You’re not alone when you experience boredom or lose the willingness to work at some point during your busy day.
According to 2013 Employee Motivation Statistics, 71% of the workforce employees in America are disengaged with their work because they are unhappy, perform without enthusiasm, and suffer from lack of motivation.
Fortunately, there are many ways to increase motivation and many of them require very small changes. For surviving your day with a satisfying finish, why not give these simple tips a try? You'll be pleasantly surprised by some of these tricks.
1. Create to-do lists/ Set realistic goals
Set realistic goals and standards that you are absolutely confident in completing throughout the day. If you have a day’s worth of tasks to do, organize them in one hour time slots in your to-do list and focus on sticking to your list. If necessary set alarm clocks, create music playlists, or space your tasks out so that you have extra time in case if you didn’t meet the intended deadline.
Remember to start your day with simple tasks before moving onto complex tasks as the day progresses. For long tasks that take more than a day to complete, focus on completing it in small portions then start the next task afterwards.
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2. Take breaks/Sleep/Exercise
It may be important to focus on completing your tasks but it is no excuse for neglecting your health. Make sure you take staggered breaks throughout the day, especially if your work requires you to sit all day. The lack of mobility in your job will do more harm than help your health as it causes fat cells to build up, increase stress and the risk for heart attacks, and lower your energy levels.
Reduce these risks and increase productivity by stepping away from your computer for an extensive period of time. You can take a brisk walk outside, do some stretching or meditation, or take a nap to boost your mood and motivation.
As for sleep, make sure you get enough hours in to keep you alert and ready for work the next day. Losing sleep will worsen your quality of work, your mood, and your health.
3. Reward Yourself
As much as it’s important to get things done, it’s also important to reward yourself with a special treat after your accomplishments. It can be in the form of a relaxing home spa, extra hours of sleep, movie night, ice cream, or perhaps a meal from your favorite restaurant. Your sweet rewards will ensure that your motivation stays up so you can continue being productive.
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4. If you’re stuck, move on to the next one!
The worst that you can do to ruin your productivity is to waste time. If you have a lot of things on your list and you can’t find the motivation to finish the one you are working on, move on to the next task!
Try choosing an easier task to keep yourself occupied to make up for the lost time. By using this method, you are not only giving yourself some space to think on what you need to work on, but you are still getting things done at the same time. It’s a win-win situation!
5. Prepare things in advance
Preparing things the day or night before will help you lessen the stress and workload for the next day.
If you’re preparing to go to work in the morning, lay out your clothes and pack up the necessary materials in your briefcase or bag the night before.
6. Listen to music
When you’re having trouble focusing on task, a good way to motivate yourself is listening to music.
Music releases dopamine into the brain—a chemical that improves your mood and increases motivation to complete your tasks. Music also helps make boring, repetitive tasks feel lively and you can make playlists to keep track of the time as well.
Listening to instrumental music (such as classical, movie scores, etc) is recommended for effective productivity.
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7. Start them
Getting started on a project or a task may sound daunting—but it is the most crucial and essential step to being productive. Some people find it especially difficult to get their tasks started despite having filled out their planners.
Taking the first step ensures maximum productivity and motivation. Once you start your planned tasks, there is an increased chance of getting them done throughout the day. And best of all, you will feel more satisfied and relieved by the end of the day because you were able to complete every task to the best of your abilities.
