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10 Easy Tips To Stay Motivated At Work Even On The Hardest Days

by Work

Did you know that maintaining motivation at work can significantly impact your productivity and overall job satisfaction? 

According to a study published in the Journal of Applied Psychology, employees who stay motivated are more likely to achieve their goals and perform better.

Why Do We Need Motivation?

why do we need motivation

Image Credits: Pexels

You have probably noticed two types of employees. Group one consists of employees who set goals and exceed themselves almost all year round and group two who do the bare minimum and get by even though they want to do more. 

If you fall into the latter group, try not to feel overwhelmed because it is natural for all of us to fall into this category at some point or the other. 

The reason some of us quit our goals or don’t set them while others successfully reach theirs is the difference in the amount of motivation that drives us.

The fact is that feeling motivated is tougher than people make it seem, especially when a goal is unclear, undecided or unrealistic. 

Even at this point in time, you might find yourself feeling less motivated about a project, cribbing about the kind of work that you once enjoyed doing, feel drained by the end of the day and mostly consider your workspace to be the biggest stressor in your life.

In this article, we’ll explore 10 practical ways to stay motivated at work, even during challenging times.

10 Amazing Tips to Stay Motivated at Work:

Before we get to the practical strategies, ask yourself what your goal is and why this goal. How is this goal going to contribute to your career? 

Why is achieving this goal important for you? 

Once you have answered these questions and set a foundation for your goal, you can then refer to the points below in order to sustain your motivation until you achieve the goal.

Plan and identify your goal: 

Only when you have planned your goal, will you be able to think it through and differentiate between your goal and what others expect of you. 

Define your short-term and long-term objectives. Setting clear goals gives you a sense of purpose and direction, making it easier to stay motivated.

For example, if your goal is to finish a project three days before the deadline, be clear about why you want to finish it in advance, be specific about how you want to approach the project.

Try to include the qualitative (how you would feel during and after achieving the goal) and quantitative (measurables like time required, energy to be invested, etc) aspects of the goal. 

Find Purpose in Your Work:

passion fuels purpose

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Connecting your tasks to the bigger picture gives your work meaning. Understand how your efforts contribute to the success of your team or organization. 

When you see the impact you make, you’re more likely to stay motivated and engaged.

Recommended Read: 10 Tips To Improve The Adaptability In The Workplace Skills

3. Break Tasks into Smaller Steps:

Break tasks into smaller steps

Image Credits: Pixabay

The prospect of tackling a large project can be overwhelming. Break down complex tasks into smaller, more manageable steps. 

Completing these mini-goals provides a sense of achievement along the way, keeping your motivation high.

Create a Positive Workspace:

Your work environment greatly influences your motivation. Personalize your workspace with items that inspire you, whether it’s a motivational quote, a plant, or artwork. A clean and organized workspace can improve your focus and boost your overall mood. 

Building positive relationships with your coworkers can boost your motivation. Collaborating and sharing experiences with others creates a supportive network. During tough times, your colleagues can offer encouragement and a fresh perspective.

Recommended Read: Relationship Building Hacks With Your Colleagues

Minimize distractions: 

When your physical and mental space is disorganized, it becomes impossible to concentrate and get things done. Procrastination at the workplace becomes a common concern at this point. 

If you find yourself drifting away from the goal, pause and think about what your priorities at the workplace are. 

Once you know your priorities it will be easier to ignore or get rid of the distractions.​​​​​​​

Reward yourself: 

Acknowledge and celebrate your accomplishments, no matter how small. Recognizing your progress boosts your self-confidence and reminds you of your capabilities. 

These rewards don’t have to be expensive or big, they just have to create a positive feeling for you. This positivity fuels your motivation to continue striving for excellence.

So, rewards could be spending the weekend doing nothing or by doing something pleasurable. 

Recommended Read: Performance Appraisal – What It Means for Employees and Managers

Form habits: 

Research on habits suggest that goals can direct habits by motivating repeated behaviour. Therefore, use your goal to help you engage in habits on a day to day basis. 

