Motivate Yourself to Work

There are some days when getting even the simplest job done can seem like an insurmountable task. If you’re having trouble getting motivated, look for ways to boost your mood and find the fun in your work. It’s also important to stay organized so that your latest project doesn’t feel completely overwhelming. If you still can’t focus, look for ways to eliminate distractions in your work environment that are making it harder for you to stay on task.

Steps

Finding Your Drive and Inspiration

1. Look at the big picture. If you’re having trouble feeling excited about your work, remind yourself of why you’re doing it in the first place. Try to tap into something deeper and more personal than “making money.” Even if you’re not excited about the work itself, there’s likely a bigger reason that it’s important for you to get it done.
   • For example, maybe you’re trying to support your family, or maybe your job is an important stepping stone in your larger career plans.
   • If you’re doing work in a career you care about, look for inspiration in the work itself. Remind yourself of the reasons you chose to go into your profession.
2. Set personal goals for your work. While your work probably already has built in goals and deadlines, setting your own goals can help you stay engaged and challenged. Think of both long and short-term goals that you’d like to achieve with your work, and have fun coming up with strategies for how to achieve them.
   • Make your goals SMART (Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, and Time-bound). For example, instead of setting a vague goal, such as “I will be more productive from now on,” try something like “I will get 6 reports written by the end of this week.”
3. Reward yourself both before and after doing a task. It’s a great idea to treat yourself after achieving a goal. Giving yourself a boost beforehand can also help you stay energized and productive, however. Before you get down to work, take a moment to do something enjoyable, like savoring a nice cup of tea or reading the latest page of your favorite web comic.
   • Studies have shown that looking at baby animals before doing a task can dramatically improve productivity. So, go ahead—give yourself permission to watch one cute kitten video before you start working!
4. Spend time with hard-working people. If you hang out with friends or coworkers who just want to chat or goof off all the time, you’ll probably have a hard time staying on task. While you’re working, seek out others who are good at staying focused and getting their work done efficiently.
   • You might find it helpful to work with an accountability buddy. Inspire and motivate each other by checking in with each other and working towards your goals together.
5. Figure out when and where you work best. Some people are more productive at certain times or in particular environments. Think about how you feel throughout the day—are there times when you are more energetic or eager to get things done? Do you find it easier to get into a groove if you’re alone or surrounded with other people?
   • For example, if you feel most energetic and motivated in the morning, schedule your most challenging tasks for early in the day.
   • If you have a choice about where to work, try to find an environment that works for you. For instance, if you tend to get distracted while doing your homework in your dorm room, try using a library study space or working in a coffee shop.

Staying Alert and Focused

1. Practice a little mindful meditation before you start working. Taking a few minutes to meditate and get into the moment can help you stay relaxed and clear-headed while you work. At the beginning of the day, give yourself 10 or 15 minutes to sit quietly and focus on what’s going on inside and around you. Use all your senses and make note of what you are feeling, hearing, smelling, and seeing.
   • If you get distracted by your thoughts, gently turn your attention back to the present moment.
   • You don’t have to do this while sitting at your desk—you can also practice being mindful during your commute or as you take an early morning walk or jog.
2. Take breaks if you start to feel burnt out. Forcing yourself to keep working for hours on end when you’re tired and distracted is counterproductive. If you can, take a 15-minute break every hour or so. Take a few minutes to stretch, get up from your desk and walk around, or quietly meditate.
   • If your job doesn’t allow frequent breaks, look for ways to leave your desk occasionally while still being productive. For example, you might volunteer to go get change for the cash register or run something over to the mail room.
   • You can also try focusing deeply on your work for 25 minutes at a time, followed by a 5-minute break. After 4 of these work-break cycles, take a longer break (e.g., around 15-20 minutes). This is called the Be-More-Productive-with-the-Pomodoro-Technique.
3. Switch to a different task if you begin to lose focus. If you have a complex, high-stress task to do, don’t make yourself work on it for more than 2 to 4 hours at a time. Staying at a difficult task for too long will eventually erode your productivity and make you more likely to make mistakes. Move on to something else for a while, then come back to what you were doing later.
   • Give yourself a brief break between switching tasks, if you can. For example, you might work on a major project for a few hours before lunch, then switch to something less complicated after your lunch break.
   • While switching between tasks can be helpful, don’t try to juggle more than one task at the same time. Multitasking makes it harder to focus and do your work well, and it can ultimately sap your energy and motivation.
4. Keep water and healthy snacks on hand. Staying hydrated can help you feel more alert and focused, so keep a bottle of water by your side whenever you’re working. If you find yourself getting peckish before or after your lunch break, you can also give yourself an energy boost by eating a healthy snack. Some good snack options include:
   • Seeds and nuts
   • Fresh, high-fiber fruits, such as apples or bananas
   • Dried fruit
   • Plain, air-popped popcorn

