Motivation in the workplace is something everyone struggles with from time to time. Staying focused and inspired at work is not a task that happens naturally. Here are nine ways to boost your motivation if you’ve been struggling.

Start With the Smaller Tasks First

Sometimes the hardest part of getting motivated is starting. Once you have begun a task, it ends up being easier to keep the energy to continue. Therefore, start with smaller, mindless tasks first. You’ll be able to cross something off your to-do list for the day, and then more seamlessly move into another task from there.

Get a Buddy for Accountability

Having someone to hold you accountable at work is a great way to stay motivated. Whether it’s a teammate in your department, someone working on a project with you, or just a friend in the office – commit to being each other’s accountability buddies. Motivate each other, and lean on each other to stay on track.

Set Goals

If you have no tangible plan, it’s easy to lose focus and inspiration. Knowing what you’re working towards, will keep you motivated. Set short- and long-term goals. Break them down into smaller manageable steps to make it easier to accomplish them. A feeling of accomplishment helps boost positivity and motivation, and in turn, helps you accomplish more.

Set Timers

When the tasks are feeling daunting, try setting timers for yourself. If you have a large project that you are working on, or a task that you have been putting off because of the effort and brainpower it takes to focus – set a timer. Start with 30 minutes, and when the 30-minutes are up, move on. Knowing you are focused and limited to that amount of time significantly helps productivity.

Allow Yourself Time to Recharge

Have you ever tried to power through something with very little energy? Your performance is low, productivity is low, and the time it takes to complete the task seems to double. Taking breaks from work helps boost long-term motivation and job satisfaction. If you are working on a strenuous project at work – switch over to an easier mindless task for a bit. If this is not possible, be sure to allow yourself time to recharge from work altogether. Over the weekend – unplug. Do some things to help you recharge. Or take a personal day from work and commit to being unavailable during that time. Taking breaks keeps you refreshed, alert, and energized.

Celebrate Achievements

While achieving your goals, be sure to reward yourself. Don’t allow yourself to overlook your accomplishments. Celebrating them can lead to encouragement and increased determination, which creates a domino effect to keep accomplishing more goals.

Listen to Music

Listening to music can help boost your mood, lower stress, and increase your productivity. If you’re able to accomplish your work with some background noise, incorporate some music into your day.

Surround Yourself with Driven People

The people with who we spend our time affects our everyday lives. That goes for work as well. If your circle at work are colleagues who are negative, lazy, unmotivated – it is going to be more challenging for you to stay positive and motivated. In the same sense, having no circle at call can be tough to get inspired. If you’re feeling you need a spark to get encouraged at work, surround yourself with other colleagues who you’d consider driven and motivated. You’d be surprised how contagious it is.

Focus On a Healthy Lifestyle

If you’re not taking care of yourself, it’s hard to have energy and more difficult to get motivated. Take note of how you have been recently taking care of yourself. How much water are you drinking during the day? Are you eating food to fuel your body? Are you getting regular exercise throughout the week? Even walking 20-30 minutes a day is great for your brain. Maintaining a healthy lifestyle includes getting enough sleep, and incorporating self-care as well.

 

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