How To Stay Motivated At Work: Reddit Wisdom
Life is not always easy. And work can make it even harder. But there are plenty of ideas and opinions on Reddit for how to stay motivated at work.
We compiled some of the best of Reddit’s wisdom, witticisms and work-improving tips and put them in an accessible list format. This will help you save time by combing through old and outdated posts and getting the good stuff. Here is how to stay motivated at work, Reddit-style.
Your Needs Come First
First and most important, be mindful of your needs.
- Prioritize your needs: Being mindful of your requirements is crucial.
- Practice mindfulness and self-care: Engage in rejuvenating activities like meditation, exercise, or hobbies to refocus and boost productivity.
- Take guilt-free breaks: Recognize when you need time off and permit yourself to relax without feeling stressed or guilty.
- Avoid burnout: Overworking can lead to exhaustion, so prioritize self-care to maintain motivation and avoid burnout.
Burnout Risk Is Real
Always remember the risk of burnout and overwork is accurate.
- Be mindful of burnout and overworking: Understanding the risks associated with excessive work and burnout is crucial.
- Embrace productive procrastination: Instead of feeling guilty, use procrastination as an opportunity to explore related tasks or areas that can inspire creativity and generate ideas.
- Set boundaries and prioritize self-care: Recognize the importance of setting limits and taking breaks to avoid burnout and prioritize your well-being.
| HOT TAKE: “…I do not dream of labor.” Once out of school for a while many realize the promise of a “dream job” is unrealistic. Over time, most people get demotivated and reject the concept and naturally grow to want a richer life outside of work. Reconsider where work and your job sit relative to a more satisfying and rewarding personal life. Cultivating a fulfilling life outside of work will probably keep you happier and healthier over time.. |
Self-Care and Healthy Habits Help
Healthy personal habits will help you feel empowered and cared for.
- Cultivate healthy personal habits: Prioritize maintaining a healthy lifestyle by incorporating exercise and self-care into your work schedule.
- Seek work-life balance: Plan your work around your workouts and prioritize a balance between your professional and personal life.
- Adjust expectations: Acknowledge that finding a job you love is rare, and instead focus on finding a job that pays decently while allowing for a healthy work-life balance.
- Regain empowerment: If feeling disempowered in your current role, seek opportunities for additional responsibilities or challenging projects to regain motivation and a sense of empowerment.
Set Goals, Outcomes Follow
Having an agenda by setting clear, achievable goals. Without objectives, positive outcomes are unlikely.
- Establish a daily agenda: Create a routine and plan your day to provide structure and direction, ensuring you stay focused and motivated.
- Set clear and achievable goals: Having clear objectives in mind can provide long-term motivation and help you overcome tasks you don’t enjoy.
- Break down overwhelming tasks: If faced with complex or overwhelming tasks, break them down into smaller, manageable steps, seek assistance when needed, and create a clear action plan.
- Utilize the Pomodoro Technique: Improve productivity by working in focused intervals (e.g., 25 minutes) followed by short breaks, preventing burnout and enhancing concentration.
- Prioritize and delegate: Identify the most important tasks and give them priority while delegating tasks that others can handle, freeing up time and energy for more meaningful work.
| HOT TAKE: “Passion jobs have a way of sucking away passion because passion is fleeting…” The idea is challenging to argue against: “…indulging a passion for 40 hours per week burns it out very fast.” Jobs based on passion can quickly lose their appeal when we must be immersed in them full-time. The rewards may still be there. But we see all the negatives (not just positives). And making it a full-time job can easily lead to burnout (like any vocation). |
Seek Out Different. Mix it up!
Ask for change at work. Or make your own! Sometimes, it’s harder to get permission than to take initiative.
- Embrace variety: Introduce variety into your work routine to increase engagement and interest. Rotate tasks, seek new challenges, and explore different approaches to familiar tasks.
- Make tasks enjoyable and engaging: Find ways to enhance motivation by adding elements of creativity, incorporating personal interests, or making tasks more challenging and rewarding.
Appreciation Nourishes The Soul
Applaud yourself for achievements and reward yourself when it makes sense. Also, seek the same from others (you can even directly ask those close to you).
- Recognize and celebrate achievements: Reward yourself and seek support from others to acknowledge and celebrate completing tasks or reaching milestones, boosting motivation.
- Set up rewards and incentives: Create a system of small rewards or incentives for task completion to increase motivation. Having something to look forward to after finishing a task can foster a positive association with the work.
Seek Out Support & Assistance
Beyond just positive reinforcement, actively engage and seek support from friends and colleagues.
- Seek advice and support: Embrace the guidance and support of others, as their perspectives can provide strategies to overcome a lack of motivation and inspire new approaches.
- Foster accountability: Share goals and progress with others to create a sense of responsibility and motivation. Partner with a colleague or supervisor, join a support group or publicly commit to completing tasks.
- Focus on skill development and networking: Even if not thoroughly enjoying the job, prioritize delivering and performing well to maintain valuable skills and a strong network for future opportunities, serving as motivation to stay engaged.
Remember The Bigger Picture
Recognize (and remember) that there is more to life than work. There can be meaning in even small tasks. And the annoying things might not be so wrong about other things.
- Find meaning in tasks: Discover ways to find meaning in functions that may seem meaningless or unenjoyable. Connect them to larger goals or values, understand their importance or impact, and identify aspects that can bring fulfillment.
- Focus on the purpose: Remind yourself of your work’s purpose or desired outcome to increase motivation. Consider your work’s impact and benefits, finding more profound meaning and motivation in your tasks.
- Reflect and grow: Engage in self-reflection to identify personal values, strengths, and areas for growth. Use this awareness to excel in your current job and prepare for future opportunities, finding purpose and motivation in personal development.
| HOT TAKE: “Being bored is a pretty good problem to have, all things considered.” Considering everything, feeling bored at work is not the worst problem. There are many worse challenges people face, including having no income at all. And for those that do find their job truly soul-crushing… “You just try to find a way to not die of boredom and cash your checks.” Focus on the practical benefit that the job provides and the ways you can use it to live happier outside work. |
Some Hard Truths
The reality is that sometimes it can’t be avoided… Sometimes work sucks. Here are some additional reality-checks from Reddit.
Different styles of work come with their own problems… There’s rarely a perfect solution.
There are periods where work can be exciting and enjoyable, as well as stretches where it isn’t exciting… Try to reflect on recent positives vs the negatives you are facing now.
If the job is truly unbearable, consider “quiet quitting” (doing the bare minimum). If they fire you, it may be the push you need to find a better job. If they don’t, then you’re getting paid to do nothing.
Jobs focused on bettering humanity are not always easy (and sometimes more complex). Often demanding physically and mentally; also, our impact often seems small.
Helpers need help too… Many rewarding roles, like jobs in healthcare or as first responders, also come with high stress and the potential for unhealthy coping mechanisms. Be aware!
At some point or another, work demands and unhealthy job conditions take a toll on us all. But getting different (sometimes very different) perspectives can help.
Let us know if you enjoyed this curated collection of ideas from Reddit, or if we missed anything.
