Let's Talk about Motivation or Stagnation

Do you feel it’s hard to motivate yourself to succeed, excel or even do the basic tasks of the day? We tend to get lost in the day-to-day responsibilities and forget to assess what we enjoy doing, what we find rewarding and what aligns with our values. Getting into a routine without reflecting on our career satisfaction to reassess our career path and encountering numerous challenges can really affect our motivation levels.

Motivation plays an important role in your career so it is important to maintain and regain it for success and well-being. In this article, we delve into some strategies to help you stay motivated in the face of adversity.

Set Clear Goals

Do you ever take your time to write down where you see yourself in 5 years or even what you would like to achieve in the next few months? Well, setting clear and realistic goals can give you direction and purpose. You can break down large tasks into smaller steps and track the progress to stay motivated and feel a sense of accomplishment as you complete each stage.

Example:

• Large Goal: Complete a project by the end of the month.
• Small Steps: Break the project into weekly tasks, and then daily tasks.

Why? Why are you doing what you are doing?

Understanding the deeper reason behind your work can provide a powerful source of motivation. Is it the need for career progression, promotion, achieving outstanding results for a career upgrade in a prolific organisation? Think about it. What do you actually want? With every action, there’s an equal reaction so what do you do and what do you get back? Reflect on why you started the project, what you want to achieve and how it aligns with your personal or professional goals.

Example:

• Why am I working on this project? To develop new skills and advance my career.
• How does it benefit me? It opens up opportunities for promotions and new job prospects.

Being disciplined

Some days may be less productive than others, and that is ok. The levels of motivation can fluctuate depending on the challenges you face personally or professionally…and this is when discipline comes into play. You can try to plan your week or day and have a to-do list – a simple morning task that takes a few minutes but can heavily influence your productivity during the day.

Tips:

• Use project management tools like Trello or Asana to keep track of tasks.
• Maintain a clean and clutter-free workspace.

Work Sustainably: Avoid Burnout and Thrive in the Long Run

Some professionals have periods where they push their limits until they feel exhausted and can’t perform as well anymore. This is why it is critical to stay consistent and realistic – don’t let tiredness accumulate and try to always schedule one activity in your day where you relax. Whether it's going for a walk in the park, exercising, journaling, or stretching your body after work, these activities can really help your well-being and influence your motivation levels.

Tips:

• Schedule regular exercise sessions, even if it's just a short walk.
• Practice mindfulness or meditation to manage stress.

Talk to your family and friends

If you feel less motivated, don’t be afraid to go for tea and talk to your family or friends about how you feel. Often we can be so engaged in our lives that we forget to take a step back and have an objective look at our lives. This is where your close ones can help you have a different perspective on the situation and may notice things that you have neglected. Also, maybe some of them have already been in such situations and can talk about what they’ve done to move on and regain their motivation.

Example:

• Join a professional group or find a mentor who can offer guidance and support.
• Share your challenges with a trusted friend or colleague for emotional support.

You control your thoughts, your thoughts determine your actions

Sometimes our mind tend to only focus on the negative so it is important to talk to yourself and highlight the positive regularly to impact your motivation. At every stage of your career, try to celebrate small victories and remind yourself of past successes or your aptitudes. Incentives can be a great motivation!

Tips:

• Keep a journal of daily achievements, no matter how small.
• Surround yourself with positive influences and avoid negative self-talk.
• After completing a major task, treat yourself to something you enjoy, like a favourite meal or a relaxing activity.

Be flexible and adapt

Try to be flexible and understand that challenges may require you to adapt. It’s good to be open to changing your approach if something is not working or reassessing the situation by looking at different perspectives. This can also prevent frustration and help you stay on track. Also, don’t forget that every challenge is an opportunity to learn and grow. Reflect on what the challenge is teaching you and how you can apply these lessons in the future.

Tips:

• Be willing to adjust deadlines if necessary.
• Experiment with different methods to find what works best for you.
• Use setbacks as learning experiences to improve your approach next time.

I hope this blog was useful and that you are now ready to set your habits to regain your motivation. Remember, it’s not about avoiding challenges, we will always encounter problems, but it's important to learn how to navigate through them with optimism, resilience and determination.

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