Torpor. Lassitude. Languor. Somnolence. Burnout. Whichever term you use to describe it, the occasional lack of motivation is a big problem for many workplaces. However, if you find yourself feeling its effects, there are some ways that you can prevent these phases from impacting your professional and personal life. Let’s go over a few ways that you might be able to maintain your productivity despite any feelings of burnout.
Evaluating Your Needs to Identify the Cause
Whenever you start to feel that burned-out feeling, take a moment for some personal inventory to see if you can figure out what it is that is causing that feeling. Is some emotion getting in your way? Are you distracted by something that could be fixed in a few moments? Are you just feeling a bit peckish? Realizing what it is that is keeping you from your work is a big part of resolving the issue.
If it’s something that can be fixed with a quick snack or a moment or two of thought, it is best to attend to it and get it out of the way. Otherwise, figure out when you will be able to commit the necessary time to your obstacle and keep working—having a plan to deal with something later can prevent it from being a distraction now.
Minimizing What Distracts You
If your procrastination is simply a case of being distracted by different circumstances and stimuli, it helps to do what you can to identify and mitigate these triggers. If you find yourself better prepared to work in the morning than you do after lunch, try to schedule your most demanding and highest priority tasks accordingly. That way, you’re more likely to be able to focus when it is most important to do so.
If there are other factors distracting you in your workspace, disconnecting from them in any way possible can prove to be an effective means of keeping you focused. After all, you’re much less likely to be distracted by an email if your email notifications are paused for an hour.
Switching It Up
If possible, consider spending a little time working in a new area—whether that means taking your solutions to the office conference room for a little bit or working from home every so often. This change in environment might be just the switch you need to keep your work engaging and less of the same old, same old.
Even taking a break to step away from your work for a moment can really help keep you going throughout the day. Think of the workday like a marathon… it’s okay to stop running and walk for a while if you need to.
Starting Small
Sometimes, all it takes to motivate someone is a small victory. Starting your day with a simple and easily accomplished task can help put you in the right frame of mind to accomplish more than you would have otherwise.
If your technology is ultimately what is draining your motivation, Compudata can help with our managed IT services. Give us a call at 1-855-405-8889 to find out what we can do to help.