Researching interests but not actually taking part

Without details of your researched interest I can not advise pricisely, but I will provide my general insight.

It seems you are showing some characteristics of ADHD, problem with starting and frequent change in particular. The issue here is complex, but to simplify It's initial investment - be it time or other resources, and how tangible the reward is in comparison to our expectation.

To give an example:

Two years ago I stumbled upon some rock climbing videos, I was hooked. Spent hours on learning nomenclature, researched on equipment, people. I idealised that me, one day, will climb along Tommy Caldwell. Initial fascination, motivation and inspiration was extremely high, but then came reality. Me, slightly overweight in late 30's with acrophobia. It would take years to build core and finger strength sufficient enough to climb 'easy' rocks, yet alone climb along Tommy.

The same with bikepacking, I could research on ultralight equipment, count grams on 'virtual' items and plan route, camping spots etc. Reality? Financial investment versus family/job in comparison of high expectation ( 2-3 week long trips)

My advise? Try finding interests that do not require high resource investment to be good at, give satisfaction even if you are not good at, and have tengible outcome. 

Wooden spoon carving comes to my mind. Initial cost of soft wood stol... extracted from local forest and few carving knives from well known swedish manufacturer - cheep as chips, as you Brits like to say; it's manual and sensory stimulating - texture of wood, smell of freshly carved wood; and in the worst case scenario, you will end up with ugly cereal spoon, but It will be your creation and will bring you smile every time you look at it. 

Good luck.

Thank you so much for your reply. 

a typical Autist said:

My advise? Try finding interests that do not require high resource investment to be good at,

I couldn't help but smile at this comment as the interests which I am referring to but didn't mention are sewing and gardening. So it's hardly having to get myself up a mountain or spend hundreds of pounds.

I don't really think about the reward...what I will have achieved by the end. That thought doesn't actually occur.

I have read before about ADHD and I don't think it's this as I couldn't relate to some other aspects. My AS report did mention autistic inertia which I think is apt. Once I get started on something it can be difficult to stop. But it's the shifting state into the getting stared phrase I find difficult. And tend to give up at the first hurdle.

I don't think I have got the patience for wood carving!

Unknown said:

I don't think I have got the patience for wood carving!

But you think you have patience to sow a seed in march and waiting till august to see how it will come out?

Unknown said:

So it's hardly having to get myself up a mountain or spend hundreds of pounds.

Don't think about it this way, maybe it's the emotional investement?

My wife used to design and sew bags, really good one. Problem was, she was so focused on making it perfect, one bag could take 5 days easily, 8-10 hours a day. That's 50 work hours or £500 at minimum wage just in time investement on one bag, and who would want to work for minimum wage if one would be aware of ones exceptional capabilities? If she knew someone will always buy her bag for £5000, she would sew passionately to this day, but reality is different.

Unknown said:

I have read before about ADHD and I don't think it's this as I couldn't relate to some other aspects

Remember, you perceive yourself in a different way then others perceive you.

Take for example, risky behaviour. In my view, not risky at all, yet whenever I meet other cyclists, they look at me with disaproval. Put a helmet on you idiot! You gonna kill yourself! - is what often hear.

And yet I know, when I put helmet on, I can't  focus, I think about that helmet, it's weight, how it affects air circualtion, I overheat, so forth. Without helmet, I feel united with bike it's like bike is me, my  hyperawareness kicks in, I don't see cars, I feel them, it's like sixth sens.

Please don't think i'm projecting ADHD on you, if you do I am deeply sorry, it was not my intention.

I'm not a clinician, just hobbyst researcher.

Unknown said:

Once I get started on something it can be difficult to stop

Do you keep going even in the event of constant failures? Or maybe you keep going because you are fueled by your successes?

It's difficult to stop even when I'm doing something for work for example. As for continuing despite failures it depends how much of a flow I am in.

In terms of your wife's bags, to me if a job is worth doing, it's worth doing well. However, hobby is different to paid work. I still have this outlook but sometimes you have to cut corners. I am hourly paid and about half of my work is done at home but with no set hours.  It's in my interests to get it done as quickly as possible otherwise I end up being on about £5per hour. This is when I need to recognise "STOP" or, "that will do".

It's difficult to stop even when I'm doing something for work for example. As for continuing despite failures it depends how much of a flow I am in.

In terms of your wife's bags, to me if a job is worth doing, it's worth doing well. However, hobby is different to paid work. I still have this outlook but sometimes you have to cut corners. I am hourly paid and about half of my work is done at home but with no set hours.  It's in my interests to get it done as quickly as possible otherwise I end up being on about £5per hour. This is when I need to recognise "STOP" or, "that will do".