No matter how your day at work is going, you still have a job to do and sometimes you must dig deep in order to finish the day strong. When you find yourself struggling to get—or stay—motivated, here are some great tips to help you tackle that to-do list!
Jazz up your workspace. A messy, disorganized desk often hinders productivity. Take some time to dust off the cobwebs, clean your computer screen, and organize the clutter around your desk. Bring in fresh flowers or plants, add a fancy new candle, and hang a couple of photos or a piece of art you admire.
Break big tasks down into smaller tasks. Sometimes when we have a big project, it can feel overwhelming to think about everything that has to get done. Make a list of all the small tasks and start taking them one at a time. Check off the small wins to feel like you’re making progress daily.
Set deadlines. Even if something doesn’t have a hard deadline, give yourself a time frame for when it needs to be finished. This will help you manage your time and plan accordingly. Try and set your priorities and make a list before you leave the office, so when you come to work in the morning you’ll be ready to go.
Ask for help. If you get stuck, ask a coworker for input and ideas. Sometimes collaboration is the best way to jump start a project and get a fresh perspective if you’re stuck in the middle of one. This will encourage you to keep going when you start to lose steam.
Give yourself a reward. Rewards are a great motivator. So make a deal with yourself that after you finish a certain number of tasks or work for a certain period of time that you’ll get a reward—a piece of candy, a coffee break, or a quick scroll through Instagram.
Get moving and take a break. Breaks are essential to staying motivated. Give yourself regular breaks throughout the day, and bonus points if you get moving! Go for a walk or do some quick stretches at your desk. Taking several short breaks is actually known to boost your productivity too, so it’s a win, win.
Track progress. It’s important that you keep track of everything you get done to remind yourself that you’re awesome and you’re making progress! So whether it’s a to-do list, items on your calendar, or tasks in project management software, mark all of those to-dos off as done!
If you’re ready to learn more about organization, time management, boundaries, and creating margin in your life, Sophic Steps Habit Transformation is waiting for you!
(Source: Health Coach Institute – March 2020)