It’s been quite awhile since I lasted posted a blog. I just could not get motivated. Some of my loyal followers, eager to read more of my weekly posts on career topics because, well, I’m known as a guru in their eyes, began asking me what was going on. “I’m fine,” I’d tell them. “I’ve just gotten pretty busy with x, y, and z, but I’ll be posting again soon…”
What was really going on? Well, life happened to me in a major way in the past year, and with it came a very painful and personal loss of a loved one. While I kept writing the best resumes, cover letters, and LinkedIn profiles east of the Mississippi (well…at least in the Northeast), the ideas for a blog post, and personal expression, just did not come. The well had run dry. Quite frankly, I just did not want to do it.
Don’t get me wrong, it’s not like I just up and quit working: it was quite the opposite. I’ve won several new awards this year and I’ve been listed in the top 5 or 10 Best Writers in several major cities. I worked to tighten up some business loose ends, expand my offerings, and continue to provide the best value possible. But when I got out of bed each day, I sometimes had to drag myself to my desk. I think we’ve all been there, right?
So in today’s post (at long last!), I’ve put together reasons you might lose your enthusiasm for your work and career, and some smart strategies that actually work to get motivated again:
Get motivated challenge 1: You’re just in it for the money. This is perhaps the most common excuse I hear. People are good at something and they’ve advanced in that chosen field, making enough money for themselves and their families. One day, though, they sit at the edge of the bed before going to work and think, “I hate my job.” When you reach this point, it’s important to think about what really drives your focus. What do you find interesting about the process of your work? For example, if you loathe the industry you’re in, but love working with people, how can you continue to do that?
It’s all about tapping into transferable skills — those things that make you good at your present job, but can also be used for a variety of other jobs. Make a list. Then update your resume with these skills. And don’t forget your network: let people know you are open to new opportunities. Schedule a coffee date with a former colleague. You never know what’s out there and it could be a dream job with your name on it.
Get motivated challenge 2: You experienced a major life event. When a devastating thing happens to you or your loved ones, try to cut yourself some slack. While you’re expected to keep on trucking in the workplace, the truth is that grief comes in stages, you can repeat stages, you can experience stages out of order, and the timetable for grieving is different for every single one of us.
While society expects us to “get over it” and go on, not having the same passion for work or the things you used to enjoy is normal. Try to find outlets to talk about how you feel. Support groups are great if you like a structured setting. Join a Toastmasters club or running group or book discussion at a library. Talk to a good friend over dinner. Write in a journal. Take a hot bubble bath. But most importantly, be kind to yourself.
When we lose someone, it does get easier over time. Sometimes taking the time for yourself can allow you some much-needed perspective your career. And after taking a break, you can see things through fresh eyes and a new focus.
Get motivated challenge 3: You work too many hours and feel like you have no life. Here’s where, again, it is so important to carve out time for yourself each day. Between our careers, spouses, kids, and activities, we often put ourselves last. Even taking 10 minutes each day to drive a scenic route, eat a piece of chocolate, listen to a favorite song, or just close your eyes in a quiet space, can make a world of difference.
At work, you can try the Pomodoro Technique: set a timer for 10 minutes out of every hour. When it goes off, stop what you are doing, get up from your desk, and move! You’ll find you feel much more refreshed after a change of pace.
Get motivated challenge 4: You feel unappreciated and underpaid. Many Americans who lived through the Great Recession have been afraid to look for another job or ask for a salary increase, fearing that they will lose the job to someone else that the company can compensate for a cheaper rate. That has been true until very recently: with the U.S. economy slowly, but surely, showing a steady, if lukewarm, recovery, wages are starting to pick up as companies try harder to attract good workers.
That means it may be time to talk to your boss about a raise, or to see what other opportunities are out there. At annual review time, make a list of all projects you’ve led and how you’ve met or exceeded goals for the year. Then you can lay out your case for more money.
Many companies use a pay-for-performance structure, in which the company’s performance is directly tied to the employee’s compensation. That’s great, but you shouldn’t lose sight of your individual worth. Speak up. You deserve to be paid fairly.
Get motivated: Put it all together. At the end of the day, we all experience times when we’d rather take a sick day and crawl back into bed than face one more hour at work. If you use these tips, you can regain your momentum, get motivated to keep working, and get your job mojo back.
Karen, owner of Spring Forward Companies, is a resume writing and career coaching expert with over 14 years of experience. She has been recognized in Providence Business News and on several consumer websites for her expertise, resume writing ability, and excellent customer reviews.
Karen holds a Master of Business Administration degree with highest honors from Norwich University and is a member of the National Resume Writers’ Association. In her (scant) spare time, she enjoys being with family, friends, and her two guard cats, Chloe and Lizzie.