Lacking enthusiasm for cubing

[Wakey]

Hi folks,

I bit of background, I started learning in my late thirties and now 5
years later I'm calling myself a beginner/intermediate. It takes me a lot of
hard work to get anywhere and I've always struggled.

But lately I don't really want to pick up the cube, when I do I get
frustrated because I'm a bit crap (because I haven't practiced) and
generally feel Why Bother? Deep down I don't want to let it go but I've
seemed to have lost my spark for it.

So, any tips and advice for me to help get me out of this rut?

Cheers all,

Wakey

[5BLD]

Go meet some others who enjoy cubing. That'll remind you of how much fun it was

[Zarxrax]

If you don't enjoy it then give it up. Our hobbies and stuff change over the years. I used to be into stuff and I would think "there's no way I could ever get tired of this, I'll still be doing this when I'm an old man!". But after a while, the flame starts to dim, and the good times only exist as the memories from days gone by. When you are doing something, especially a hobby which is supposed to be "for fun", you shouldn't have to force yourself.

[jeff081692]

Practice without a timer and pick up the cube only when you want to. Many people have gone so far as to quit cubing for a while (me included) and came back to it and are enjoying it even more.
Unless you are training to meet a specific goal by a specific deadline there is no reason why you should cube when you don't want to.
If the thing is you don't like to cube much because you are not as good as you want to be then we can also help you get better by answering any questions you have.

[cmhardw]

14 year cuber here, and yes I have times like this as well. If you do really want to stick with cubing then try doing something new. Buy a new puzzle and try to learn to solve it without using any help. Try doing blindfold solving, or one-handed, or fewest moves and see if any of those are fun.

If none of that helps, then put the cube down for a couple weeks or month or so and come back to it. Getting into a rut of always speedsolving does get old, but if you can switch it up to learn something new then that is always fun. Challenge yourself to get a sub-30 fewest moves single (or sub-28 or whatever). Challenge yourself to solve the 3x3x3 blindfolded (or do a 3/3 multi or whatever).

For example, I too get bored of speedsolving over and over like you mention. However, even to this day if I get a successful 5x5x5 blindfolded solve I still grin from ear to ear and fist pump from the sheer excitement of it all Just find that thing about cubing that you like most, or try new things as maybe you haven't yet discovered what that thing is for you yet.

[MarcelP]

I started learning in my late thirties and now 5
years later I'm calling myself a beginner/intermediate. It takes me a lot of
hard work to get anywhere and I've always struggled.

Hi Wakey,

I have just recently started. You sound my like age. I am 42 now. I really would like to know how much you progressed in these 5 years. What are your average times now?

[RaresB]

Happens to me all the time, just sign up for a comp and go, you will get the good feeling back

[rickcube]

I'd definitely have to agree with Chris. Try a different puzzle or a different event. Keeping things varied keeps things interesting and can also lead to faster improvement.

[Smiles]

I cubed casually for 2 years, and quit for a little over a year before coming back.
I've been going at it pretty well for 3.5 months, learning new things and actually joining this forum.
I naturally lost my interest before, and I probably will some time in the future. You can't force yourself to like something.
If you can go a while without wanting to cube or without taking interest in the cube, maybe it's time to do something different.