5 tips that can help you motivate yourself at work and fire up your productivity
Overcoming the emotional hurdle of going to work every morning and doing the same thing over aand over again isn't always easy. There is no single, straightforward solution for the lack of motivation at work. Even after beating it, the problem reappears at the first sign of failure. What separates the highly successful from the ordinary is the ability to fight this problem and move forward. Lack of motivation can be a major performance barrier; therefore, employees should try to increase their motivational levels to live a happier and healthier life. With the proper inner drive, everything can seamlessly fall into place. But how can you motivate yourself at the office on a daily basis?
Create Early Momentum
Getting out of bed knowing that your day is going to be like any other long working day makes you want to hit the snooze button in the morning and go back to sleep. If that is how you start your day, then you are most likely to be stressed out and anxious all the way until the afternoon. When you wake up in the morning, you need to be mentally prepared for the day ahead through positive thinking. Do not start debating with yourself whether you should get up now or stay a few more minutes in the comfort of your bed. Wake up immediately and start thinking of how you will be using your day effectively to achieve your ultimate career goals.
Focus
Another motivation killer is lack of focus. Most people focus their thoughts on minor things that they do not want in their job rather than what they actually want. Employees tend to concentrate on negative work-related attributes such as high workload and long working hours instead of positively focusing on achieving well defined goals. Whether your goal is the money that you get at the end of each month or a new position that you're hoping to get, focus all of your energy on that goal. When you set your ultimate goal and have a day-to-day strategy to achieve it, you become motivated to take action.
Establish a Clear Game Plan to Achieve Your Goals
Once you have clarified your vision and goals, prepare a comprehensive plan for getting there and chart your progress on a daily basis. Start everyday by setting a number of tasks that would help you move one step forward towards achieving your goal. Most employees overwhelm themselves with too many tasks that they cannot handle which can make them fall into a fit of insecurity and loss of confidence and motivation. When writing your tasks for the day, minimize your workload by leaving some time for unexpected requests or external disruption.
Find Yourself a Friend That you Can Laugh With
Few would disagree that having a fun coworker can enrich your working life, add a smile to your face and enhance your motivation. Having friends at work will help you go through the ups and downs of the job and will also provide you with the support necessary to keep yourself motivated. Give yourself two short breaks each day to have a nice chat with a fun colleague who makes you laugh. Working hours can be so long and exhausting to the point that an employee can lose contact with the outside world. However, having a friend at work can give you a temporary energy boost that would lift up your spirit.
Reward Yourself
The final piece of the motivational puzzle is reward. Reward is a treat that everyone likes as it is a pleasant and effective tool to keep employees motivated throughout the week. Rewards do not need to be outlandish. They should be realistic, within your budget and out of the ordinary. Once you accomplish your tasks for the week, reward yourself by going out to a nice place on the weekend with your friends or family. You can even do something unusual such as going on a short trip to the sea. This way you will have something to look forward to everyday.
It's inevitable that all employees will encounter periods of low energy, dissatisfaction and even an occasional failure. If you don't control your mind and attitude, these minor speed bumps can turn into mental monsters. Even the most motivated employees occasionally experience a slump and need a boost to return to their normal motivational levels. Keep in mind that desire is the key to motivation, but the determination and commitment to an unrelenting pursuit of your goals will enable you to attain the success you seek at work.
Rana Qubain is the Marketing Coordinator of Akhtaboot - the career network, the Middle East's leading online recruitment website. Rana currently works on different projects covering competition analysis and new product development of career related service.