For example, setting reminders to review your work daily or weekly so that your ultimate contribution to a project at the end of the month will be without flaws or mistakes. 

If you review your work consistently, it will become a habit for you to act on. 

Practice Self-Care:

Taking care of your physical and mental well-being is crucial for maintaining motivation. Prioritize sleep, exercise, and a balanced diet. 

When you feel your best, you’re better equipped to face challenges with a positive attitude.

Take Breaks Regularly:

Working without breaks can lead to burnout and decreased motivation. Schedule short breaks throughout the day to recharge. 

Stepping away from your tasks refreshes your mind, helping you return with renewed focus and energy.

Practice Mindfulness:

mindfulness

Image Credits: Pixabay

Stay present and fully engaged in your tasks by practicing mindfulness. Minimize distractions and focus on the task at hand. 

Mindfulness techniques, such as deep breathing or meditation, can help you maintain your concentration and motivation.

Conclusion:

In the fast-paced world of work, staying motivated is a key factor in achieving success and personal satisfaction. By implementing these 10 easy tips, you can effectively combat demotivation and maintain a high level of productivity, even on the most challenging days. Remember, your commitment to staying motivated not only benefits your career but also contributes to a more fulfilling work experience overall.

References

How to be the best version of yourself

by Self Development
Image Source: Freepik

Self-improvement is a lifelong journey that involves continuously working towards becoming the best version of yourself. It is about making conscious decisions and taking proactive steps to enhance your personal growth, happiness, and overall well-being. Understanding this concept is crucial as it sets the foundation for your journey towards self-improvement.

Self-improvement starts with self-awareness. Take the time to evaluate your strengths, weaknesses, values, and goals. Reflecting on who you are and what you want to achieve will provide clarity and direction. Look within yourself to identify areas of improvement and set realistic expectations for your personal growth.

Embrace the idea of a growth mindset. Believe that you have the ability to learn, grow, and change throughout your life. Adopting a growth mindset allows you to view challenges as opportunities for learning and development. It helps you stay motivated and resilient in the face of setbacks.

Self-improvement is not about perfection. It is about progress. Embrace your imperfections and see them as opportunities for growth and learning. Be kind to yourself and practice self-compassion. Treat yourself with the same understanding and empathy you would show to a dear friend.

The importance of goal setting and the right way to do it

Here are a few things to keep in mind while planning your goals:

Set Specific Goals

Write down the goals that you would like to achieve, and then gradually break them down into as specific targets as possible. For example, many of us vow at the start of the year that we will exercise more. This is a great starting point, but narrowing your goal down a bit will help you be more realistic. How many times a week will you realistically be able to exercise? What are some common things that interfere with your exercise plan? Factoring all these things it will help you arrive at a more specific target. For example, “I am going to exercise every alternate day of the week after work.”

Prepare

Once you have specific goals in mind, prepare for how you will reach them. Evaluate the time and energy involved and any obstacles that you may foresee (and plan for how to overcome these) and invest in making small and big changes in your daily routine. For example, if you have decided to exercise every other day after work, remember to keep your exercise bag packed the night before, carry a snack with you to give you extra energy, plan your work schedule for the day accordingly and ensure that you rest well the night before. Being prepared in all these small ways will give you the every day boosts that you need to keep working towards your goal.

Stock Up On Motivation

A year is a very long time. It is very natural for our energy and motivation to wane after a while. Our motivation to better ourselves never stays constant – we have to constantly find the energy to fuel our move towards change. Don’t be discouraged if you find that you are not too enthusiastic about what you’re working towards for a few days or even weeks. The trick is to surround yourself with triggers- find a buddy who is aware of your goal, find pictures, quotes, music – anything that lights that spark in you and gets you going again.

