Simple Ways to Bring Motivation Back Into Your Work - Swingvy Blog | People Matter

On average, 90,000 hours of your life will be spent at work, so you’ll want to enjoy it. Everyone has an off day, but here are five ways to make all the rest of those days good ones!

1. Focus on the positives

What would you miss about your job if you couldn’t come back tomorrow? Perhaps your colleagues, the project you’re working on, the morning coffee catch-ups, or access to restricted tools and information. Does your leadership inspire you and make you feel energised? Find that something that gives you a little satisfaction each day.

Thinking about the reasons you initially applied for your job (the company culture, the day-to-day responsibilities of your role, the inspiring people), is a great way to remember to be grateful for where you are.

 
2. Find the value of what you do 

There is a lot of appreciation at the moment of workers on the front lines, who are providing essential services to the community. And while you may not be saving lives, you’re not just sending emails. Sometimes it is easy to lose sight of the value you contribute each day. 

It is important to realise that your job does not define you, but how you do it does. Are you a decision-maker that gets projects moving, a creative that brings ideas to life, a product engineer designing tools to simplify the lives of others?

Tracking your progress can be a great motivator, so find a way to visualise the impact of your daily tasks. Create lists of jobs and satisfyingly mark them off, graph your sales goals and progress, or create a portfolio of finished work. When you appreciate the progress you are making, you tend to be more productive and positive about your role.

3. Work around your body clock

Not all hours are created equal. It is important to be aware of the changes in your energy throughout the day and plan accordingly. This year there has been a huge shift in business culture towards the acceptance of remote and flexible working practices. Use this to your advantage, to structure your day in a way that works best for you.

Make a note to use the time of day when you a full of energy to focus on difficult or high-impact tasks that work towards a goal. At times when productivity or creativity is lacking, tackle the more routine responsibilities of your job.

The average employee wastes 2 hours every day due to multi-tasking and external distractions. Instead of sharing your focus on a number of activities, prioritize your tasks and create a manageable schedule to handle your workload.

 
4. Update your work space 

Make this a space you want to sit in for 8 hours each day. Make it comfortable, convenient, colorful and inspiring. This is even more important when working at home, to ensure your work space is free from household distractions. 

Do this not only for your desk/sitting area, but also for your computer and the tools you use for your work too. Breakdowns or delays in finding tools or information can be aggravating and cause a loss in focus. Is it time for a new laptop, a software update or a new folder filing system?

Taking some time to create an organised space will make you much more efficient long-term. At the end of each day, take a few moments to reset so that each morning you can start fresh.

 5. Love your time off

As important as it is to love the time you spend working, it is equally important to love the time away. Think about your schedule outside of work; how do you get ready, and how do you unwind. Try finding an activity outside of the ‘office’ that doesn’t relate directly to your day-to-day work but has the power to influence it positively (the gym, a good breakfast, reading, etc.).

Making a deliberate effort to switch off at certain times ensures you keep balance in your life. If that means leaving the laptop at work or shutting the spare bedroom door, and turning the phone to silent during dinner, make sure to consciously take a break to reinvigorate.

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