There are some days when you just don’t feel like working. You don’t want to do anything, be productive, or get stuff done, no matter how many urgent things need doing. All you want is to go back to bed. However, most of us power through with no thought to what our bodies are telling us. If you aren’t able to give in and take the time off to recharge, try these tips.
Five Coping Tips When You Just Don’t Feel Like Working
1. Take a good look at your to-do list. Have you crossed off the things you’ve finished over the past two weeks? Review each day and today in particular. Break it down into the minimum tasks you need to get done. Sometimes just simply cutting down this list is enough to motivate you to continue.
2. Get off your butt. There’s a reason sit-to-stand desks are so popular – sitting 10 hours a day at a work desk not only isn’t good for you, it doesn’t get the blood flowing. Get up and stretch once an hour, and if you’re really not feeling up to doing anything, take a walk, call a friend from your car, get a coffee – change your scenery and you might recharge your batteries.
3. Reward yourself for a day’s work. Have you been wanting to see that new movie everyone’s talking about? Try a new restaurant? Tell yourself you’ll be rewarded for a day’s work, then indulge. Looking forward to something pleasant after working might be enough to jolt you out of the “I don’t want to work today” blues.
4. Clean for 10 minutes. If you find you’re jaded from a cluttered workspace, set a timer, grab a trash bag, and clean out all the junk you can find in one part of the workspace in one 10-minute blitz. Simply having a clean space can help you mentally recharge when there’s a neat place to put stuff!
5. Examine if this is part of something bigger going on. If you feel empty and like you don’t want to work more than once a month, it’s likely that something else is going on. Have you had a major change in your job or workplace? Are there things going on at home that are distracting you? Have you grown dissatisfied or bored in your job? Write down your feelings on the days you don’t want to work. Then, see if there a common trigger.
Get Help If Needed
If you’re having a hard time pinpointing your feelings, working with a life and job coach can really help. He or she can help you identify what’s going on and formulate a plan to help you.
What coping methods have you used to motivate yourself when you just don’t feel like working? Tell us in the comments!
Karen, CPRW, is an award-winning and top-rated resume writer, career coach, and brand strategist serving professional and executive clients in Rhode Island, Boston, Hartford, New York City, and nationwide. She is always happy to help however she can. Email her anytime: info@springforwardresumes.com.