Written by: Regina Thomas
Since the COVID Pandemic hit, people have been forced to withdraw into their homes and undergo personal quarantine. The risk of contracting the virus is still at an all-time high; prompting businesses and enterprises to shift from office, to work from home setups. Surely, it was great at the start. People didn’t have to travel to work, they finally could start working at their own pace; and there’s more room to spend time with family.
But months into the pandemic and another shift is taking over; people are starting to slow down, motivation is at an all-time low; and everyone is just seconds away from procrastinating. What’s going on?
Apparently, people go under a rut once they lose their sense of “why.” For example, why are they working for this company? Why do they have this job? Why do they work hard? Their reasons could be a number of things: financial security, progressive career, lifestyles—the “why” drives most people to do and achieve things.
The number one thing pulling them down is the lack of motivation. According to research and life coaches, this downward spiral of inspiration can be caused by a lack of challenge. When we are faced with problems that engage us, our minds work double-time to find the solution; and we get double the amount of satisfaction from solving them. Our brain then releases feel-good chemicals, we gain confidence, and we begin to crave for more.
Motivated employees and associates are more passionate at work. They take initiative, practice critical thinking skills by solving on-site problems, and use intuition in certain decision-making situations. But without motivation, they lack the mental strength to pursue tasks and pursue tasks well.
They become too comfortable, too complacent; and then eventually, they fall victim to boredom. This newfound disinterest in work makes them less productive, causing damage to his colleagues and the rest of the company.
The question now is, how do you regain this motivation? Here are a few simple tips:
Wake up early
Wake up early, have breakfast, and do moderate exercise. Waking up early reduces stress levels for the rest of the day.
By waking up early, you avoid rushing yourself and ruining your mood. It also gives you more time to achieve goals and tasks compared to those who woke up later than you. In addition, you get better sleep later. You don’t have to make drastic changes to your sleep pattern, you can start by waking up 10 to 15 minutes earlier than you usual.
You can try sleeping earlier. You can get up and out of the room as soon as you hear your alarm. These simple things, when done in increments consistently, will eventually form a new habit.
Create a schedule
Creating a schedule helps you identify, prioritize, and organize your goals. This way, you know what to do or what you’re expected to complete at certain time frames. This will help you identify crunch times—periods where you hustle—and you can also identify the periods where you can relax and prepare for the next task.
A schedule will also keep you in check, just in case you slip into a vicious cycle of procrastination. The schedule is going to serve as your own personal trainer in becoming more productive.
Revamp Your Workstation
A good workstation boosts productivity. Not only does it help you focus, but it also keeps you motivated and healthy. Select your work station based on your needs. It depends from one person to another, and for each different type of work. Make a plan and implement it. Secure your workstation and keep it safe, especially if you have kids or pets. Make sure that you’re comfortable in it, but not too comfortable that you begin to doze off immediately.
Finally, find the right furniture, supplies, and equipment. You need comfortable and sturdy tables and chairs, a trusty laptop, and other equipment such as an HD camera and a headset or earphones. For example, Plantronics Headsets offers a variety you can choose from. They’re hardy and reliable—perfect for zoom calls and meetings.
Hopefully, these three tips will help you get out of the slump and regain control over your productivity!
