Loss of motivation is common. It can happen to anyone, even if you really love your job. It could be because of something that’s happened recently, or something discouraging that’s made you re-evaluate your priorities. If the situation is temporary, there’s nothing to worry about. But if the problem persists, it’s probably best to take the necessary steps. After all, when you don’t feel like working anymore, your productivity will quickly suffer…

You’ll start to brood. Your boss will exasperate you. You’ll find it increasingly difficult to tolerate the presence of your colleagues. Your days will become a living hell. And your to-do list will seem endless. And yet, it’s essential to make our professional life a real joy. Especially when we know that we’ll be devoting the vast majority of our lives to it (an average of 5000 days, to be precise). So it would be a shame to waste all that time struggling.

Why don’t I want to work anymore?

It would undoubtedly be unrealistic, even hypocritical, to say that every second spent at the office will always be at the top of our game. Indeed, there may be times when we lose concentration, struggle to get an important project off the ground, lack motivation or simply feel tired. Nothing could be more normal. It even happens to the best of us!

However, this lack of enthusiasm sometimes gives way to a feeling of uselessness and recurring despondency. Negative feelings set in. And that’s how most of us stop wanting to work. In this case, the problem may not be your job itself. Rather, it’s a symptom masking a more serious blockage. It could be your brain and body giving you a warning signal. In fact, there are many underlying causes.

BURN-OUT OR PROFESSIONAL EXHAUSTION
Today, having a busy schedule is considered an honor. It’s proof that you’re trustworthy. Why else would you be entrusted with so many tasks? But it can also be the reason why you no longer want to work. This certainly helps to boost your self-confidence and self-esteem, but it’s not always a good thing. And for good reason: your mind wanders. You have to worry about several things at once. And this situation is particularly energy-consuming.

Many people believe that working to your full potential is the only way to excel… That working harder is the only way to be the best… Or that taking on more responsibility is the only way to get recognition at work. At a certain point, this may be true, but in the long run, you won’t want to work anymore because of the work overload. Indeed, while this may reward you for short-term results, it can also be extremely draining. In fact, it’s a major factor in burn-out.

BOREDOM AT WORK
While burn-out is a well-known phenomenon, bore-out is less so. Yet it’s also a problem not to be taken lightly. Unlike burn-out, bore-out occurs when you lose all passion for your job. As a result, you no longer feel like working. You find it hard to feel motivated enough to go to work. Most of the time, this lack of interest occurs when :

You’re overqualified for your current job;
You work in a field that involves repetitive movements;
There aren’t enough assignments to go around;
The monotony of tasks is starting to get on your nerves;
Or, quite simply, when your profession is totally at odds with your dreams and ambitions.

It’s for all these reasons that it’s important to draw up a life project. You won’t want to work until you find out what really motivates you and what you want to achieve.

EMOTIONAL EXHAUSTION
This problem is also very common in the professional world. Often, it’s caused by a disagreement between the employee and other colleagues. Sometimes, it’s also caused by a toxic manager. Indeed, there’s nothing worse than always being under pressure and constantly having to walk on eggshells to keep you motivated. What’s more, it increases the risk of social isolation – a very common problem that leads to real malaise. Many people simply don’t want to work anymore because they have a conflictual relationship with one or more members of their company.

We often tend to underestimate the importance of our social needs when we think of boredom at work. And yet, this factor plays a major role in our personal fulfillment. In fact, the need to belong is ranked third in Maslow’s pyramid. What’s more, being under tension all day long is extremely energy-consuming, which will result in chronic fatigue.

No longer feeling like working: what to do?

The first thing to do is to change your mind. Whether you like it or not, this is your job for the time being. Maybe you’re looking for another job, or want to discover new horizons, but right now you’ve got responsibilities to fulfill. You’ve signed a contract that commits you to contributing to the advancement of your company. So, first accept this reality. Focus on the “now”. Don’t get me wrong, the aim here is not to force you, even if you don’t feel like working anymore. Rather, it’s to stop thinking of your job as a daily hell.

Your thoughts shape your life. We often talk about this on Full of Happiness because it’s a really important point. If you tell yourself that stress is the only rhythm in your life, you’re right. On the other hand, if you genuinely believe that every day is enjoyable, it really will be. All this to say that everything happens first and foremost in the mind. Don’t underestimate the importance of your mental strength when you no longer feel like working.

