It can be a tough thing for sure. Sometimes I look back at how much time I have spent on here and when I add up all the money I have pulled out and how much my account is a person could easily say it wasn't worth the time.
I go back and forth on it as well and I will start doing the math on how much I would have to power up to really make gains overtime. It is hard to do because there is always that voice in the back of your head worried that the price will drop some and your time will be eroded away.
Also another thing that is hurting STEEM is that so many people are converting alt coins to BTC to get the "free" coins so it is sort of a drain for the time being.
Suddenly if Steem got up to $2.50 again we would all be pumped again.