Is it normal to be unmotivated to have a social life?

What's "normal" for one person may be abnormal for another.

If you are happy and your behavior is not causing you any difficulties, then there is nothing to worry about.

If you want to change your behavior but find that you are having difficulty doing so, then you might consider doing something which requires a commitment to others and gets you out of the house at the same time.

Volunteer at the food bank or animal shelter. Read stories to preschoolers or visit senior citizens in the convalescent home. Deliver meals to the homebound or become a docent at the museum.

There are all kinds of opportunities you can take which will get you out of your comfort zone and into life's opportunities.

But before you do any of that, remember this: If you are happy the way you are, then don't worry about what anyone else thinks you 'should' be doing.

Allow yourself to be who you are.

Believe me, I know a lot of people who have very demanding jobs who feel just like you do. My sister is a teacher who puts in over 60 hours a week. With that kind of schedule, it's no wonder she prefers to sleep most of the weekend!

If you work in a sales position but you are actually an introvert, you may be quite successful but exhausted for the effort. There's a famous book called "Please Understand Me" that contains a personality test that will help you break it down if you're interested. There is a chapter in the book that speaks about how extroverts are energized by others and introverts are more easily drained.

On the one hand, if you've gone from feeling like a very outgoing person in the past and have seen a dramatic shift in your behavior and a loss of interest in activities you formerly enjoyed, it could be depression. On the other hand, if you've always had the gift of being content in your own skin and don't need the constant attention of others to validate or entertain you, it suggests that this is a characteristic of your temperament/personality. The fact that everyone has different strengths, weaknesses and aptitudes both intellectually and socially is the spice of life! 

jfwiw -- I'm exactly the same. 

I'm a woman who has always been a recluse.  I would come home from work and pull the moat in after me every weekend.  even now that I'm retired -- I'd rather be home than out and about.

in case you're interested, I post a spiritual blog that explains that old souls act exactly this way.  they aren't interested in creating more karma -- so they tend to shy away from creating contact with others.

here's a relevent post in case you'd like to pursue the idea:

http://the-turtles-back.blogspot.com/2008/06/old-soul.html

Trial and error may be the best way to find out. Try some online dating. You will be able to describe the kind of guy you want so that the computers can do the work in finding a good match for you. Take your time by emailing and then talking on the phone. See if you want to go beyond that and actually meet the person. Plentyoffish.com is free and a good start for you. Advance to Match.com or eHarmony. The later may be better for you since it has guided communication which may be better for the neophyte at dating. 

Gale, invite a friend (Male) to some place (Maybe Las Vegas NV) I recommend you to don't use the radio or CD player in that way the only option is:Conversation.

Yes, talking one to another in opennes and confidence you can share your desires, dreams, frustrations and everything you wish.

Don't feel ashamed to do that, enjoy the most of everything in that trip without fears, go to places you never went before and don't worry about taboos, because what is taboo for so many for others is normal life, I don't say to do something you can later feel ashamed but experiment to lok for yourself.

Live your life in plenitude because outside from your own house is where somebody is waiting to you to come out to make you happy and see the beauty and nasty of this voyage called LIFE!

Sh4dox!

PS. Forgive my poor skill to write english correctly

I don't belive it is abnormal, i guess becuase you are an outdoor sales persons and you work hard,that is why the free time u have you relax.I am usually busy at university as well,have lots of friends but he free time i have i choose to be at home sleeping or listening to some music. I know that once that free time is over i will be all busy again with little time to sleep or listen to a new song or watch tv.So you see there are others like you only difference is i am a guy.Hope this answered your question.Please don't feel you are not normal.

Romanus

Modern society is one that tends to be antisocial in that it enables people to feed social needs through TV. Movies and soapies and news shows have many aspects of normal social interactions without the physical or emotional risks of two way social intercourse.

Interactive media such as email, blogs, and video conferencing such as cyber sex; is also safer than traditional interactions.

In a work situation we have a script to work from and while we are in business mode genuine more in-depth social intercourse can be avoided or may even be taboo.

More people today are short sighted because they have less opportunities or motivations to go outside and look at the horizon. If we spend most of our time reading books or inside small rooms or watching TV up close, during the formative age for eye development our eyes focus on things close to us making us short sighted. 

Similarly if we are in constrained social environments when we develop our social makeup we will become more or less inward or outward looking in a social sense.

According to Maslov's Needs Hierarchy higher needs will not concern us while our baser needs are not seen to be met. A person who is focused on surviving from day to day or building a career will often put on hold less pressing needs for social interactions or self actualization or discovering the meaning of life.

In our society your situation is sadly very normal.

     O.K. Gale. You and I sound exactly alike. I tend to follow the same patterns. On my days off, I catch up on my rest, do my laundry and watch DVD's. I have no interest in seeing or speaking with anyone. I know a number of people whose company I would enjoy, however, I choose to relax at home alone. I've considered as to whether I'm suffering a mild form of depression . The symptoms are there, but I think I'm happy just being alone. I have no interaction with anyone on holidays either. I don't dread the holiday's, I just don't participate. I'm unmotivated . Perhaps we both should examine the reasons for this behavior. We could very well be suffering from depression. I've not spoken with a professional for fear that the bill for counseling would certainly send me into a depressed state. I suggest that we both check Web MD for answers. Personally, I don't think we have a problem. We're both just lazy.