Even if you desperately want a new job (or better yet, plan to start a business), it doesn’t mean you have to resign to hating your current one.
Although I’m a huge proponent of setting new career and business goals, I’ve also realized the severe importance of having a positive outlook in the present.
In order to reach for new heights, you can’t let your present situation drag you down. Thankfully, with some shifts in perspective and tweaks to your routine, you can squeeze some meaning out of your current workday.
Try one or two of these tips on for size, and see how they can help you find motivation at work:
Think like a toddler
I’m certainly not advocating for temper tantrums at work; I’m referring to the wide-eyed, fresh perspective that children have.
Children are endlessly fascinated, and they bring questioning and curiosity into every situation. If you think back to it, you probably weren’t so different in your first few weeks in the office – everything was new, and you looked at every process with fresh eyes.
You can bring back that refreshing outlook today by looking for improvements in everywhere in your job. For instance, if there’s a blogging system your team has been using for years, perhaps there’s now a better mousetrap you can spearhead. Science says this perspective brings about increased creativity and innovation, and it might be just the kick-start you need to find inspiration and motivation at work.
Bring about new opportunities
Very rarely will your boss or manager bring a new opportunity or increased responsibility to your table. They have their own things to worry about, and likely aren’t too concerned about your motivation at work if you’ve been there for years.
You shouldn’t hold your breath and wait for opportunity to come knocking – trust me when I say your bosses will appreciate the initiative (and results) if you bring new ideas up. Combined with the step above, you should start looking for new opportunities at work. Even better, look for ones that are in your Genius Zone so you can work on something passionate while delivering your very best.
Give it a break
Vacation isn’t just escapism; there are numerous studies showing that it actually increases overall productivity and output for anyone in the workplace. I can attest to the fact that although it might feel “lazy” to go on a break (especially if you’re running a business like me), it is necessary and vital for your productivity.
You don’t have to (and I recommend you shouldn’t) bust your whole vacation on an exotic trip – even if you’re low on money or don’t have a lot of time off, a small break can work wonders.
Do you have any other tweaks you’ve used to find motivation at work? Share them with me on Twitter!