Organizing Your Time

1. Evaluate your schedule to determine if you’re overloaded. It’s hard to focus on your work if you have way too much on your plate. Take a look at your commitments and obligations and figure out if there’s anything you can afford to cut. This will help you focus more fully on the most important goals and tasks.
   • For example, if you are a full-time student struggling to keep up with your coursework, consider whether you can drop any extracurricular activities. Alternatively, look at your course schedule and determine if you can withdraw from any non-essential classes and still have a full load.
2. Try to keep consistent work hours. Keeping a consistent schedule can help you stay focused on your work rather than on worrying about what to do, when. This can be especially important if you work at home or set your own hours. Schedule regular times for starting work, taking breaks, and wrapping up your day.
   • Be firm about when you don’t work, too. If you let your job take over your life, you’ll start to feel burnt out on it pretty fast. When your work day ends, resist the urge to check your work email or spend extra time on details you didn’t manage to wrap up during the day.
3. Make a prioritized to-do list. Look at your work obligations for each day or each week and figure out which ones are the most urgent. Write down what you need to get done, putting the most pressing tasks at the top. As you work through the list, make sure to mark off the tasks you’ve completed.
   • You may find it helpful to set an hourly schedule or a daily goal for achieving a certain number of tasks on your list.
   • If you’re too tired or distracted to focus on completing a high-priority task, take a break and deal with a few of the simpler tasks first.
4. Break each task down into manageable pieces. A big job can feel less overwhelming if you break it apart into smaller segments. Look at each task and think about the best way to approach it piece by piece. Make sure to recognize each completed component as an accomplishment in itself.
   • For example, if you’re writing an article, you can break it down into doing the research, writing an outline, composing a draft, and editing your draft.
5. Use productivity apps to help keep you on task. Productivity apps offer a wide range of features to help you keep track of what you’re supposed to be doing and when. Try apps like Any.do, Todoist, or Hours if you need a hand remembering scheduled tasks or monitoring the time you spend at any given activity.
   • Basic apps like Google Calendars can help you remember meetings and other important events.
   • While productivity apps can be helpful for managing your time, they’re not for everybody. If you don’t like using apps, an old-fashioned paper planner can help you stay on top of things.
6. Practice self-care on your personal time. When you’re not on the clock, make time to care for yourself. If you’re feeling your best physically and emotionally, you’ll have a much easier time staying motivated at work. Self-care can mean a lot of things, but a few of the basics include:
   • Have-a-Good-Night's-Sleep
   • Have-a-Healthy-Nutritional-Balanced-Diet
   • Staying physically active
   • Spending quality time with friends and family
   • Making time for things you enjoy

Minimizing Distractions

1. Silence your cell phone and put it out of sight. The temptation to check your messages, play games, or browse social media can make it hard to work. While you’re working, turn alerts off on your phone. Put it somewhere where you won’t be likely to keep glancing at it, like inside a desk drawer or a bag.
   • Some phones offer a “Do Not Disturb” mode that allows you to silence incoming notifications during a scheduled period of time. You can even program in exceptions for calls from certain contacts.
   • If you just can’t stay away from your phone at work, try installing apps like Offtime, Breakfree, or Flipd to block access to troublesome apps or even your entire phone during work hours.
2. Use browser extensions to limit your access to social media. If social media and other time-wasting websites are too enticing, you can use browser extensions to cut them off while you’re working. Try using an extension like Strict Workflow or StayFocusd to keep yourself on task.
   • If there are specific websites that tend to lure you in again and again, look for an extension that lets you create a personalized block list.
3. Reduce noise in your work area as much as you can. Noise can be a major distraction when you’re trying to work, especially if you don’t have an office with a door you can close. If going someplace quiet isn’t an option, try listening to quiet music or white noise over a set of noise cancelling headphones. If you work in a Reduce Cubicle Noise, ask about getting a noise screen installed.
   • If a loud coworker is distracting you, try politely and respectfully asking them to keep it down. For example, you might say, “Jimmy, I have a hard time concentrating on my work when you and Kim chat right outside my cubicle. Would you mind talking to her in the break room instead?”
   • Talk to your boss or the HR department if noise is a major problem in your workplace.
   • If you work at home, talk to anyone who lives with you about your need for quiet during your working hours.
4. Keep your workspace tidy. Try to make a habit of cleaning up your work area regularly. Keep your necessities organized, and don’t allow trash and papers to pile up. A cluttered work area can be distracting, and having too much disorganized stuff around can make it hard to find the things you need.
   • Keeping your workspace neat doesn’t mean it has to be boring and severe. Make your work area more comfy and pleasant by decorating with a few favorite photos, some knickknacks, or even a live plant.

Quick Summary

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See also

• Reduce Everyday Distractions
• Always Be on the Go
• Stay Productive in the Summer
• Be Productive As a Teen
• Be Busy and Productive when You Don't Work
• Productively Use Your Devices
• Be Messy and Productive
• Be Creatively Productive
• Be a Productive Individual
• Stop Procrastinating on the Internet

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