motivation levels at work...

[PipJoy]

Is anybody else completely unable to motivate themselves at work? I can't make myself do anything! Am barely even doing the barest minimum, I can't concentrate, and I don't really care.

I hate my job anyway, and now I just really dont want to be here, don't know how I'm going to make it through the next 5 months?

Anybody feel the same? Hoping so!

Me. Spent the first 4 months in the toilet sleeping/trying not to puke.

And now my motivation seems to have vanished. I like my job and am planning coming back so its really frustrating. But, try as I might, I just can't summon up and oomph.

That's reassuring for me, although no doubt rubbish for you! also spent a lot of time in the disabled loo... mainly sleeping to start with, but also just escaping from my desk. fortunately / unfortunately can manage my own time during the day, but I can always put off deadlines, I shouldnt, but I can get away with it, and I'm just shuffling stuff so that I can spend my days doing nothing...
feel guilty and is not exactly satisfying, but can't seem to change

I'm having the same problem. I'm doing a PhD rather than working per se, but just can't get motivated, even though I'm really interested in what I'm doing. I keep telling mild that the next five months are a chance to really push ahead so that my workload is easier when I return, but it's not helping and I'm making absolutely no progress.

Also feeling very guilty and dissatisfied. Does this get better, or will it just continue for next five months?

Sorry you're the same, it's rubbish isnt it. I definitely feel loads of guilt about work and totally fed up with the thought of my career in general - mainly thinking how I am probably now ultimately trapped in an industry I hate (after maternity leave I mean, kind of forever)...

I think maybe all the hormones are at least partly responsible. Also I guess it's difficult to have something this massive go on and just carry on as normal. Maybe it's different if you've had one already but with the first it's a pretty big deal and a lot to get your head around... only so much head space maybe? no room for work in your brain anymore?

I too am suffering from a major lack of motivation for work. I'm often late at the moment, and spend half my day sending emails to friends or on the internet (like right now!). I'm not being too hard on myself and am putting at least some of it down to the fact I feel like warmed up poo most of the time... I'm so tired and naseous I can't concentrate and in a way I actually resent the fact I have to be here at all.

I guess the trick is to take every day as it comes and not look too far into the future. At first I felt like "oh well, I'm leaving in a few months so I can't really be bothered any more", but in the last week or so I've been trying to get my head down a bit. I don't want to leave loads of loose ends and half-done work when I leave, and I'm trying to use that to motivate myself. It's almost working ;-)

well I am impressed - that's how I want to be - I dont want to drop my team in it for instance, and feel like they are paying me so I can't just completely take the mickey... but still - as much as I think that - my brain still won't budge, I just can't start anything, or finish anything, or continue anything.

google (and mumsnet like you say) seems so appealing! yet clock watching is downright miserable - I know in my head I would actually be happier working and getting things done, but no go!

agree on not being too hard on ourselves, unfortunately feel like am being way too soft...

I'm doing a PhD too, Equimum - I'm 7+ wks and have completely lost interest. I've got loads of writing that needs to be handed in next week for a review and I haven't even started. No motivation whatsoever. Grrrrrrrrrr

I was like this for the first few months but am now 25 weeks and having an EPIc panic a the amount of work I have to do before I go on ML! I can honestly say that after several weeks of getting sod all done, I have wasted barely a minute in the past month. Terror is the way forward!

hi you! totally understand, i find that my pregnancies give me a lot of focus as to what i want to be doing in my life... i also usually get (short) bursts of energy and lots and lots of ideas that keep me up all night. first pregnancy i just italian striked my way through a job where i was undervalued and not needed to the extent that i wanted. second pregnancy i quit that same job (got pregnant quickly again), one month after telling my boss i was pregnant. i just decided i could do better with my time than hanging out at a job that didnt really need me and that didnt get me where i wanted to be. now im doing some freelancing, building myself a few sites and have signed up for a master degree to get into the niche i want to be in. not happy end yet, but at least i feel im doing something to getthere. i wonder if you are just tired and ready for a brake or if you are feeling something that is worth pursuing?

I'm a PhD student too - funded thankfully. But I have totally lost interest and haven't been getting much done recently. I hope I might concentrate better after the 12 week scan, when I might start feeling better too. I get really annoyed with myself as it makes sense to do as much work as possible before the baby is born. I don't think I will want to go back, so the less left the better! I work from home mainly so it's so easy to be slack.

