Reasons You Can’t Motivate Yourself at Work Anymore and how to overcome — Ahsan Shoishob
If you’re not optimistic, a single day at the office might feel like an uphill battle. A long-lasting motivational depression will leave you stressing out, feeling bad that you’re not doing anything to improve your career. There can be multiple consequences on your well-being: you may have trouble sleeping, you may find yourself getting ill, or you may experience a decline in your ability to focus. Your mental wellbeing is driven by physical fatigue, with fear and pessimism overshadowing your mood.
But you don’t have to stay stuck in this rut. With some exploration and reflection, you can get to the bottom of what’s sapping your energy and dig yourself out of it.
- You are trapped in the “Busy Trap”
Today, getting busy is a status symbol, a message that you are sought after and in demand. Although your ego can appreciate affirmation, perpetually remaining in “work mode” and being available round-the-clock may lead to burnout. Operating under the assumption that keeping busy is helping you progress professionally will backfire, win you the label of workplace pushover — or cause you to hate your career, manager, and co-workers.
2. You’re trusting Willpower
It is impossible to persuade yourself to carry out a mission out of pure will. When willpower fails, concentrate on building routines that make your success possible. It’s always the hardest thing to get started on a major target or a difficult undertaking. When you get moving, the entire project sounds a lot less overwhelming. The key to keep focused is to build little routines that assist with success and make you feel positive about what you’re doing.
3. You’re Emotionally Exhausted
If you feel like you’re sleepwalking through your workday, it’s likely you’re among the 70% of people who feel emotionally disconnected at the office.
Don’t underestimate your social needs when trying to pinpoint your motivational barrier. Maslow’s pyramid ranks belonging as the third most important aspect of our mental health, coming only after physical needs and safety. Feeling accepted and useful at work is essential to sustaining the drive to stick with your duties day after day.
In fact, “psychological safety” has been found to be the most important trait successful teams share. Groups characterized by interpersonal trust and mutual respect are not only happier, they’re also more productive. When employees have a sense of confidence that their co-workers will not embarrass, reject, or punish them for speaking up they accomplish more and thrive in their careers.
If you’re a mentor, strive to reinvigorate your team’s morale by adding more meaning to day-to-day duties and going on to mutual objectives. Empathic leadership has much to do with the uplifting of other people, and can be done by reinforcing how the direct report’s activities are connected to the big picture priorities and goal of the organization.
Thank you.
