I'm a graduate student, studying high energy particle physics. Research in particle physics is something I have wanted to do since I was 13 years old. Many people have dreams at that age, but as they grow older, they find that they didn't really understand what would be required of them, in one sense or another. This has not been my experience. The more science and mathematics that I learned, the more enthusiastic I became. I enjoy solving problems and working out equations; I enjoy programming simulations of physical systems; and I enjoy working in the lab, using equipment to get data, and then analyzing it. I do physics because I can keep doing it without getting bored, discouraged, etc. longer than I can do anything else.
That's not to say that there are never times when I get bored or discouraged, but those specific instances are uncommon enough that they haven't put me off the field as a whole. I certainly empathize with your distaste for MasteringPhysics (although it's not the worst online homework system that I've seen; that dubious distinction goes to WileyPlus). I was fortunate enough to attend an undergraduate program in which the physics majors did not have to deal with online systems, but I'm now a teaching assistant for a course which does use MasteringPhysics. As a TA, I can see the answers for my class' homework assignments, and even then I'm still sometimes mystified at what the system is doing.
It can be frustrating when you know you've worked out a problem correctly, but you get no credit from the online system because of some minute detail. The scoring often doesn't reflect your understanding. However, the actual act of working out the solutions to the problems should still be a little fun, at least sometimes. And, of course, academic physics is not all there is to physics: learning to do research and lab work is just as important, generally. If you're really not enjoying any of these things, physics may not be for you, and that's okay.
Lest I be accused of other-optimizing, I'm definitely not saying that everyone should hold out until they find something which is to them as physics is to me: an area in which they enjoy working, have some skill, and can make a living. That may just not be possible for some people, due to whatever combination of influences that controls their skills and what they find enjoyable, as well as the constraints imposed by economic feasibility. Many of us will have to go for two out of three on that list, at best. To be honest, whether or not I can make a long-term living in physics is still an open question. Much of my research contributions involve software and programming, since I'm pretty good at it (at least among physicists), so I could probably secure a software job without too much difficulty. However, I find physics more meaningful, and that gives me more drive and interest than I might have working on some arbitrary coding project. Tradeoffs like that are, for the time being, part of life (as long as basic resources remain scarce).
One parting note: don't get too down on yourself for having those days where you just want to vegetate with some entertainment. That happens to me, too. It's okay to take some time to ourselves now and again; trying to be productive all the time will just lead to burning out.
If you're expecting anything but a long post by an LW lurking college student asking sincerely for some advice, you should read The Curse of Identity, the article that spurred this very post. It's a good read, regardless of my advice-seeking status. With that said: Hello. I'm an LW lurking college student in need of advice, and this is my long post asking for it. I hope this isn't inappropriate.
Mainly, this comes down to my hardly having a satisfying direction in life. I'm ignorant as to the reasons behind my lack of some fully functional inner compass. Is it that I just haven't found my passion—my niche in life? Or am I just lazy? Are the goals I want to achieve products of genuine interest, or are they methods of preserving a reputation which I (admittedly) very much enjoy having? Is my discouragement something I must use instrumental rationality to overcome, a sign that I'm fooling myself; one I should listen to and change something, or just a natural feeling when a particular situation is difficult? Is my not having direction a reasonable, youth-related status (is 22 that young?), or a sign that I've been doing something horribly wrong?
I've always enjoyed, and associated myself with writing and literature—but not to the extent that I feel the need to pursue a formal academic degree for them. When I started school, I majored in Philosophy because I like different philosophies, philosophizing, and the philosophers who did so before me. Then I dropped out for a couple of years and lived half-way across the U.S. with (at the time) my girlfriend. Currently, I'm back in school majoring in Physics and Mathematics (I've always wanted to study sub-atomic particles—I also enjoy mathematics, mathematical thinking, etc., and the two compliment one another well).
And the only constant through all of this is that I'd rather sit down, shut off my brain, and play video games until my eyes redden and I can crawl into bed and sleep instantly. But whenever I have those days, I feel like I've wasted huge amounts of time when I could otherwise be doing something productive.
In fact, I used to say I'd have a profession in the video game industry when I was younger; computers and video games have always been a huge part of my life, and I love programming (though I've never taken any formal classes, so I'm by no means an expert. My referring to it generally as "programming" is probably indicative of my being a novice). I considered whether or not I should change my major to something computer related—but, since this is what usually happens, I'm not sure whether or not it'd be a worthwhile thing to do. Will my love for programming fade away as I'm introduced to more rigorous methods and subject to various assignments and deadlines? Do I just dislike structure? Need I force myself into enjoying a more structured environment? Is this even a question of whether or not I enjoy a particular field?
Oh, no. No, no, no . . . am I . . . am I a free spirit!?
Potential Solution
Just writing this post has helped me in organizing my thoughts, and I'm considering this: Take all of my questions (they've got to be fininte) and provide counter-examples that would help me answer them. So, "Is it just the way it's taught and the way I'm learning it that brings about my discouragement, which brings about these questions?" Might be counter-questioned by my asking myself, "Is there something enjoyable I can think of that, regardless of how it's taught or how I'm learning it, I'd still thoroughly enjoy?"
What is the better way of going about this? Where am I being particularly irrational or biased? How would you folks go about solving this?
Apologies if this post is convoluted or confusing.
Edit: Thanks for all your responses, guys. They've been immensely helpful. The main points I've gathered are:
a) There's nothing particularly irrational or unreasonably biased in what my position is—it's normal.
b) Passion and enjoyment aren't necessities for a satisfying, fulfilling direction (though they help). If anything, the idea of working for your "passion" is a kind of feel-good idiom.
There've also been posted some excellent articles:
Curing Deep Procrastination
The Science of Loving What You Do
Approval and Low-Effort Behaviors