Have Role Models

Find someone in your environment who has the qualities or habits that you are looking to incorporate in yourself. Make a note of what this person does to maintain this trait or habit, and try to adopt the same approach. If this is someone you know, try and talk to them about how they maintain this practice. For instance, if you have always admired a colleague’s dressing sense and wanted to emulate that trait – note the attention that this person pays to their dressing sense, the time they invest in choosing their wardrobe, the money they set aside to invest in the same, the places they visit to shop. Making the same kind of effort that they do will eventually pay off for you as well.

It’s Okay To Have Slip-Ups

Remember, while you are in hot pursuit of growing and developing yourself, there may be days when your goal seems far away or seems unattainable. When you have days like this or slip into old habits, remember that this is natural and normal – no change happens instantly and easily. Every big change takes time, and sometimes slip-ups are part of this process. Acknowledge this, don’t give yourself a hard time and try to move on.

Review Your Goals

As we set out to achieve our goals, we find that many different things might come in the way of our targets. Review your goals periodically and see what methods are working for you, and always keep your eyes and ears open for new ways to try working towards your goal. For example, if you decide at the start of the year to exercise thrice a week after work but find that you are getting too tired to go through with exercise at the end of your work day, tweak your approach a bit. Try another time to exercise, such as in the mornings. Or, choose to exercise on days when your workload is not too stressful. The key is to be flexible in your approach.

Celebrating milestones and acknowledging the progress

Take the time to reflect on your accomplishments. Look back at where you started and the progress you have made. Recognize the challenges you have overcome and the lessons you have learned. Acknowledge the effort and dedication you have put into your self-improvement journey. Celebrate your milestones in a way that is meaningful to you. It could be treating yourself to something you enjoy, sharing your achievements with loved ones, or simply taking a moment to appreciate how far you have come. The important thing is to create a positive and rewarding experience for yourself.

The importance of self-reflection

Self-reflection is a powerful tool for personal growth. It involves intentionally looking inward and examining your thoughts, emotions, and actions. By taking the time to reflect on your experiences and choices, you gain valuable insights that can guide your journey towards being the best version of yourself.

Self-reflection helps you identify patterns and behaviours that may be holding you back. It allows you to recognize and challenge negative thought patterns and self-limiting beliefs. Through self-reflection, you can uncover your fears, insecurities, and doubts, and work towards overcoming them.

Make self-reflection a regular practice in your life. Set aside dedicated time each day or week to reflect on your experiences, goals, and progress. Consider keeping a journal to record your thoughts and insights. Use prompts such as “What did I learn today?” or “What am I grateful for?” to guide your reflections.

Engage in activities that promote self-reflection, such as meditation, mindfulness, or quiet contemplation. These practices create space for self-awareness and introspection. Disconnect from distractions, find a peaceful environment, and allow yourself to delve deep into your thoughts and emotions.

Building healthy habits that support growth

By cultivating positive habits, you can create a solid foundation for self-improvement and increase your chances of success.

  • Start by setting clear and specific goals as we discussed above. Define what you want to achieve and break it down into actionable steps. 
  • Designate specific times for activities that support your personal growth, such as exercise, reading, or self-reflection. 
  • Consistency is key when it comes to building habits, so make sure to stick to your routine even when it feels challenging.
  • Surround yourself with a supportive network. Engage in meaningful conversations and discussions that inspire and motivate you. Having a support system can provide accountability and encouragement on your journey towards self-improvement.
  • Practice self-care as a habit. Prioritise your physical, mental, and emotional well-being. Take breaks when needed, get enough sleep, eat nourishing foods, and engage in activities that bring you joy and relaxation. Remember, self-improvement is not just about achieving goals; it is also about taking care of yourself along the way.

Becoming the best version of yourself is a lifelong journey that requires self-reflection, healthy habits, and celebrating milestones. It is about continuous growth, learning, and embracing your unique qualities. 

If you would like to discuss this further or need some help or support in this or any other area, our counsellors would be happy to help.

If you or your organization need support in improving employee well-being, consider partnering with 1to1help. As India’s leading Employee Assistance Program (EAP) service provider, we are dedicated to promoting well-being and providing quality support. Contact us today to learn more about our programs and how we can help your organisation thrive.