So :

Make an effort to stop seeing this job as a source of aversion.
Instead, see it as a step to take, an excellent opportunity to improve and learn.
Realize that every experience can give you something, new skills that you can use. And they don’t have to be work-related. You can also sharpen your managerial skills or learn to keep your mouth shut.
Consider that everything has the potential to become a learning experience to make you a better person. Even if it doesn’t happen right away.

No longer wanting to work: 3 steps to regaining motivation

Motivation is quite simply the most important factor in top performance. And that goes for any task, big or small. In fact, it’s a very powerful tool that can influence you to act or behave in a certain way, so improving your productivity. What’s more, it provides the energy you need to carry out your various missions. You’ll be able to reach your goals with ease, and meet your deadlines.

But regaining motivation is no easy task. Especially when you don’t feel like working anymore and it’s starting to weigh on you. Fortunately, it’s quite possible to regain your enthusiasm through simple actions.

BRIGHTEN UP YOUR WORKING ENVIRONMENT
This means creating a positive atmosphere, but also getting rid of any negativity. In particular, there’s nothing better than compliments and encouragement to create an atmosphere conducive to fulfillment. But of course, that’s the manager’s job. So on your part, think about reorganizing your workspace. Add some color or green plants to help you have a “zen attitude” when you don’t feel like working anymore (several studies have shown the positive impact of green plants on employee productivity).

You can also set the mood for the rest of your day first thing in the morning. Indeed, starting each day on the right foot is an excellent way of achieving this. Nothing could be simpler: Institute a good morning routine. For example, you can :

Start morning yoga or meditation to get you in the right frame of mind;
Play sports to boost your mood, even when you don’t feel like working;
Rethink your diet, which already involves eating breakfast (cereal + dairy product + fruit + hot drink);
Use creative visualization and positive affirmations to purify your thoughts and reshape your cognitive and behavioral system.
But waking up on the right foot also requires a good night’s sleep. So don’t stay up too late, and get enough sleep.

PRIORITIZE YOUR TASKS
Lack of organization can be a real problem when it comes to performance and motivation in the office. Staying organized actually brings a lot of benefits and can be a great help when you don’t feel like working anymore. You could :

Increase your productivity;
Reduce your stress level;
Present a more professional approach to your colleagues and superiors;
Find what you need, when you need it;
Meet deadlines more easily;
And feel lighter.

For efficient organization, there’s nothing like a good priority management technique. By doing so, you can counter both burn-out and bore-out. You can review our article on the Eisenhower Matrix to learn more about when you don’t feel like working anymore. But basically, you need to sort out :

What’s urgent (which deserves your immediate attention);
What’s important (which you can put off);
And what’s neither urgent nor important (which you can delegate).

GIVE YOURSELF A BREAK
If you’ve had trouble concentrating or motivating yourself over the last few days, it’s probably because you need a break. After all, you can’t make a constant, continuous effort without ever taking a break. This can only be bad for your mind and your health. When you don’t feel like working any more, and feel that it’s only temporary, the best thing to do is to take some time off. This will give you the opportunity to :

Recharge your batteries so that you’re recharged when you return;
Spend time with those closest to you: your family and friends (they can help you get back into the swing of things);
Get away from work for a while;
Have more time to travel and discover other regions and countries;
Improve your quality of life, as you achieve a better work-life balance.

No longer feel like working? What if it’s time for a career change?

Taking your days off can also give you a moment of reflection to take stock of your life and your goals. Indeed, a loss of motivation may also indicate that a change of profession is in order. Perhaps your current job is not in line with your dreams, or has nothing to do with the goals you’ve set yourself. In this case, professional retraining is probably the best solution. But this time, there’s no question of jumping in headlong. Otherwise, you won’t feel like working after a few months. And you’ll find yourself back at square one.

So ask yourself the right questions:

What do I really want to do?
What’s really important to me?
What field am I passionate about?
Who do I want to look like or become?
What’s my dream job?
How can I make my days better?

It’s this kind of reflection that will enable you to take stock of your priorities and ambitions. Then you’ll have no trouble finding the job that really excites you.