To ask how I can get back my motivation at work?

[ComingUpTrumps]

Since the pandemic, I’ve found myself feeling pretty demotivated at work.

I think it’s for a few reasons: working from home a lot, finding aspects of my job difficult and not really enjoying it and just having been in my job for a while now.

Whilst there are lots of things about my job that I like - e.g. my colleagues and manager, aspects of the role I enjoy, I’ve learned a lot in my job,
it’s a very stable job - I’ve found it hard to regain my motivation and drive.

Does anyone have any advice on how I can get my motivation back please?

I guess I can try to go into the office more, but I still find it hard.

I just worry that I’ll stay in my role forever and get stuck there in my comfort zone, and everyone around here will progress whilst I stagnate. That’s probably me catastrophising though!!

Anyone able to advise please?

do You have monthly 1:1 meetings with your manager? Targets for the year? how is performance measures? What opportunities are there for progression and are any of them interesting to you? I’d start with a chat with manager and see how things are going from the management viewpoint. It is ok to tell your manager things feel a bit stale.

Sometimes progression leads to stress and even more money or recognition aren’t worth it. So think hard before you push.

Maybe you could use the career lull to put energy into other projects. Do you feel like you’ve lost motivation outside work too?

i think everyone feels a bit meh post Covid. I’ve found my mojo by starting a new hobby (mountain biking) and it’s helping a bit.

You mention finding some elements of your role difficult. Could you spend some more time in the office so you have people around you who could help / arrange some sessions with a co-worker to run through a more challenging aspect. It’ always much easier if you are sitting near someone to ask than pick up the phone / organise a zoom etc.

You might find a bit more time in the office with colleagues will help get your mojo for work back, the easy “coffee machine” chat rather than having to always phone a colleague. You might get to grips with some of the difficulties - something suddenly clicks when someone is showing you / chatting informally.

Are you doing anything during the day when WFH apart from sitting in front of your screen - I found going for a walk every day helped, once a week I went swimming and I used to take a coffee break at the local coffee shop to break the day up - it took me away from the screen and worrying about putting the washing on and hanging it out between calls !