Mark Morin above, I took 15 years off from any modeling hobby – gaming, miniatures or scale models. Then the itch came back.
    I really don’t have any sound advice on how to beat this lack of time, and others have said things much more eloquently than I, so all I can offer is find a hole in your schedule, an hour, 30-minutes, whatever you can, and pencil that time/day into your calendar. I say pencil, because if you are suffering like I am, giving yourself the flexibility to move or skip a session keeps the depression bunnies away.
    Lastly, don’t beat yourself up too much. I have found that even just reading others posts helps. I have also found that I tend to stop posting when I get in this predicament myself, but I do need to just post something, anything just to stay connected with what feels like a big, welcoming, internet family.
    Oh, and good luck with he lug nuts!

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  8. I’m just going to answer the most immediate issue and that is I hope you’re not still stuck waiting to get that wheel sorted, given how long it’s taken me to comment! 😉 I tend to read up on stuff or plan projects when I can’t model, which keeps me going in the right direction!

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  9. Back when I worked in the real world ( yes I truly did have many proper jobs !) Balance was always an issue, 12 hour shifts 3 hour travel to and from work, and picking the children up for weekends, seemed to leave no time at all, being a bit of an insomniac ment I’d squeeze in the odd hour here and there, but when I had lunch breaks I would do sketches of ideas, or sometimes utilise the tools at work to work on large base pieces. There is no right or wrong answer to this dilemma, just what works for you mate

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  11. Its sad to say but I have the sort of mindless job that I’ve been doing for so long (30+ years) that I can now literally do it without engaging my brain, so I spend all day thinking, planning or dreaming about miniatures (I might be producing absolute crap at work but I’m happy!!).

    So in my case Modelling really is like sex, I spend more time thinking about it than doing it! I have no idea what the rest of us there are thinking about…football probably 😉

    I also read a lot of historical fiction novels (though strangely I don’t paint historical figures).

    Cheers Roger.

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    1. Haha you make me giggle mate. I used to have a similar job where I’d dream about songs I wanted to write. Now my work is physically full on but I listen to podcasts alllll day and half of them are hobby related ones which sometimes inspire me.

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  12. No shame in needing help with that tire, mate. I’m not very handy with cars myself. Hopefully you get it taken care of and you made it home safely!

    I don’t know if I have any tips in how to deal but I do the same thing as what you’re doing when I go on a trip or something like that and can’t paint. While it isn’t much solace, I have gotten ideas for projects during those “creative brainstorming” sessions so there is some value in them in that sense. I hope you’re able to return to your brushes and paints soon. It is hard to be forced to step away from the hobby, especially if it is during a trying time where some therapeutic hobby time is invaluable!

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    1. It had definitely been a bit of a trying time but there’s a light at the end of the tunnel 👍🏼 The car got sorted but it just bothered me because I’ve changed a hundred tyres over my years haha. Ah well. The guy that came to help ended up being a real character and we had a good laugh.

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  13. Mate, sounds like you’re having a hell of a time of it at the moment. Hopefully you got the wheel off in the end and you’re not still stuck out there in the bush. I had a tire blow out a couple of winters ago in a blizzard, only to realise that I’d leant my jack to a mate and the swine hadn’t given it back. Luckily an incredibly posh lady came along and leant me her jack – I think she thought this was all just a fine adventure.

    As for the hobby withdrawal symptoms, I’m not sure how helpful my advice will be because I don’t really have an answer myself. I find when life is a bit flat out that I really want to hobby but when I actually sit down I just don’t have the energy. I’ve managed to finish a few things off lately but some of the time it’s almost felt like a chore. It gets frustrating because I look forward to it so much and then when I finally get the chance I can’t muster the enthusiasm. So “I feel your pain”. I almost think its better not to build it up to much in your head, just do whatever you need to so you can chill out – the hobby will still be there when life gets easier. And of course if you do get the chance to pick up the brushes don’t overburden yourself with expectations or goals, the only priority is to relax. Take care bud! 🙂

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    1. You’re a wise fella my friend and it’s all very sound advice. I am very much looking forward to getting back to the brushes but for now I really do need to focus on other things. However I wrote out a list of ideas/projects today which quenched my thirst for something/anything hobby related

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  14. F…! mate! with all that good advice I don’t think this old Irishman can help you,its not that you have that English racism against us it just that I’m as clever with the words like our learned friends, as I have said before we are so lucky that we have have formed a brilliant group of great people that are willing to support each other even though there is little chance of meeting face to face. To me Its great and of course we all fall in a hole ever so often but we that don’t have real difficulties generally get through, remember its just a fun hobby mate! and the family is always First!!!! I was going to write something really cruel that you and big W would have love but even this old c>>>> is getting worried about the offended W/C’s

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  15. I just try to remind myself that things change and when the time is right, I’ll be back painting again. In the meantime, try and find some small moments where you can at least make plans and keep the creative juices going. It’s important to find moments if you can’t find hours. But most of all, don’t beat yourself up about it! 🙂 Strangely had the same tyre problem this week and left a professional with some serious mechanical help to sort it!

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  16. Missed you mate, hadn’t realised it was a flat tire that had kept you away from the blog … well I suppose Oz is a big old place, would take you months to get anywhere. Seriously though hope to see you back with the models agIn soon.

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  17. I hope things get better soon and you can get back to devoting more time to the stuff you love. I know it sucks when you have the passion and urge to create but time just isn’t on your side.
    I try to collect inspiration or do little bits of research when that’s going on so that when I can finally get back at what I really want to be working on, I have some new-found info/inspiration to help fuel my creativity. Notes always help too, just jotting down ideas that pop up so that squirrel brain doesn’t forget them by the time I can actually work on it. Haha

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