COVID 19 has thrown everyone’s lives out of sync. Things that were once “normal” seem foreign and strange. Working from home has become a big thing and with it comes a lot of adjustments in the way we work.
I’m lucky that in my job and my business, working from home is the norm. I travel 4 – 5 times a year, but the rest I am sitting at home in my small office working away.
One of the things that can be very difficult to adjust working at home is motivation, and even after all these years I have days where my motivation gets up and leaves!
When you first start working from home, it’s all very exciting! You are organised, on top of everything…but oh how quickly it can change!
Suddenly not having to get up and be in an office at 9am, makes sleeping in easier.. You pop inside to have lunch and the midday movie is on – so you sit and watch a bit of that. Then you think that you should really put that load of washing on and hang out the load from earlier – you get the idea! After doing all that, you are out of the “work” mindset and back into “home” mode. It can make it very hard to get motivated to do your “work”. Even the threat of not completing the job on time should be enough to motivate you to get moving, right? Wrong!
Often, even knowing the consequences that exist for not completing a task aren’t enough to push us forward. Luckily, there are some easy steps you can take in order to give yourself a boost when your usual routine isn’t working. Adding even a few of these to your bag of tricks may help you to overcome that slump when you need a motivational jumpstart.
Look Ahead
One way to convince your brain that an activity is worth starting is to look ahead to the end result. Think about the money you’ll make a from a freelance gig, the feeling of satisfaction you’ll get from handing in your portion of the monthly report to a nagging co-worker. No matter what the project, visualizing the result of your efforts can improve your focus and motivation. Consider adding an actual visual such as a photo, magazine clipping or other image to motivate you.
Get Moving
If you’re feeling sleepy or even restless, you won’t be able to focus. A solution can be to move your body. Exercise has been shown to increase mental clarity and decrease stress, just the combination for working on a complex project with a looming deadline. Taking a brisk walk or even just getting outside can be just enough of a jolt to get you in prime thinking mode.
Take a Rest
A quick rest can also restore your clear thinking. If your brain is feeling cloudy or your thoughts are cloudy, a short nap might be a better course of action than exercise. Put your head down on your desk or stretch out on the sofa in your office for 10 or 20 minutes. When you wake up from this power nap, you should be feeling rejuvenated and ready to work.
Listen to Music
This is my favourite! Upbeat tunes might be a solution that leads you to start tapping your toes and feeling more alert. If you are able to work with background noise, you can keep the music going. Perhaps changing to a mellower playlist or instrumental songs might be a better option for you than fast beats. If you require silence in order to concentrate, put on just a few of your favorites to shift your mood, and then get to work.
Start Small
A method that is often successful in tricking the mind to move on a task is to start with a small portion of the whole. Using the above example of the monthly report, you might wish to begin by gathering your data and other supplies necessary for completing the job. This small action can put you in the right mindset to keep working on the rest. Getting started truly is half the battle.
Hopefully one (or even all!) of the suggestions help you get motivated for work. It can be hard – but you can do it!
