Work Motivation in Just 12 Steps

 No matter how much you love your job, there are times when your work motivation is just going to bottom out. There can be any number of reasons for this but the important thing is that it does happen to everyone at some stage. If you follow the simple tips I’m sharing here, you can regain 1 your motivation and achieve a new sense of drive that you’ve been sorely missing:

1. Be Honest With Yourself
Admit that you’re lacking motivation and that you need to do something about it. Honesty is always, always the best policy.
2. Why Are You Here?
It’s easy to feel like a small cog in a big machine at times so you’ll need to remind yourself of your importance to the big picture within the company. Those reports you’re generating might not seem important to you but they’re part of a decision making process within the company that can affect the growth of the company as a whole. Realize your own importance each day.
3. Who Are You Doing This For?
Are you working to support your family, your parents or to slowly build you career? Whatever it was that motivated you to take that job in the first place, put a reminder 2 of it somewhere on your desk or in your “pod”. You now have a daily affirmation of why you do what you do.
4. Read Motivational Books
It might sound silly but reading a good motivation book can really light a fire under you again. Here are some of my personal favourites and even one of them can have a dramatic impact on your “feel good” factor when it comes to work motivation:
How To Win Friends and Influence People
Fish – Improve Morale 3 and Boost Results
The Power of Positive Thinking
5. Avoid Negative Co-Workers
One of the biggest drains on your motivation is being surrounded by negative people. If you feel drained after listening to these people then there’s a problem. Ask for a desk reassignment and explain why in the nicest possible terms.
6. Motivational Posters
Okay this might be a little bit clichéd and there’s a whole web based industry that makes fun of them but a motivational poster or message that you can see each day isn’t a bad idea at all. After all you’re better off being surrounded by positive messages than negative ones right? Being cynical 4 is easy – having faith in something takes work.
7. Talk
If you feel that you’re struggling with your motivation then talk to your trusted co-workers or even to your boss – if they’re open to that type of conversation. Most companies want you to be happy and productive and are more than willing to help you get back on track.
8. Office Gossip
Avoid, avoid, avoid office gossip as much as you can. This is usually churned up by people with nothing better to do than distract you from where you need to be – with your eye on what you’re doing. Office gossip serves no purpose, is extremely damaging and that same person will probably be gossiping about you tomorrow, next week or next month.
9. Walk Away From It
If you’re struggling with a specific work problem or project then don’t just bang your head against a wall about it – “walk away” from it for an hour or two and come back to it. That short break will give your mind a chance to come up with the solution to the problem you need solved – the human mind is a wonderful problem solver once you give it a chance.
10. Check Your Posture 5
Do you sit slouched over your desk in despair each day? This is completely the wrong physiological 6 signal to be giving your body. If you adopt a depressed 7 and demotivated posture your emotions are going to follow suit. Try sitting up straight and watch how it changes your mood almost instantly.
11. Drink Water
It’s amazing how often dehydration 8 can leave you feeling drained, lethargic 9 and lacking inspiration. The human body is 80% water so it needs to be topped up each day. Drinking a few glasses of clean water per day can leave you feeling more energized 10 than you’d believe – it’s your fuel so use it.
12. Start As You Mean To Finish
You wake up in the morning and stub your toe. Then you get toothpaste on your tie. Then the car won’t start. Great, another one of “those days”. You’ve now set your emotional state for the entire day and you’ll almost enjoy watching things getting worse – it’s proof that you’re right.
Your emotional state can be changed in a moment though by looking at a picture of your kids, your favourite pet or just checking out a motivational video (if that’s allowed in your workplace). For me the video that fires me up every single time and puts a smile on my face is “Where the hell is Matt?” I challenge you not to feel 150% uplifted by it!
You are what you believe you are. Never forget that.