Equimum and Laura - have you told your supervisors yet? I'm 11 weeks so am waiting until after the scan, but not looking forward to telling them! I plan to take a whole year off and have a feeling it might not go down too well. (I also plan to finish part time, but no need to tell them that for now.)

Well I think maybe it is a bit of both. Am definitely knackered, tough first twelve weeks, etc. Guess there may be something more though. Have always regretted my career choice desperately (more fool me for sticking it for fifteen years plus) and have struggled with (always work related) anxiety for years. Think you may be right about the new focus on what you want, maybe partly can't be arsed because now i really feel I can't do this much longer. Course I feel partly trapped, okay I have the mat leave, but after that an obligation to earn money for my family, scary to think can't really walk away now. I may feel like I can't do this, but it's not about me anymore is it?

I have 4 weeks to go till mat leave (35 wks pregnant with DC2). Unfortunately I am in a team of 1 so there is nowhere to hide in terms of volume of work produced. Have had the worst blocked sinuses (pregnancy related apparently) this last week which has made it even harder. Sitting at my desk, breathing through my mouth, which then gives me a dry mouth, so drinking loads of water and spending most of the day peeing.

I (usually) really like this job though so need to keep it as well paid PT jobs are like hen's teeth round here.

Another PhD student here! Been up most of the night writing for my end of year review (which I have to hand in a a few hours, still not finished!) and have just celebrated by throwing up for the first time. I'm 5+5 with my first and also very not looking forward to telling my supervisor. I also have a feeling that the writing I've done may be rubbish!

Oh I feel rough. Just got to put in another few hours and I can go to bed.. Not sure how I will ever get up and get working again -- until this deadline started looming I was struggling to get anything done at all.

Wow, a few PhD students having a baby. Trust us to be on the thread about motivation!

Can we be friends?

There used to be a long-running thread for PhD-student parents but I think it gradually fizzled out. Would be really nice to have some company -- I'm going to be very much in the minority in my university and department.

I am so glad it's not just me...I love my job but I have no interest in it whatsoever at the moment. I'm currently off work with hideous nausea and exhaustion and have no desire to go back. I'm jealous of all the PhD's...one day...

Sorry, I know I really shouldn't moan about it when I'm in a very enviable position with adequate funding to work on something I (mostly) find fascinating. God it's hard to get going sometimes though.. We're famous for it. And now we're pregnant too.

YES! Zero motivation. Not helpful as I'm working on the Olympics and everyone else is burning the candle at both ends and is so chipper and excited about the Games. I'm dreading the commute to the Olympic Park (even though I only have to manage a few sites for a few hours every other day, thank you pregnancy) and the queues (which I'm planning on jumping).

My motivation is so low it's been noticed so I really need to gear up. I just feel like I'm on a really long notice period. In fact, I just broke off this post to have a half hour conversation about wedding dresses and babies!

I sincerely hope my intellect returns post birth and I recover some enthusiasum for work!

I haven't told my supervisor yet - dreading it nervous too. I'm waiting til after our 12 week scan (July 26), but quite honestly as it's summer holidays I'll probably just wait to break the news in September!

Love the idea of having our own thread, so I'll start one - look for 'Pregnant and a PhD'

I feel like I'm on a notice period too - and am acting that way. I feel like it's been noticed with me too - normally that would spur me into action but still nothing doing. I think it would take a serious - we are on the verge of firing you conversation to make any difference, and frankly even then... not sure I care.

I feel badly about it but I too am jealous of the PHDs! Dont know why as clearly all having a very bad time too, sorry guys, I guess that's my dream, to study, but can't afford to, just feel like if my work was something I gave a toss about then it would be fine, but I guess obviously not reading some of these posts! So maybe it is just pregnancy...

Hope everybody feels better soon - and the intellect and enthusiasm returns. Will continue to post here though when having bad days at my desk - hope others do too as there is comfort in numbers I think.

I'm with you Pipjoy. A thread for bored, unmotivated slackers would be most welcome!

Late night in the office yesterday. Was my own fault for being so slack and everything coming on top.

Easy day for me today though; I'm meeting the British men's swimming team today as they get kitted out for the Games. Days like these I can handle

Maybe we should stop pretending low motivation levels and start a thread called bored, unmotivated slackers! Swim team sounds ace though, that could motivate me a little!