when the feeling of hopelessness and no passion lasts more than 1 month, every single day of the month.
everyone has dips, it`s part of the human emotional roller coaster ride. but if we give up and drop it everytime we feel a dip, then nothing would get done.
if i feel in a slump, i just do somethin else for a while. the next day, during my morning startup routine, my reminders get me back in the mood to get back in the saddle.
it sounds like that article was talking about stuff that is not so important that you can leave it behind. if you have things lke that one your plate, then maybe you should eliminate them, and increase the time you spend on the most important things, and use the rest of the free time to enjoy life more. if you can enjoy life more, then the work becomes easier because you are not missing the fun due to "having" to do the work.