Your work won’t always be fun. In fact, work can be a chore. So here are ideas to help motivate yourself.
If you expect other people to keep you motivated, think again. Instead, keep in mind that your job and career are up to you and no one cares about these as much as you do!
15 Things To Help Motivate You
Try some of these ideas to kick-start your daily mojo and help motivate you.
1. Know What Motivates You
Finding your motivation requires a little thought and reflection. In order to be motivated, you have to know what triggers it. Take some time to ask yourself these questions and then you can use the right strategies below to recreate your mojo.
- What gets me motivated?
- What stops or reduces my motivation?
- What tangible reminders do I need to stay motivated?
- What obstacles might sabotage my motivation and what can I do to overcome them?
- What habits can I create to increase my motivation?
When you understand what motivates (and demotivates) you, you can take proactive measures to infuse your work with the things you can control and that energize you.
2. Stop Sweating the Small Things
There are certain things you just can’t control, like your boss’s last-minute requests for information. Every day there are things that probably irk you, but don’t let those negative feelings sap your motivation. One way to drive out the negative feelings is to stay focused on achieving your own goals and your priorities.
3. Find (and stay in) Your Zone
When you’re in the zone you produce some of your best work. Think about how you can create the ideal environment to do your best work. Do you need music? Bring in headphones and your favorite motivational playlist. Do you need sunlight? Find a sunny spot and use your laptop.
4. Check Items Off Your To-Do List
Not only will creating a to-do list keep you focused on your most important priorities, it also feels good to check items off your list when completed and encourages you to move on to the next thing on the list.
5. Choose To Hang With Productive People
Associating with productive individuals allows you to observe and pick up some of their healthy productivity hacks. And because productive employees tend to be more positive, you may catch some of that too.
6. Get In Tune With The Big Picture
If you understand how your work contributes to the bigger picture or company goals, that may make a difference. Knowing the work you do is worthwhile can help keep you on track.
7. Know When To Ask For Feedback
There are times you need feedback and times when you don’t. If you are in need of a boost of motivation, asking for feedback on something you think you did well can be just the fix you need.
8. Reward Yourself
Learn what it takes to get yourself to complete dreaded tasks and set up a system of rewards for completion. Knowing you have a reward at the end of a task may help you drive through and complete it faster. Your reward can be downtime, a walk, food or whatever treat you know makes you feel good!
9. Incorporate Variety Into Your Day
Don’t feel trapped by the monotony of your work and workplace. There is always an opportunity to add variety. Drive to work a new way, reverse your daily routine, eat lunch somewhere other than your desk or find some way to get out of your cube to see and do new things.
10. Have More Fun
If you want to find a way to stay motivated, make work more fun. It sounds simple, but often you get sidetracked by the drudgery of work. Instead, recognize what can be fun at work. It might be a lunch break with co-workers, a brainstorming session after a meeting or a chat with an employee you can learn from. There are already things in your day you enjoy. Make time to participate in these activities.
11. Log Off
If you’re stressed and feel like you can’t escape work, you need to set a cutoff time. Checking email as you commute home or when you wake up in the morning isn’t going to help alleviate feeling overwhelmed. Commit to yourself that you will not check email outside of working hours.
12. Practice Generosity
Some people like to feel they are making a difference in the world. If this is important to you, look for ways, inside and outside your organization, to volunteer for a cause you care about. If your organization doesn’t have any philanthropic opportunities, this may be your chance to start one with other employees.
13. Learn New Things
Teach yourself how to do something. Maybe you’ve always wanted to improve your Excel skills. Either tap a colleague or sign up for a class. Learning new skills can improve your productivity and has a way of making you feel good about yourself plus help motivate you.
14. Take A Break
When you find yourself low on motivation, pushing through may not be the answer to getting your best work done. Take a 15-minute break and indulge in your favorite Pinterest recipes or see what’s happening in the news.
15. Start An Idea Folder
Whether it is a book you want to read or a side project you’ve wanted to tackle, your list can serve as your go-to spot for inspiration that will benefit you and keep you going.
Don’t let your work get you down! Take control. And if you must, start planning your exit strategy.
This post originally appeared in US News & World Report
Hannah Morgan speaks and writes about job search and career strategies. She founded CareerSherpa.net to educate professionals on how to maneuver through today’s job search process. Hannah was nominated as a LinkedIn Top Voice in Job Search and Careers and is a regular contributor to US News & World Report. She has been quoted by media outlets, including Forbes, USA Today, Money Magazine, Huffington Post, as well as many other publications. She is also author of The Infographic Resume and co-author of Social Networking for Business Success.
