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?

For me I find it better to have time based goals eg work for 1 hour and then break to get a drink. Work until 12 and then have a lunch break and a walk.

I'm finding task based rewards are not working as some days I do not have the concentration for big tasks and chaining myself to the desk is counterproductive. It's a bit like if you've had a day where you haven't got much done because you're tired so then you make yourself work late a couple of hours and are more tired and drained for the next day.

Currently watching Desperate Housewives while telling myself lunchtime is over...

I definitely work better under some pressure or when I have a reasonable amount to do. When I don't have anything big to do or not much to do then I tend to "coast"

If TV is a reward, maybe pick something with shorter episodes and watch one of those as a reward. I think Friends episodes for example are around 22 minutes. I'm sure there are plenty of other series where each episode is just as short.

@SweetAlmondOil I don't know if that was to me but tbh one episode of DH is fine for lunchtime at 44 mins but I started work late today as I felt unwell so could have done with taking a short lunch break to make up the time but the day has flown by which I suppose is a good thing in a way.

I need to not be on my phone throughout the day too

I’ve worked from home for years.

My top tip is to not try to replicate being in an office - do what suits you. I love not having to sit and pretend to be busy when I’m not. I work when I’m feeling productive (that changes day to day depending on what I need to do) and do other stuff (housework, laundry, exercise, grocery shopping) at other times. I work outside my contracted hours, so I can work when it suits me - I love having free day time - it’s well worth the odd evening hour of work.)

And stay away from daytime telly. It’s an absolute time sink. 😀

I’ve found my people. I detest working from home. I’ve been told it will be for some time to come. My mental health is beginning to suffer. The only upside appears to be that when I get back to my actual day job my son will be in secondary school and my childcare issue will almost disappear!

Me. I've known for years that too much WFH is too isolating for me. I'm only doing the bare minimum currently but no one really seems to be noticing or to care, which does not help. I tried raising it with my manager, but he seems to think it's only a problem if it goes on and on. I feel like I could fade away and no one would notice.

Maybe (likely) it's just me, but I used to struggle with motivation in the office more. I've been wfh for over 2 yrs now and yes there are some days where I get more done than others but it evens out. In the office I'd sometimes get that awful mid afternoon slump and end up doing nothing constructive. Or someone would interrupt me with something, when I was in the middle of another thing, and it would throw me off and I'd struggle to get back into it etc. Or maybe I'd had a bad night and was struggling to get going in the morning. There were all sorts of reasons why I could be found browsing MN instead of working when I was office based!

At home I'm only "cheating" myself if I sit faffing around instead of working. I find it much easier to focus and just get on with it, with no distractions. But then it helps that my work is output based and not time based.

Place marking to RTFT, which I really need... I have a fantastic, rewarding, varied, responsible and well- paid job. After going flat-out for months, for the last 3 weeks I've been coasting at best. Not even struggling to concentrate, I've given up and am surfing the web and generally dicking about till I get the stimulation of a virtual meeting. Im surrounded online by people cooing about how much more productive they are WFH. I feel ashamed and guilty, and a bit defiant. I'm going to take this as a prod to at least write a proper to-do list, and then comeback this evening and read everyone's insights and tips!

I too am dicking about and doom-scrolling Twitter. I’ve got a responsible job and should be making a difference. No concentration.

@WearyandBleary

I too am dicking about and doom-scrolling Twitter. I’ve got a responsible job and should be making a difference. No concentration.

Glad it's not just me!

Try the Pomodoro technique. Set a timer for 25 minutes and during that time, work your socks off. As soon as the timer goes off, STOP. Have a break, set the timer again.

It really does work (writer who's worked from home for 5 years now).

Having said that, I've done bugger all today and whilst in town for a food shop, somehow found myself in the pub with a glass of wine and reading the papers so maybe don't listen to me :)

Try the Pomodoro technique. Set a timer for 25 minutes and during that time, work your socks off. As soon as the timer goes off, STOP. Have a break, set the timer again.

I think this sort of technique is helpful

I've been similar. I like WFH and am not looking forward to the day when they make us go back on site full time. I'd ideally like a mixture. However, I've had a crazy busy project for a couple of months and it's done. I've got some stuff to write and I've got a deadline; I am a very quick worker so I know I will finish it - but I've been doing a lot of daydreaming, surfing the web and faffing in the last week or two. I think it's a response to feeling like we're in limbo. 2020 has been a write off in a lot of respects. Having said that, I am extremely grateful to have my job and I am a max effort person normally, so need to snap out of it!

I don't mind wfh in general but I'm struggling now. I'm having to teach myself my new job, there's very little support and I'm generally fed up.

We've improved communication to the point where electronic communication is the be all and end all. I'm overwhelmed with information. No one explains anything and there's no room for error.

And we're now having to suffer enforced jollity as well with ludicrous dressing up and competitions. It's not helping. At all.

raises hand

I'm in the same boat. I used to have a varied role which had a healthy mixture of 50% admin and 50% out in the field.
However, my role changed in July due to pregnancy and I am now 100% admin and WFH as due to shielding.

I'm struggling. I just can't find the motivation anymore. It's really isolating and I'm actually disappointed in myself for not performing as well as I know I can.

I'm also worried how this will impact my attitude towards work in the future. I'm WFH until February when I go on Mat Leave for 12 months. I'm concerned my passion and enthusiasm for work will have completely diminished by the time I'm due to go back to work.

Yes it’s incredibly hard.

I went into the office about a month ago and I really enjoyed it. Now we are back to only coming in if we absolutely must - and I have to admit I don’t like it.

All this talk of timers and rewards is suddenly reminding me of revising for my a levels. That sucked too! At least it had a fixed end point though.

WFH is pretty shit. Although I can at least go to the office twice a week now.

The most productive thing I've achieved so far today is sorting the recycling. I think I'm going to book some annual leave, hopefully some headspace will break the bad habits.

I've been WFH for the last 6 months and have struggled on and off (more on than off). I find I have good weeks and bad weeks, depending on how busy I am - if I have deadlines then I'm far more productive, but most of the time I'm meant to be proactive...and I'm just not at the moment. I really, really miss the social aspect of the office - I'm part of a good, friendly, nice team of people, whom I now never see. In the office I feel I'm letting the team down if I don't pull my weight, but I feel so distanced and disconnected now... it's really hard to find any motivation.

I might try some of the tips mentioned by other posters, thanks for those.

Not sure if you're looking for tips but, as a long-time WFH-er, I sometimes use apps (Focus Keeper is a good free one) that gets you working for a set amount of time, then gives you a break. And it may sound silly, but playing 'office noise' videos on YouTube can really help me focus! If you have a to-do list, pick the low-hanging fruit first. It helps to work up to bigger tasks that can seem daunting at first and tricks you into thinking you're being productive, even if you've just answered an email or two!

I find I'm fine if I have urgent stuff to do and can crack on. But in quieter times I skive off and sit at my laptop with a novel or surf the web.

Thanks @AtLeastThreeDrinks I've just downloaded Focus Keeper, will give that a go it can only help!