“I just can’t get motivated at work.”

“I’m constantly thinking about anything but my job.”

“I’d rather be anywhere else, but here right now.”

“Blah, Blah, Blah…”

Sound familiar?  If you’re a living, breathing, working human, chances are you’ve come to this wall at some point in your career.  Of course, there are those that truly despise their jobs, and are looking for any possible way to sabotage the situation, but I’m not talking about them.  I’m talking about you.  You’ve worked hard to get ahead, you’ve built relationships, and you truly love (ok, like) your job.  You’ve just come to a serious roadblock, and your motivation is drained.

So, what’s the remedy?  Maybe it’s your lack of patience…

First, let’s find out what creature is feasting on your will to work, and then we’ll talk solutions.

Top Motivation Suckers

1. You’re Overworked.  How many hours a week are you working?  If it’s become commonplace for you to work 50 or 60 (or more) hours a week, please know, THAT’S NOT NORMAL.  Even if all the cool kids are doing it, working over 40 hours a week is going to break you down.  A clear sign you’re overworked: Your spouse karate chops you when you come through the door before 8PM, assuming you’re an intruder.    
2. You’re Bored. You’re thinking this: “In just one hour, it will only be six more hours until I only have one more hour of work.” Or, you’re actually checking your voicemail.
3. Your Boss (or a colleague) is a Debbie Downer.  dun dun dun.  Just when you think you’re going to have a good day, Jan from Marketing comes in and tells you how her pet chinchilla lost its battle to rodent diabetes, and could you please bring a casserole to the memorial?  Or, you have a legitimate concern, but you feel like you can’t tell your boss because you know too much about how depressing her life actually is.  It’s enough to suck any last bit of workspiration (TM) right out of your soul.

If you’ve made it this far in this article, I’m going to assume, patience is not the enemy.  If you identified with any or all of the above suckers of motivation, these tips might help get you back on track.

1. Take a break.  And by break, I mean a vacation.  If being overworked is what is killing your motivation, some time off could be a life saver.  It seems obvious, but many busy professionals fear their productivity will suffer with time off.  On the contrary, taking the time to refresh your mind can boost productivity and reignite your motivation.
2. Find a Challenge.  Climbing the ladder can take time, and when you get stuck on a rung, boredom can be the end of you.  Seek a special project, or join an extra-curricular office activity (yes, that’s a thing). If a professional challenge isn’t an option, find a challenge in your personal life to fill your need for adventure.  Nothing like a little bungie jumping to spark your motivation.
3. Be Positive.  It’s contagious.  You don’t get to choose your boss or your co-workers, but you do get to choose how you behave and what kind of energy you project.  If someone at work is bringing you down, just smile and walk away.  Or, if you can’t walk away, have a reasonable conversation about it.  Maybe Debbie doesn’t realize what a downer she is.

The quest to get motivated at work is something that every professional faces at some point.  CTC Productivity is here to help.  However, if your wife is a black belt, we might refer you to a medical professional.