How to Stay Motivated at Work

It is completely normal to have off days where you are struggling to stay focused, losing productivity, or simply just feeling uninspired. If you are losing motivation at work and are wondering how to get back on track, we’ve got your back. Here’s how to stay motivated at work. 

Try a personal experiment, but check for workplace barriers too: workload, unclear priorities or missing support. If it feels safe, discuss what can be adjusted with your manager or an employee representative.

Set Clear, SMART Goals

Goal-setting is essential when it comes to staying motivated at work, specifically SMART goals! However, if your goals are too general or ambiguous, it can lead you to feel overwhelmed. While it is important to have long-term goals, what sets us apart from being motivated and unmotivated is having smaller, short-term goals that you can look forward to every day. For example, if your long-term goal is to publish your own novel, a short-term goal could be to write one chapter a week. This way, you have something realistic to work towards, which can help you stay engaged and keep your motivation high!

What are SMART goals?

In the University of California guide, SMART stands for Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant and Time-bound. Achievable means checking the skills and resources you need; keep the scope realistic for your workload.

For example, aim to draft three slides for your team's report by Friday, if the data is available and your other priorities leave time. Start by outlining the first slide.

Develop Better Habit

Motivation doesn’t just come knocking on your door when you need it. Instead of waiting around, start building better routines and habits! Consistency is key, and once you develop healthy habits, you will feel more productive, and motivated, and see more sustainable progress. Remember, what works for others might not work for you. Take the time to figure out what helps you stay motivated: whether it’s making to-do lists, taking frequent breaks, or scheduling your work hours ahead of time, developing habits will lay a strong foundation for not only your career but your life!

For a small experiment, try noting one priority at the start of each shift for a week, if your role and work arrangements allow it. Review whether it helps you get started.

Focus on the “Why”

Sometimes, we get too engrossed in our work and lose track of our sense of purpose and direction. You may start to lose interest in your work, or you no longer get excited over your achievements. When you find yourself losing motivation, you could think about why you started in the first place. You might focus on the elements of your work that you find enjoyable or meaningful. Ask yourself, “What am I doing this for, and for whom?” 

Celebrate Wins

There are no rules when it comes to celebrating wins. A promotion deserves a celebration, but who is to say you can’t celebrate getting your work done on time or reaching your sales goal of the day? Awarding yourself when you accomplish something, no matter big or small, can help you get excited about completing your next project, and is overall a great way to stay motivated. Be kinder to yourself and start acknowledging the small wins in your life!

Change of Environment

If you feel your days are getting repetitive, your weeks look the same, and you’re performing the same tasks over and over again, a change of environment might just be what you need to get your motivation back. If it's affordable, accessible and suitable for your role and employer's work arrangements, you could try a coworking space, a neighborhood coffee shop, or simply the office (if you have one!). If you prefer staying home, here are some ways to level up your home office to feel inspired and stay motivated.

Key Takeaways

Motivation comes and goes, and that’s normal! At the end of the day, we’re only human. Choose one approach that fits your role and workload, and try a small action this week. Then check whether it helps you get started; adjust it or seek support through a suitable channel if difficulties persist.

• Set clear, SMART goals - focus on short-term
• Develop better habits and a healthy routine
• Focus on the “Why” - remember why you started.
• Celebrate Wins - no matter how small they are
• Change up your environment, spice up your workspace