Expecting yourself to be gung-ho for work everyday isn't realistic—even if you love your job.
| Let's take five minutes to see this week in a new light. | | | Expecting yourself to be gung-ho for work every day isn't realistic—even if you love your job. The reality is that our motivation and eagerness ebbs and flows, which means that some days we're "all in" while other days we can hardly muster a "good morning" to colleagues. | | | If you're struggling to cope mentally or emotionally, it can be helpful to see a mental healthcare provider." | | There's a broad range of reasons for why you may not want to head into work. Some of the common reasons include:
- You're exhausted physically, emotionally, or mentally
- You're dealing with burnout from ongoing, high levels of work-related stress
- You simply don't like your job, be it the work itself or the environment
- You're physically unwell (in which case, you should take a sick day and stay home)
- You're overwhelmed by other factors in your life ranging from the neverending flow of everyday tasks to major life upheaval
| | If working feels like a struggle, consider some of these techniques.
- Give Yourself a Break: You don't have to overextend or even work to your usual "max." It's OK to have work days that are more low-key.
- Focus on One Task at a Time: Multitasking might make it feel like you're getting more done, but research tells us it's counterproductive and can lead to more feelings of stress and burnout.
- Incorporate Downtime: Remember to take breaks regularly and allow yourself more opportunities to step away. Go for walks, take the entirety of your lunch break, and give yourself mental breaks as needed.
- Change up the Scenery: If possible, work from a different space or make your office feel more inviting with fresh flowers, a more organized space, a new picture in your frame, or a calming product.
- Evaluate What's Bothering You: This might need to be done on your own time, but it's important. Write down the contributing factors to your stress, burnout, or lack of desire to work. Determine how you can alleviate those feelings by reducing stressors, lowering the pressure you put on yourself, and finding joy in small things.
| | In some cases, it might be more advantageous to actually step away from work responsibilities and take a "mental health day." This is similar to a "sick day," only the reason for taking time off is because you need to focus on your mental well-being. An increasing number of companies offer mental health days to employees, but you may need to take PTO or a sick day instead.
Doing so makes sense when stress or exhaustion is mounting and interferes with your ability to focus on work. It's also a good idea to pencil in mental health days throughout the year as something to look forward to and a way to give yourself breaks. These can be strategically planned around large projects, end-of-year chaos, and other periods of your life when you know a little more "me time" may make all the difference. | | Ways to Stay Positive This Week | | | Ways to Nurture Your Mind and Body | This week, consider what's bothering you most about going to work. Is it the environment? A flood of to-dos? Other life factors? All the above? By identifying the cause of your stress or low motivation, you'll be able to eliminate or reduce the pressure and discover a clearer and happier path forward. | | | |
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