This Article is a Guest Post.
Motivation is something we all need in our lives, and it’s something most of us take for granted. We have things we love to do, things we put off doing at all costs, and all manner of shades of gray in between. To get yourself in the right frame of mind to tackle anything and everything, we’re going to take a look at the 17 most common motivation killers. Whether you encounter them at work, at home, or a bit of both, you need to tackle them head-on if you’re going to get the most out of life.
Not feeling valued by your boss
Work is by far and away the biggest source of resentment and stress for the majority of us, and your boss is often a major contributing factor to the way you feel about it all. If you’re stuck with someone that clearly doesn’t value you, it’s going to have all sorts of negative impacts on the way you see yourself. Your self-esteem will plummet, and you just won’t feel like you want or deserve, to be there. The best approach is to ask for feedback on what you can do better, and make it clear to your boss you’re invested in the team.
Poor communication in your work team
Closely following bosses are colleagues. If you’re unlucky enough to work somewhere where communication is something of an afterthought, we feel your pain. It’s so difficult to get things done when people seemingly have no interest in keeping one another up to speed, and it’s a problem that’s so easily fixed when you think about it. If you want to be able to give every day your best, be the one who proactively keeps everyone in the loop. Hopefully, then you can set an example that pulls everyone else up.
Struggling to find the tools you need
This could cover work or home life, and it’s more easily fixed than you might think. There’s nothing more demotivating than wasting longer than a job would take trying to find the tools and resources you need to actually do it. With a bit of communication, and plenty of organization, you can gradually amass the resources you need to tackle just about anything. It’s a great way to feel like you’re in control, and it’ll also free you up to spend your time doing more enjoyable things.
Not being rewarded for a job well done
Everyone likes a thank you from time to time, and you’re no different. There’s nothing worse than working hard on something, only to have it basically ignored. Ask your boss or partner for feedback as a way of gently nudging them to notice what you’ve done. Half the time the chances are they do appreciate what you’ve done, they just haven’t thought to let you know. If you’re proactive about communicating, you’ll find other people start to follow your lead.
Lack of natural light throughout the day
Being stuck indoors under artificial light is bad for your mood and overall wellbeing, and that means your motivation levels will take a knock. If you want to be able to get the most out of every single day, you need to be getting out into the sun for at least an hour. Take the dog for a walk if you are at home, and go for a walk on your lunch break if you’re confined to the office. It won’t transform everything, but it will give you a chance to recharge your batteries the natural way.
Eating too much junk food
Staying motivated is as much about what you put into your body as it is about working on your mind. You are quite literally what you eat, so take the time to try healthier, lighter meals that don’t leave you feeling bloated afterward. The goal is not always to eat the most delicious thing you can think of until you can’t face putting another bite past your lips. Most of the time the best thing is to make healthy choices that result in you no longer being hungry. They’ll give you the energy and vitality you need to apply the other words of wisdom on this list. And when you do that you’ll really start to notice yourself changing.
A negative work atmosphere
We’ve all worked with people who love to just slam the place lunch break after lunch break. Whilst sometimes you’re going to need to blow off a little steam, if you only ever surround yourself with people who do that then you are bound to start adopting a negative mindset yourself. Try to break things up by changing the subject, making a few jokes, and inviting the happy guy from the neighboring cubicle to come to join you.
A partner who always focuses on the negatives
Negativity isn’t just something you’ll find at work, especially if you have a partner who tends to dwell on things or moan a lot. Being surrounded by negatives is almost terminal for your motivation, so try and change the subject and spread a little positivity about the place. Sometimes just putting on some comedy, planning a holiday, or even talking about what you would do if you won the lottery is all it takes to lighten the mood. Do it often enough, and you can change the entire dynamic.
Lack of chances to progress in your career
Career progression is one of the most common reasons people feel good, and a lack of it is one of the biggest sources of a lack of motivation. Whilst not everyone can be promoted year on year, you need something to incentivize you to keep giving your job your best effort, day after day. Speak to your boss and outline where you’d like to be 1, 3, and 5 years from now. Then ask them how you can work together to make it happen. They’ll appreciate you for coming to speak to them, and they’ll be encouraged that you see your future as part of the team.
Sitting and playing on your phone for hours
There’s no better way to feel like you just don’t want to do anything than sitting on your phone for hours on end. They’re designed to be addictive, they are addictive, and they’re experts at grabbing and holding your attention at all hours of the day. Leave it in a different room when you get home from work, play with kids, and then go cook something delicious. After a couple of days, you won’t even miss it, and you’ll have plenty of ideas about how you want to spend your evenings.
Not having the money to treat yourself when you’re tired
We all need to be able to treat ourselves, and when you’re tired from a period of intense work there’s nothing better. The only problem is that sometimes you won’t have the funds to do what you like. Put some money aside every week, and then when the mood takes you you’ll be able to treat yourself to some new clothes, a takeaway, or maybe both!
A boss who’s constantly micromanaging you
Bosses are making a few appearances on this list, and given the impact they can have on your morale and motivation, it’s not hard to see why. A boss who feels the need to constantly look over your shoulder can be the stuff of nightmares. You know you can do the job, surely they do otherwise they wouldn’t have hired you, so what’s going on? Avoid being confrontational, and instead, put in a bit of extra effort so you’re always 2 steps ahead. In time they realize you always have things covered.
Not having enough time for your friends
You need to make time to spend with your friends, it really is that simple. Book something in weekly or monthly with the people you want to see, and before you know it you’ll be socializing on autopilot.
Feeling like you’re just drifting through life
Goals are what you need here, and a plan. Picture where you want to be 12 months from now, then work backward so you can start to make it happen. You might think that you’re not going to transform your life in a single day, and you’re right. But no one who ever got what they wanted out of life did it by sitting back and maligning the fact it wasn’t happening for them.
A lack of achievable goals
Goals are what get you out of bed in the morning, give you the belief that you can be great, and make you realize what you’ve already achieved. If this isn’t reason enough to start setting them, what is? Start with something easy and achievable, and then gradually increase the time and effort required to attain them. It’ll give you the focus you need when you’re searching for motivation and direction.
Wasting time in endless meetings
Ask anyone who works at the top editing services and they’ll tell you very little real work gets done in meetings. If you have the freedom to, make it known that you have more pressing things to do as things start to drag. If you’re not senior yet, use the time to think about complex tasks whilst still showing willing in the meeting.
Feeling like there’s no one to collaborate with
This could apply both at work, and at home, and it’s something you need to get on top of to rediscover your motivation. Tell your boss, partner, and colleagues how you’re feeling, and what they can do to help you out. It may feel strange, but being open is always the best approach. The chances are they had no idea you were feeling this way, and they’ll jump right into the action.
Final Thoughts
Now that you’ve heard all about how to avoid the 17 biggest motivation killers, all you need to do is put the wise words above into practice. Granted, it’s a little bit easier said than done, but that doesn’t mean you can’t make a start right now. Try and introduce one new thing a day, and within a few weeks, your life will look completely different. Build up some consistency and momentum, and things will have changed beyond all recognition. Just what you want when you’re looking to live your best life.
This Article is a Guest Post.
