In a world flooded with busyness, the need to hustle, dreams of “making it,” upskilling and “doing what you love,” there will be times when you’re going to feel unmotivated and uninspired.
You’re going to experience days when your favorite cup of coffee won’t be enough to inspire energy and inspiration. It would impractical to think that you could always perform at the highest level all the time.
What do you do when you’re feeling unmotivated and uninspired? What happens if you’re running a business and you have no desire to work? Worse even, what happens when your employees have no energy and may be close to quitting?
To get to the bottom of the problem, ask: “why do I feel unmotivated and tired?”
Reasons for Feeling Unmotivated (and how to solve them)
If you are feeling tired or uninspired at work, here are some reasons why this may be happening.
1. You’re lacking passion for your job
Trying to stay motivated is hard when you’re not passionate about what you’re doing in the first place. This can happen if you have been in the same position for a certain period of time now and despite earning a steady paycheck, you lack excitement about what you do on a day-to-day basis.
If this rings true, re-evaluate your career path. Perhaps it is time to challenge yourself by taking on a new role or trying something new.
Solution:
If you like what you’re doing but feel like the passion isn’t how it used to be, then you might need a little pick me up – other than coffee. This could be a new hobby or interest that you would like to develop. Something that would break the regular routine that you have gotten used to over time.
Try doing something new or taking on another endeavor outside your working hours like investing in new business opportunities. Diving into a new hobby or pursuing other entrepreneurship opportunities might be a way for you to regain your passion and motivation.
2. You don’t have the energy
As most office jobs require sitting in front of the computer for an extended period of time, you are at risk of losing muscle mass and feeling tired most days.
Lack of exercise induces fatigue simply because blood flow and circulation aren’t being boosted or developed. Lack of sleep isn’t the only reason you’re feeling tired. Sitting all day can exhaust you mentally and if your mind is tired, your body will be too. This is why it’s important to keep track of your activities and balance them.
You might not feel motivated because natural fatigue has set in due to having too much work on your plate, thus leading you to become overworked altogether. Either way, you should always make time for exercise to make sure that you always have the stamina and energy for work.
Solution:
A minimum of 15 minutes of walking will boost your endurance and will help strengthen your cardiovascular system.
Apart from exercising, you should also make sure that you’re hydrated. Dehydration decreases the blood volume which makes the blood thicker which then requires your heart to pump less effectively. When your heart isn’t performing at its best, then oxygen and nutrients won’t be properly distributed all over your body.
Check that you’re also getting enough sleep. Aim for 6 to 8 hours of sleep each day to avoid fatigue. To boost your energy levels to the fullest, make sure that you’re also getting the proper nutrients that your brain and body need to function properly.
3. Lack of inspiration
If you are simply lacking motivation, then perhaps it is time to look up some new sources of inspiration. Inspirational quotes are a great way to keep yourself motivated and happy throughout the day. However, if this still doesn’t do the trick then something else may be wrong that needs to be addressed through counseling or personal development sessions with your manager or human resources team.
Solution:
The first step to rediscovering your inspiration at work is to self-reflect. Sometimes you lose yourself in tasks and meetings that bombard you each day. You may be passionate, but getting swamped by work can make you forget what inspired you to do what you’re doing in the first place.
Find time for yourself and reflect on what challenges you’re facing as well as the things that you want to accomplish for the time being.
Next, list down what excites you at work. Celebrate your wins and accomplishments – things that remind you of how amazing you are at your job. This will remind you why you’re doing what you’re doing and will gain you new perspectives on how you deal with tasks or challenges.
Finally, look for external drivers that inspire you in a positive way. This can be a person you respect, things you want to accomplish, or challenges that stoke your passion. Look around you and take note of the things that stimulate your passion and creativity.
4. You’re not being challenged enough
A routine can often seem monotonous at times so you might feel stuck between a rock and hard place after being in the same position for an extended period of time. Working a job that’s boring is one way to zap out all your passion and motivation.
Solution:
If you lack interest or feel challenged at work, start looking for ways to expand your skillset by enrolling in training courses, external workshops, or even online courses. There are plenty of options available to improve your digital fluency and you should be feeling more challenged within a week or two.
Talk to your manager and ask if you can take on a different task or project. Propose a new idea and tell them what responsibility you want to take on. Make sure that it’s within your skill set and that you can handle the role you’re asking for.
5. You’re feeling underappreciated
Ask yourself if you’re feeling unmotivated because your contributions are going unnoticed. perhaps your job isn’t rewarding enough for all the hard work you put in day after day.
Solution:
Do not let anyone underestimate your contributions because everyone deserves to feel valued regardless of their position within the company hierarchy. Speak up about what makes you tick and how you hope to grow into a better person down the road while working towards professional goals which align with the company’s vision and mission.
6. Work at work-life balance
One of the most important things that people have to have in their life is work-life balance. Having a bad work-life balance can cause someone to get extremely unmotivated, which will consequently cause them to be unhappy with how their lives are going. Many people who lack a good work-life balance often find themselves not wanting to go out and do anything.
After a full day at work, the idea of completely shutting down your brain and just laze away the rest of the day could be tempting. However, it’s not going to contribute to work-life balance. Spending your time on the couch can be relaxing, but it’s not productive and can get you uninspired to work the next day.
Solution:
The first step you need to take is deciding what exactly will make your life more balanced. While some people would prefer doing things like exercising, you might be the type of person who enjoys taking on a creative project.
Try to make more plans after work that isn’t related to your work. What’s important is finding something that you not only enjoy but also find relaxing or rewarding enough to give your mind some time off from work.
7. You’re not progressing in your job
If you’ve tried everything and you still feel unmotivated, then it may be time to spread your wings and find a new job.
Solution:
Talk to your boss and see if you can get a new role in a different department. If you feel like you don’t have the energy to tackle your current job and (more importantly) you’re no longer happy, then maybe it’s time to switch to a different career path.
More Tips on How to Stop Being Unmotivated
Now that you’ve read about the possible explanations as to why you might be feeling unmotivated at work, here are more tips on how to stay motivated and find joy in what you do.
1. Stay fit. Striving to be fit and healthy will always be a factor that will help you stay focused and motivated no matter what challenges you’re facing. A healthy breakfast and a good night’s sleep will help you stay on top of your game and keep you motivated.
2. Take advantage of productivity apps. If you’re feeling like you need to manage your time better, then productivity apps like the Pomodoro apps, which use the Pomodoro technique, can help you stay disciplined and motivated to finish tasks at hand. You can find many Pomodoro applications on the Apple Store and Google Playstore, so there’s no excuse not to try them.
3. Read more books. Reading helps you see things from a different perspective. A good book also has the ability to take your mind off of things and can relax you. Use Google Search and Goodreads to find books that would interest you. Looking at ratings and reviews will make it easier for you to find good books that fit your interests and will save you from reading books that might not be your cup of tea after all.
4. Shake up the work environment. If you’re noticing signs of low energy and lack of inspiration among your employees, introduce new ideas in the workplace. Take a survey. Talk to your workers. Find out why they’re not performing well. Some people may want a more collaborative environment to be inspired, others may only need some vacation time to recharge.
Regain Your Motivation
Sometimes, you must work hard at getting motivated. The tips here can be used for your situation as an employee or as the head of your business. Whatever you’re dealing with, the bottom line is to resolve the lack of energy and inspiration as soon as you feel it coming.
