Sometimes when we are in a position for a while or even in a difficult situation it is hard to stay motivated to do our best work. I know how this is because I have myself been in this situation many times. Yet, there could be many reasons why immediately searching for a new job isn’t an option, if this describes your situation here are some useful tips on how to reignite your motivation at work without losing your mind.

1. View your current position as preparation for your dream job

Whatever your current job is now, it can be preparation for that role that you have always dreamt of having. This may not seem to be the case right now, primarily because you haven’t made the connection on how what you are currently doing and WHO you are currently being can help or hinder you at your next level. What is the role or venture that you want to go to next? Get a piece of paper and list out the skillset needed to do that next role, as well as the characteristics that the ideal person in this role needs to have. Then make a connection between what that role requires and how your current position can help you get there. Don’t overlook non technical skills that you may need to develop, such as proper prioritization and organizational skills, being on time, communicating in an emotionally intelligent way to difficult customers/peers, etc. This list can go on and on, but I guarantee you that if you look hard enough you can make a clear connection between how your current position has the potential to prepare you for your next. Don’t lose the big picture of where you are headed by being tunnel visioned regarding the frustrations in your current situation. Be strategic! Don’t sacrifice your future progress because of your present pain.

2. Learn new skills that will make you more marketable/ successful

While you are preparing for your next, there are potentially important skill gaps that you could be developing in your current role to help you get there. In order to bridge the gap between where you currently are and where you need to be to take the leap, it is important to research what is required to be successful in the next position and devise a plan to advance. You can develop these new skills through taking internal or external courses, getting a mentor/coach, or working on specific on-the-job projects that will directly allow you to cultivate those skills.

3. Take a vacation

Sometimes lack of motivation can be a clear sign of burn out and taking a well thought out vacation filled with activities that will rejuvenate you maybe just what you need to get your passion back at work. Beware! Don’t just take time off and be a coach potato, watching Netflix which may make it even more difficult to drum up motivation when you return to work. Instead, incorporate activities that energize you during the vacation. The activities will be different for each person depending on preferences, but can include things like spending time in nature, scheduling a massage, journaling, reading an inspiring book, or spending time with friends and family. Remembering and living as human beings with a life outside of work and expanding our passions or interests beyond work can give us the motivation to perform at our best when we do return to the office.

4. Focus on service or solving a problem

We often lose motivation when our focus becomes completely self-absorbed (ouch!). Human beings are designed to live in community and to contribute beyond ourselves; one of the quickest ways to tap into greater inspiration is to focus on contribution through serving others or solving a problem. As I blogged about previously here, business is about solving problems and the people who can solve the most problems on a consistent basis will experience a satisfying and successful career. Additionally the skills that you develop through solving problems or mentoring others may help prepare you for your next role or open up the door to connections or other sponsors that will help you network yourself into a new position.

5. Remember your why

One of the reasons visualization and envisioning the bigger picture is so powerful is because when challenges come our way we get caught up in the smaller story of what is happening around us that we lose the powerful reason why we do what we do in the first place. As author Simon Sinek says we may know what to do and HOW to do the things that we do, but it is your purpose, your cause, your belief, aka your why that will truly inspire you and cause you to keep going when circumstances seem insurmountable. It maybe helpful to ask yourself the following questions to uncover your important motivators, 1. What makes you come alive? 2. What gets you up out of bed every morning? 3. Who do you want to BE (character)? 4. How do you want to be remembered?

6. Maybe it is time to quit

No matter how much you try to motivate yourself, sometimes the efforts will be completely fruitless because the thing that you SHOULD do is quit, move on or change course. In his book the DIP, Seth Godin talks about how to recognize if you are experiencing a temporary setback that can be overcome with persistence that is, one worth pushing through or one where you should quit. Sometimes quitting is actually the best answer. Check out this blog to help you determine How To Know When It’s Time To Quit Your Job.

If you found this post helpful, I want you to do a few things:

1. Subscribe to the blog so that you can be notified of the release of my weekly blogs and as a bonus, you will receive a free e-book, 10 Confidence Building Strategies That You Can Implement Now.

2. Interested in group or individual coaching? Book a clarifying strategy session with me here

3. Subscribe to my Youtube Channel!

30 Days Of Gratitude - Instagram!

I have re-launched my annual 30 day Instagram live challenge so join through December 30th at 7pm EST live or check out the replay on my instagram !

How To Be Motivated At Work Without Losing Your Mind