How to Increase Your Motivation at work

7 Ways to Increase Motivation at work

The daily grind at work can wear you down to the point you have to squint to see the light at the end of the tunnel. It's during these times that self-motivation levels can reach record lows, and gloomy self-reflection causes you to wonder about the meaning of life.  
 

Research shows that 50% of workers are unenthusiastic about the jobs, 12% actively pursue destructive behavior at work, and 71% have no attachment or loyalty to their employers. [*1 https://brandongaille.com/17-employee-motivation-statistics-and-trends/]

John Baldoni, author of 180 Ways to Walk the Motivation Talk [*2 https://www.walkthetalk.com/180-ways-to-walk-the-motivation-talk.html], 
says, "Motivation cannot be imposed; it comes from within." In other words, all motivation can be considered self-motivation.
 
Lack of work motivation can kill your career, but you don't have to wallow in it forever only to become another statistic for unemployment. 

Follow our tips to recharge your batteries and find more meaning in your work-life.

1. Get out of Your Rut and Join a Team

If a lack of motivation stems from being stuck in a rut, try climbing up and out of it. Ask to take on more challenging roles or volunteer yourself for a team project. Workplace studies often find that teamwork can boost productivity, and collaboration helps build strong partnerships at work.
 
Teamwork can be a powerful motivator. A study of more than 1,000 team members revealed workers involved in a team effort were 80% more likely to report high emotional well-being. [* 3 https://www.atlassian.com/open/research]
 

2. Set Goals

 
Humans need goals because, without direction, we tend to wander aimlessly.  Doing the same thing every day without a clear purpose can eat away at your self-motivation. Knowing why you're doing something becomes another piece of the puzzle rather than mindless drudge work.
 
Even though your current tasks may be tedious and uninspiring, knowing that you are laying the foundation for a brighter future will help keep your motivation high. You understand that the way it is now is part of the solution rather than a life sentence.
 

3. Increase Your Skill Sets

 
Studies indicate that 35% of skills required today will be redundant in around 5-years. [*4 https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2016/01/the-10-skills-you-need-to-thrive-in-the-fourth-industrial-revolution/] Plus, the many advancements in AI are continuing to put more white-collar jobs at risk; stockbrokers for one, and possibly lawyers for another. [*5 https://www.bit.com.au/guide/special-ai-report-a-huge-threat-or-opportunity-471475]
 
If that's not enough to motivate you into regular self-improvement to update your skills or learn new ones, then how about proving you are serious about your career and worthy of more exciting projects. If you put yourself out there, your employer may even be willing to front up some or all the costs of your continuing education.
 

4. Learn to De-Stress

 
More employers are starting to take mental health in the workplace seriously. However, it would help if you didn't wait for your employer to recognize that mental health in the workplace is important.
 
Pay attention to how you are feeling and learn to recognize the signs of imminent burnout, so you can take preventative measures. Don't take your work home with you. Instead, discover ways to relax and forget about the pressures of corporate life.
 
If you find yourself reaching boiling point, take a mini-vacation and de-stress [*6 https://www.huffingtonpost.com.au/2015/09/06/stress-relief-that-works_n_3842511.html]. 
Some employers allow mental health days to use to your advantage and go a long way to restoring your work motivation.
 

5.      Go Out for Lunch

 
Too many workers are working through lunch while seated at their desks. This eating habit increases the amount of time people spend stationary; getting away from the office for 30 minutes to an hour can do wonders for your outlook on life.
 
Take your lunch to the park and enjoy a relaxing walk while you digest. Enjoy the sunshine and fresh air, and you will find that the afternoon will look more inviting when you return to work. 

Don't forget to eat a healthy lunch with the right mix of complex carbs, proteins, and fats. The slow burn is what you need to power yourself through the afternoon and keep your mind sharp. 
 

6. Remind Yourself About Your Future

 
Thinking about the past and things you could have or should have done will only dim the lights on your bright future. A big part of self-improvement is learning from your mistakes.
 
Instead of focusing on your regrets, focus on your future, and create plans which will have you steadily moving onwards and upwards. The small victories you achieve every day as you move towards your goals are the keys to unlocking abundant supplies of self-motivation.
 
 

7. Organize Your Workflow

 
An inbox overflowing with tasks can deflate your motivation. Instead of feeling overwhelmed, organize your daily tasks in a way that fits in with how you like to work. 

Some people find self-motivation by starting with the simplest tasks and working up to the most challenging. Others may feel more satisfaction by taking on the most challenging jobs first.
 
If you start with the most straightforward jobs, you will feel a sense of accomplishment as you tick each task off as complete. Your self-motivation to tackle the more demanding jobs will increase. Pretty soon, you will be wondering why you were so worried before.
 
Of course, your prioritization of jobs could be a little more complicated than being able to tackle the simplest jobs first. Some people will work best by addressing the ugliest jobs first – because everything else is easy after that.
 
There will be urgent jobs that can't wait, essential jobs you can schedule for later, and other jobs that aren't worth your time. Learn how to recognize each task for what it is and delegate where appropriate.
 

Determine the best time of day when you know you will be able to make the most headway for each task, and schedule them into their relevant time slots.
 
If you know you work best in the mornings, then schedule the more difficult tasks for that time. If you find yourself more focused in the afternoons, then use this time to your advantage.

 
In Conclusion

 
As you can see, self-motivation is not difficult, but it does take some discipline to master. The above motivation tips should go a long way to helping you find the motivation you need to get you through your day. 

Looking after yourself can also play a big part in helping maintain your enthusiasm. Eat healthily, get plenty of fresh air, exercise, and sleep, and your ability to stay focused and motivated will improve immeasurably.   

So, If you are a presenter or designer get motivated and find inspiration by searching our PowerPoint templates, customizable designs, and video backgrounds.