Motivation in the workplace has become a major corporate issue. Bosses spend thousands of dollars every year to motivate their troops and keep the momentum going. Yet relatively simple solutions do exist, and they work. The idea is to apply them to yourself, as an employee or entrepreneur. What are they, and how can you motivate yourself to work with them?

I revisit 4 highly effective tips in this article after answering another question: does it make sense to think you can be motivated all the time?

Is it possible to be constantly motivated?

That’s the idea of many corporate human resources managers. They encourage bosses to work to keep motivation at its highest level all the time. But this approach is as illusory as it is dangerous. And why? Because human beings are not robots programmed to perform tasks without thinking. Our environment, our experiences and the lives of those around us constantly influence our moods. So it’s not possible to be constantly motivated. So don’t keep asking yourself: “How can I motivate myself?

This truth will keep you from blaming yourself if you’re lacking punch from time to time. It’s perfectly normal, and you shouldn’t blame yourself. On the other hand, you should be concerned when you lose the desire to work for long periods. It’s a sign that your motivation is waning. And without that motivation, which you need to keep at a high level, you’ll never be truly effective. How can you keep yourself motivated and motivated for as long as possible?

FIND THE ULTIMATE GOAL OF YOUR WORK
The first thing to do when you’re looking for ways to motivate yourself to work is to think about why you do the job you do. Generally speaking, there are 3 main reasons for working. Some people have a vocation for a certain job. They can’t imagine doing anything else, because they’ve always hoped to evolve in their current environment. Others have a job that serves as a springboard for higher ambitions.

For example, someone may hope to make a career in politics. But he’ll start out as a lawyer. He may not like it that much, but it will help him get what he wants later on. Last but not least, many people work in a profession out of necessity. They haven’t found anything better and have to make do. How do you motivate yourself when you find yourself in one or other of these situations?

Think about what drives you to work. Even if it’s out of necessity, it’ll be enough to keep you motivated. If you have a family, you want to take care of them. So your job may not be all that pleasant, but it’s enough to feed your family. You’ll find that if you think about it, you’ll have the strength to get up every morning.

Do this simple exercise that answers the question of how to motivate yourself to work: make a list of the advantages and disadvantages of your current job. In the list of disadvantages, write down from memory what comes to mind. You won’t have to look very hard. But for the advantages, take your time. Mention all the reasons why your current job is necessary and rewarding. Number these reasons in order of importance, and stick it on your desk or in your locker. By consulting it regularly, you’ll answer the question of how to motivate yourself.

CHOOSE A JOB YOU LOVE
People who know how to motivate themselves to work generally have one thing in common: they work in a job they love. These people belong to the category listed above: those who do a job because they love it. It reminds me of that famous quote by the Chinese sage Confucius:

“Choose a job you love, and you won’t have to work a day in your life” – Confucius

So, when you ask yourself how to motivate yourself, the real question may lie elsewhere. It might be as follows: Is my current job right for me? Is it my vocation? Did I really want to do it?

In reality, an average of 6 out of 10 people realize that they’ve chosen the wrong job when they reach the age of 35-40. At this age, their true aspirations are revealed, and they realize that they had other ambitions that remained unfulfilled. As a result, motivation for their current job drops significantly.

I invite you to do some soul-searching. If you can do what you really love, don’t hesitate. You’ll stay motivated longer, and you’ll have no trouble coping with periods of low motivation. But more than that, you’ll know almost instinctively how to motivate yourself in those moments.

HOW TO MOTIVATE YOURSELF TO WORK: CHANGE YOUR METHODS
The third tip that answers the question of how to motivate yourself to work can be summed up in two words: variety. A decent but boring job has a very negative effect on your mood and motivation. It won’t suit you. To convince yourself of this, take a culinary test:

For one week, prepare exactly the same meal with the same ingredients. Serve it in the same dish, at the same time and in the same way. You’ll probably find it hard to swallow from day 3 onwards. Why should this be? Because we all like variety. It spices up life and promotes efficiency.

So when you’re looking for ways to motivate yourself, it’s useful to look at the way you work. We’re all creative people. With a little imagination, the way you work can change and give you more pleasure. Even changing the decor of your office, the layout of your furniture, the position of your files, or just tidying up a bit, can help you find pleasure in your work.

Research your current job. You may discover new ways of working. By sharing them with your employer and colleagues, you’ll even help improve the company’s performance. To put it bluntly, it’s up to you to make the small changes necessary to re-motivate yourself. They’re within your grasp, and just require a little extra thought. However, you’ll know better how to motivate yourself to work, and your profession will bring you more joy.

DECOMPRESS FROM TIME TO TIME
Still wondering how to motivate yourself to work? Well, I suggest this last essential measure: decompress. By taking a little break now and then, you can boost your motivation and come back stronger. In fact, you do this on a regular basis. For example, when you’ve taken the trouble to rest over the weekend, you often approach the start of the following week with more determination and pleasure, don’t you think?

Keep up this habit by taking longer or shorter breaks, depending on your professional activity. It’s a great tip when you’re looking for ways to motivate yourself to work and keep the pleasure of working. I particularly recommend the Pomodoro technique. How to motivate yourself with this planning method?

This technique involves working with concentration on a specific project, but for a relatively short period of time: 25-30 minutes. Afterwards, you take a 5-10 minute break to clear your mind, or to chat with a colleague. Then choose another project or task for the next half-hour. At the end of this, give yourself another break, and so on. If you’re working for 45 minutes to an hour, the break will be longer: between 25-30 minutes.

With this simple decompression technique, you’ll be able to accomplish a titanic amount of work by coming back more motivated before each new cycle.

In addition to these tried-and-tested measures, I recommend these 3 other keys to work motivation. If you combine them with the 4 tips mentioned above, you’re sure to become a motivated professional who enjoys his or her work.

IT’S UP TO YOU
Are you ready for this challenge? Go for it!