There are days when you will
struggle to do even the easiest task. A short email can feel like an hour long
torture session. These days can really test your will.
These rough days also give you a
great opportunity to achieve significant personal growth at work. When you are
struggling the most, you should rely on every resource you have.
I put together a list of 9 things
you can do to shake off your blues and boost your motivation:
- Make Someone Laugh
Enticing a laugh out of a friend is
one of my favorite energy boosters. I’m not a comedian, but I do like to be
goofy and let go of my serious side. A little silliness can make most people
laugh. If you not a silly person then just strike up a light hearted
conversation about family, sports, or movies. The laughs should come naturally
and if they don’t, at least you got to know your co-worker a little better.
- Drink Coffee/Tea
I’m not much of a coffee drinker; I
like to drink iced or warm tea as a pick-me-up. However, when I’m at work and
my energy is low there are times when I go for a cup of coffee.
Whatever your drink of choice may
be, sometimes you just need an extra boost to bring that energy level up.
- Find Purpose in Your Work
I’ve had plenty of terrible
projects to work on at various jobs. One of my most dreaded was stuffing
marketing bags by the 1,000s for an event. One year I had to stuff 3,000 bags
with our newsletter, small flashlight, and a coupon. My neck, back and wrists
were throbbing after it was all over. This tension caused a splitting headache
for the drive home.
I vowed to find a mental hack so
that this type of task did not feel so torturous. I almost gave up after trying
various techniques that didn’t work, but then I tried the most obvious hack of
them all. I looked for the reason why I chose to stay with the work. Whether I
thought about the fact that I was making my boss happy, keeping my job so I
could pay my rent, and developing my internal happiness during tough
situations. I realized that it kept coming back to purpose. By finding a reason
to stay engaged with my work, I was able to relax and not wish that I was doing
something else.
- Picture a Positive Outcome
Your motivation may be low because
you can’t envision the outcome. Or maybe you see a finished product that looks
terrible.
I have a friend who loves to draw,
but every time he is asked to do a drawing he hesitates. He told me that the
first thing that pops in his head is a disappointed face when he hands over the
drawing to his client.
My friend is an amazing artist and
yet he can’t envision the value that other people see in his talents.
Next time your motivation is low,
try picturing the person who receives the finished project as being so happy
that s/he can’t help but give you a big bear hug.
- Ask for Positive Feedback
Many of us are too shy to encourage
a compliment out of someone. It’s a shame because even a compliment that we
fish for can boost us. So give this a try:
Don’t ask a boss or
co-worker for an outright compliment, but talk about how you see yourself and
ask them how they see you. 99.99% of people will start listing your strengths.
If they start listing your weaknesses don’t cut them off. Just listen with an
open mind and know that you can focus on the positive aspects after the
conversation is over.
- Apply an Eight Hour Habit Fix
Let’s say you procrastinate when it
comes to writing certain emails. Today, just for today, you won’t
procrastinate. No matter what type of email that you have to write, you will
just do it.
You need to stop letting habits get
in the way of accomplishing your goals. I would suggest a 30 day “habit fix” to
make it permanent, but that requires a lot of work. Many of you don’t have time
to focus 30 days on such a fix. So try 8 hours and see how you feel. Take one
work day to focus on breaking a habit that you think is holding you back. Every
time your attention slips away and you fall back into old habits, gently remind
yourself to stay focused.
After your 8 hours is up, check in
to see how you feel. Did you get more accomplished? Do you feel more relaxed,
or are you more stressed? If it felt good then try a 30 day habit fix and see
if you can’t make this positive habit a regular habit.
- Clean Your Work Space
A clean workplace helps clear the
mind. It’s hard to focus when you’re surrounded by clutter. There are more
distractions to get lost in.
Try cleaning up your desk. Put away
any extraneous papers, dust off your monitor, and clean up the files on your
computer. Once you have a clear external area, it’s easier to deal with your
internal decision making process.
- Make a Short and Easy “To Do” List
Too many of us try to make a list
that we can’t accomplish, then at the end of the day we feel depressed and
unproductive. The reality is that we still got a lot done. Yes, we probably
could have been 10% more efficient, but that doesn’t mean we should beat
ourselves up. We need a little day dreaming to keep our creative juices
flowing.
Try making a short and easy list
that you know you will be able to accomplish. I know those of you who are “go
getters” will try to push yourself to get more done, but try with all your
might to refrain from doing this. A short and easy list makes the work seem
possible
- Reward Yourself for a Completed Task
You need to take time to feel good
about the work that you do. If you are too busy rushing to the next thing then
you aren’t soaking in the feelings that keep you motivated.
If you are reading this post and
you got this far, I bet that you are a self motivated person. This goes double
for you. You need to thank yourself for all your hard work because it’s the
only way you know you will get rewarded. You can’t always rely on someone else,
so…
- Take five minutes and look back on your good work
- Go for a short walk (Out in nature. It’s the best place to rejuvenate yourself)
- Buy a healthy lunch that won’t weigh you down
You know the type of rewards you like best, so make sure to
give yourself the time and attention that keeps you feeling good
