My fluctuating interests

It seems like my interests fluctuate a lot. I have a topic that interests me, do a lot of research, learn many new things, get excited. And then suddenly another topic pops up, which at the same time reduces my interest in the previous topics.

Am I just curious and my curiosity is simply sated after a while?

At the same time, I always feel the need to delve deep into research when something interests me. I am then almost obsessed with this topic. Occasionally, it doesn’t even leave me alone.

For example: In last month’s review, I wrote that I was researching a new bike. I wanted to finish my research and not buy a new bike, as I already have two.

But apparently that wasn’t the reality after all: I kept researching, and one morning I couldn’t even go back to sleep because I was thinking about it so much. And now I’ve actually ordered a new bike. But that’s not all, suddenly I’m also watching a lot of bike content on YouTube.

This is how it goes with many of my interests: For a while I’m obsessed with the topic, then again I’m not that interested in it anymore. The time span can range from a few hours to several months.

Other topics that come to mind: Cellular networks and cell phone plans, IndieWeb, open source, privacy, Linux, finance, stocks. Some interests, such as programming or blogging, remain the same over time, but with different intensity or focus: I used to be truly interested in app development, but now I’m more interested in backend topics.

But is that a good quality, or rather a weakness?

I don’t see it as a weakness. After all, the change in my interests is also a sign that I’m evolving, that I’m broadening my horizons. With every new topic that I research, my general knowledge increases. Some people delve deeper into a particular topic, where they become real experts, while I broaden my topics and pick up new subjects that I am at least somewhat familiar with.

And that I generally deal with topics in depth? I now admit that I am a nerd.

What about you?

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