Anyone else struggling with WFH motivation?

[ScottyDottyDooDah]

I gave a very busy, varied and autonomous job, and since I was sent home in March, have coped relatively well with constant WFH (WFH is a choice I've always had anyway, but my preference is a mix between the office and home.)

However, just recently I'm really struggling to stay motivated and to care about the standard of my output. I love my job, and wouldn't want to sabotage it in any way, but I just feel so apathetic, especially as "Lockdown II - The Return" looms.

Is this normal? Does anyone else feel they need a giant kick up the arse? Am I a lazy cow or is the stupidness of 2020 well and truly kicking in?

How can I get out of this funk?

My job varies massively in intensity I've been stupid busy for weeks, now, I'm not. I've got a load of admin stuff to do but seriously struggling to get on with it. Watching the news and waiting for announcements isn't helping.

Have, not gave!

💯 agree OP. I have hit a total slump. Was looking forward to Halloween week off with DS to give myself a refresh, but looks like we are going to still be stuck in the house!

Go easy on yourself x

I'm really struggling lately too. I loved WFH but my motivation to do my work to my normal standards is slipping.
I had to really force myself to complete a very simple task today!
I think it's more to do with the colleagues getting away with bare minimum and secret redundancies that is destroying my motivation though

Yeah, that's why I'm on here right now

Snap! It was novel, then it was essential, then it was a chore but now it’s almost impossible! Half term coming up, no childcare options, no guarantee that school will restart afterwards, I see my work with the fresh eyes of someone who realised it’s a bullshit job waste of time.

Unfortunately bills.

Yep, am just gone.

yes. Deadlines are looming and I just can't get sorted. I was fine at first, really productive, even went for and got a promotion in lockdown. Now I feel flat, sad and tired.

I find myself picking at blackheads on my face, using a light up mirror, far more often than I should do!

I just can't engage! Thought it was a temporary thing but I've felt like this for a few weeks now.

All I can think is that everyone else in my company and indeed, the UK is probably achieving more than I am at the moment. What is wrong with me?!

I am in the same place. I dont know why but the last few weeks I havent had the motivation for anything. Even basics like planning what to have for dinner is hard and I know my work output is low. I 100% think its covid fatigue with things getting worse, winter drawing in etc. I just keep forcing myself to do things one step at a time. Make a list and just do one task then another etc.

Same problem! My work relies on me being self-motivated and curious and I just don't have the mental energy. Spend half my time faffing on phone / wandering around the flat. At work am finding it hard to listen / pay attention in meetings.

I got "in the zone" a few weeks ago by the following:

• writing full list of everything to do and choosing tasks from it day by day
• meditating for 10 mins before work
• leaving phone in the other room
• writing distractions down for later

I am back to faffing as I don't really have a to-do list at the moment, so I'm dependent on myself to come up with some things to do...

Yes it's not helped as just gone through redundancy consultation, had to reapply for job, find out this week if successful or redundant

I have heard news we are delaying my project for 6 months. I am not sure what I am supposed to do in the meantime.

Wind has gone out of my sails.

I'm struggling too. Been working like a dog since March, so for 7 months. Last few weeks just can't seem to get going.

Me too. It doesn't help that I'm on pins waiting for the school to call about my kids bubbles bursting (already happened once).

I've just eaten 6 biscuits and taken one phonecall. Thats the extent of my activity within the last hour....

Me too, I’m sick of WFH I’m feeling really lonely and I have no motivation. I seem to procrastinate then panic because I haven’t got everything done. It’s prompted me to start looking for a new job

Yes I feel the same.

I'm struggling with motivation and some days I feel I'm not very productive as a result.

I love my job and work hard but at the moment everything feels a bit samey and I feel a bit bored and fed up

me too at moment!!

I have to fix a big group of errors I did in a report and would rather find some pins for eyeballs. I profoundly never wanted to WFH.

(due to c19) My contract was slashed so I should actually only do 1.5 hours/day to make up for excess hours done earlier; extra incentive to do bare minimum.

I just feel so, so tired. And not even a holiday if any sort.

I desperately want to keep my job but I’m so fucking tired

@tortoiseshell1985

Yes it's not helped as just gone through redundancy consultation, had to reapply for job, find out this week if successful or redundant

Same, here I'm safe but only until the next round and with that looming for another 4 months my productivity has dropped off a cliff.

I think this is the problem with WFH! Fine for the first few months, then deadly. I found about six months after WFH, my productivity fell through the floor and I started putting on weight. Brilliant...

I work on a reward basis. Handle ten emails then I can get up and make a cup of coffee. Work on this item (for long-er stuff) and I can do the laundry, etc. Sometimes the reward isn't always pleasant but it's something I would otherwise 'use' as an excuse to leave my desk.

Oh, that's a good tip @SweetAlmondOil!

Maybe tips are what's needed here. If only I could reward myself with a wine and a fag. (I no longer drink or smoke!)

Another tip then is to force in mini deadlines. I do this by advance booking status updates with people. Makes me feel the pressure and motivate me. However that's not working for me at the mo as I just keep pushing them back....