How Can You Motivate Yourself at Work? Try These 5 Tips!

One day you come into work and immediately dive into your to-do list and your inbox, accomplishing all your tasks in just a few hours. The next day, you come in, start up your computer, sit there, look out the window, and do everything but actually work. We’ve all had those days. And the reality is, some days are just harder to get through than others. You may love your job and enjoy what you do, but that doesn’t mean the motivation is always there.

There are things you can do to help motivate yourself though, and we’ve put together a few tips to help keep you focused and keep your motivation high.

Tips to Motivate Yourself at Work

Make Small Goals for Yourself

If you have only one time-consuming thing on your to-do list, it can get tedious. If it’s a challenge to see the end result, it becomes a challenge to find the desire to complete the task. The best way to tackle this is to take a step back from trying to see the big picture and break up the task into smaller goals. You’ll feel more accomplished when you can cross each goal or task off the list and sooner or later, you’ll have the full project complete.

Take Breaks

Sometimes you’re working for hours and hours and just end up picking up your phone and scrolling for way too long. The Pomodoro Technique is one way to do this that a lot of people find works best for them. This method takes your day and breaks it into 25-minute increments. The technique helps you to focus and get things done in “bursts,” followed by breaks in between the 25-minute tasks. Your brain will become trained to focus for short periods of time and stay on top of deadlines.

Remember Why You’re Doing It

Always remind yourself why you’re doing your job. Maybe you’re doing it to work your way up, to gain skills and experience, to get enough money for a trip, or to have enough money for your bills, it could be anything. Reminding yourself of your end goal is a great way to hit reset and focus on what needs to be done.

Avoid Distractions

If you’re giving yourself breaks, then avoid distractions during your time of work. Put your phone on Do Not Disturb, close other browser windows, turn the TV off, whatever it takes. Your motivation will build up while doing the work without distractions from outside sources. 

During the period of time that you’re trying to get work done, get the work done. On your breaks, you can do all the other things, but when it’s time to work – it’s time to work.

Reward Yourself

When you complete tasks – big or small – reward yourself! It doesn’t always have to be a shopping spree or vacation (although, sometimes that’s okay – and considered self-care), but it can simply be grabbing a coffee or a nice dinner. By rewarding yourself, you will feel more positive towards your work and completing tasks.

By doing this continuously, your brain will start to link pleasure to accomplishing the task or objective and move towards it in the future,” says Tony Robbins’ blog, which discusses why you should celebrate your accomplishments.

Disengaged workers can cause a loss of around $300 million a year. So, keeping motivation while at work is important and necessary – for you and your employees.

How do you stay motivated at work? Do you have any tips that help you? Let us know in the comments below. 

 

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Alyson Pittman is a contributing writer for WBD and a JR marketing associate for Excite Creative Studios, an Atlanta-based creative agency.

Alyson graduated from Kennesaw State University with a Bachelors of Business Administration and a concentration in Marketing. She was in multiple organizations at KSU where she held leadership positions. As a part of the Delta Phi Epsilon Sorority, Alyson held the Social Coordinator position and planned/promoted large events.