3 Tips for Staying Motivated at Work
Simply Hired Staff
Happy Friday! If you’re reading this blog, maybe from your current office desk, in between bouts of pen tapping and chair swirling, while attempting to toil away the hours until you can make your mad dash, we’re here to say “we feel your pain!”
Although your attempts at procrastination and undeniable need to watch the clock crawl by may spark commiseration with your fellow workers, your employer probably isn’t overly thrilled by your lack of production while on the job. Not only does lack of motivation make for poor performance and corresponding reviews, it can also make your work life nearly unbearable.
Looking for help in staying up and active while at the office. Check out our list of three tips for staying motivated at work!
Forget the Word Impossible
One of the largest contributing factors to workers stalling or losing productivity is the feeling that a task isn’t able to be accomplished. Sure, projects may seem impossible or larger than your capabilities at first glance, but that shouldn’t be a hindrance to your ability to perform.
Instead of looking at how much there is to get done or just how big of an assignment has been laid on your desk, instead focus on what is waiting at the finish line. Whether it be a bonus, a promotion or a simple job well done, keeping the positive implications of the task in mind is akin to the glass half full vs half empty anecdote we’ve all heard more than once. Dismissing the word impossible from difficult tasks will help your mindset at the outset of any project, making the performance more enjoyable as well as increasing your output and likelihood of successful completion.
Keep on Keeping On
One of the biggest motivation killers in the office is stagnation. Whether it be in your long-term career plans and goals or individual assignments, movement in a forward direction is often the most simple and effective way to stay on task. Instead of starting and stopping constantly, always strive to be working on your assignment, seeing it through to completion.
This concept of constant motion doesn’t just apply to performance and projects. Moving forward with your skills and career progression is an equally important aspect of staying motivated at work. Change for the sake of it is never a good idea, but if you find yourself consistently lacking drive or commitment at the office, look at adding skills or taking on additional tasks. Making a lateral move to another department within your current company is also a great way to freshen up your outlook and potentially improve overall productivity.
Sometimes Stuff Gets Hard
The final piece of advice we have regarding staying motivated at work has to do with the way you personally handle both triumphs and setbacks in your position. While we all anticipate and look forward to successful completion, recognition of efforts and corresponding praise, sometimes even the most skilled employee is going to face failure.
Maybe the budget for your pet project ends up getting slashed or technological limitations make roll out of your dream idea unfeasible. Beating yourself up over these perceived failures or getting down in the dumps when things don’t go as planned are massive motivation killers. Successful employees look at problems in their position as hurdles to be overcome or bumps in the road. Resiliency and a good attitude are key skills to addressing these minor setbacks.
When faced with “failure” at work, think of the reasons the task or project went wrong. This can help you avoid repeating the same mistake which can lead to additional frustration. Well-thought-out solutions to seeming problems can often lead to new and innovative approaches. You never know, perhaps that hiccup was actually a benefit in the long term.
Staying motivated at the office often comes down to mindset and persistence. Keeping positive in your performance is critical. Staying motivated not only helps you appear as a more beneficial employee, it will also help you enjoy your position making for a more fulfilling and happier work environment.
Article Updated from the Original on March 16, 2018
