Ever get burnt out?

[RA40]

I've been consistent the last 3-4 years going to get weekly practice. A few breaks during the holidays when activities come up, etc. Lately have not really enjoyed myself. I push because I tell myself, "need regular practice, etc..."

What do you guys do to keep motivated?

 

[WestKentucky]

When its no longer fun it’s a chore, not a hobby. Back off and try something else for a while. When your rested a bit you can get back to it.

 

[GBExpat]

I've been consistent the last 3-4 years going to get weekly practice.

Wow. If I get out shooting once a month I am doing well ... and my range is in my backyard.

I agree with WestKentucky, back off for awhile and your shooting mojo will eventually return.

 

[sparkyv]

My interest seems to move around. I switch between centerfire rifles, centerfire handguns, 22 rifles, 22 pistols, a little shotgun, refocus on reloading, a little smithin', target shooting, plinking, silhouette, etc., and etc. It keeps it interesting, and I get the trigger time I need.

And I agree with W.Ky:

When its no longer fun it’s a chore, not a hobby. Back off and try something else for a while. When your rested a bit you can get back to it.

 

[Rick in Iowa]

I have given surplus pistols as gifts to my parents and my sister this year. Their excitement keeps me motivated. I do not want to make any assumptions about your personal life, but maybe get someone important to you interested in your hobby; it worked for me at least.

 

[Doc Samson]

My interest seems to move around. I switch between centerfire rifles, centerfire handguns, 22 rifles, 22 pistols, a little shotgun, refocus on reloading, a little smithin', target shooting, plinking, silhouette, etc., and etc. It keeps it interesting, and I get the trigger time I need.

This^! When I find my interest in one aspect waning, I try to focus on something different or... just take a break and find another hobby to add to the rotation! Pushing yourself can be good up to a point but burning out is never good!

 

[Good Ol' Boy]

No.

The weather keeps me longing for more. I can shoot at my house but lately the weather has been keeping me from shooting outside altogether, home or comps. The closest indoor range is an hour away, and I do try to get there when the weather stops outdoor opportunities.

I generally shoot at least once a week and in an ideal world it would be a little just about every day. Love it.

 

[Officers'Wife]

The main thing is to keep challenging yourself. A certain unnamed idiot who shall remain my brother is an expert at coming up with new and challenging targets. One of his little games involve putting an eye screw in a golf ball then tying it to a cross brace. So when you have five or six of the suspended golf balls on a windy day… Actually hitting one at 50 meters gives a true sense of accomplishment.

In most cases burnout comes from doing the same thing day after day after day. What was once satisfying becomes monotonous. There's an old rock song that one of the main lines goes something like – when the thrill is gone it's time to get it back. Since I do not know what your original goals that thrilled you were, I cannot advise you. But perhaps it's time for you to sit down and analyze your performance and perhaps find a new goal to further your craft.

 

[Zerodefect]

Yeah, I get burnt out. I try a different class or instructor every once in a while.

Kinda forced to train right that way. Cost's more than regular range time, but it's worth it.

 

[Zaydok Allen]

Take a break. You'll get back to it.

I never get to shoot enough to ever get burned out. I shot twice last week and I could have giggled like a kid.

 

[375supermag]

Hi...
I never get burned out on my hobbies.
I shoot, hunt and reload ammunition.
I study military history and paleontology.
If I get bored temporarily with one hobby, I just focus on another.
I also have two Labrador Retrievers...no burn out there. Never a dull day when you are owned by multiple Labs.

 

[caribou]

Its just plain COLD outside, and if I do nothing, well, somethings gonna happen...........

 

[Walkalong]

What do you guys do to keep motivated?

When i get tired of it, I just take a break, then one day I decide to go shoot and it is almost as good as the first time.

 

[loose noose]

Never get tired of shooting, the only problem I've had is my health, as well as the wind that seems to blow on a daily basis, However when ever I get the chance you'll find me lugging my targets out to my truck for the 5-10 minute drive into the desert to start my shooting. Then a again the summer months are unbearable out here, so I'll load up the motor home for the cooler areas of the northern mid west, never a dull minute.

 

[Drail]

Spend a night in Compton. That ought to get you motivated.

 

[JONWILL]

I go to an indoor range. I probably spend 1/2 my time BSing with the other shooters.

I do practice, mainly my CCW stuff, but also do fun shooting.

 

[Labguy47]

Not in the least, I shoot once a month indoor pistol and once a month outdoor rifle. Once in a very great while I will even bust some clays. Too much variety in my shooting to get bored with it. Finding the time for more is the hard part.

 

[hso]

Yep, but then I have other collections and hobbies and I get burnt out from those as well. The interest comes back and so goes life.

 

[bassjam]

I won't say I get burnt out, but I've been going on 2.5 years of pretty big house projects every weekend. So when there's that odd couple hours when I have nothing going on, I don't often feel like shooting. I have made it a point to take my daughter shooting at least a few times during the year, but I don't think I even ran 100 rounds through my CC gun over the summer, which is pretty bad for me.

 

[Doublehelix]

I was just thinking recently that sometimes I feel as if I am training so hard for my competition (USPSA and Steel Challenge matches) that I lose the "fun" of shooting with buddies just for the heck of it.

It dawned on me about a week ago that I did not even take any of my rifles out of the safe once this year!!! Not once! I love to go out and plink around with my AR-15's and blast away, or even do some benchrest bullseye accuracy shooting. Nothing ALL YEAR. How about taking out the .22 and go plinking?

Get some buddies together for some good old fashioned fun and smack talking!!! It is a blast, and I miss it sometimes.

I am going to make sure next season is a mix of "fun and work", and even though it is important to train for competition, we can't stop having fun either.

I just got a revolver that I have ZERO plans to compete with. It will be just a "fun gun".Time to get out and shoot it and smile a lot!

 

[CraigC]

I've had long lapses in my shooting but never from burn-out. There are other things I do that interest me but they're all related to guns and shooting. Such as leather work, primitive archery and I've been dabbling in knife making.

 

[drband]

You can get burned out in any repetitive activity. So far, shooting, reloading, and perusing interesting firearms has not caused me to come close to burnout! It's enjoyable and I have to work at making time for this hobby because of other commitments. I guess if I was able to shoot more, I might feel differently.

 

[Browning]

Sure, I have. At that point I've started to go slightly less and then challenged myself more when I went. Don't go for a month or two and then take a two day course. Or try new drills. Anything to change it up.

 

[cheygriz]

When I just don't feel like shooting, or loading, I often go to the "Legion" and drink coffee and visit with other old veterans.

In moderate or warm weather, I'll call one of my rancher friends and volunteer to bring my 4 wheeler out and ride his fence line.

I can always find something interesting, and productive, to do.

 

[Sniper66]

Never get burned out. Sure, I get tired or my interest shifts. Used to love hunting pheasants, but with feet and ankle problems my ability takes a hit, but never lose interest. Sounds like our OP has turned this into a chore, a routine, as others have said. Hey Pardner, don't let that happen. Shift gears. Lots of good advice here. As far as range shooting goes, I could easily get tired of that. When I go, I have a goal, like zeroing my squirrel rifles or prairie dog rifles in preparation for a hunt. Or I'll focus on trigger squeeze or sight alignment or load testing or go with a friend who just got a new rifle or pistol. Sometimes I visit with other shooters or spend a bit of time clearing old targets off backboards or sweep up old brass...doing my part to keep our range tidy. And getting out of the house is always a blessing for me.