Stay Productive If You Don’t Like Your Job
Let’s just put it right out there: a lot of people, or as research shows, around 85% of people, don’t like their jobs. It’s hard to stay productive if you don’t like your job. For some, just getting motivated enough to get out of bed is the biggest challenge of the day. Without a little time management training or the right kind of motivation, the sheer thought of another day behind a desk, taking phone calls, or dealing with people in general has little appeal.
But let’s face it, even if you don’t hate your job, we all have days where we’d rather escape to an island. So, if you’re struggling with motivation and staying focused and productive – do read on. We suggest five things you can start doing today to maintain the right levels of productivity at work, even on those difficult days.
1) Never Stop LearningÂ
Chances are, there is more to the way your company is run than you realise. Get to know the company a little better. Learn its history. Get familiar with processes and procedures that are outside (and preferably above) your position. The more of an active interest you take in the place you work, the more interesting it will become.
If, in the course of learning more about the company, you discover opportunities that require further training, look into it. Take some time management training course
Have You Considered In-House Training for Your Whole Team?”Â
Instead of just sharpening your own skills, why not involve the whole team? We can deliver any of our in-house workshops for your whole team and also the wider organization. Give everyone a boost in their productivity and magical things will happen across the whole organization.
2) Be More SocialÂ
Do you sit alone at lunch or go someplace by yourself for breaks? Sometimes solitude is good, but there is a risk that it is isolating and boring too.
When people are bored at work, productivity slows down even when there is work to do and deadlines to meet. Being more connected with others keeps us more alert and those positive interactions just might give us the right amount of motivation.
3) Personalize Your WorkspaceÂ
Some companies have specific rules and restrictions in this area, but there are usually a few things you can do to bring in some personal touches to your workspace. Something as simple as a nice pen that isn’t festooned with corporate branding, bringing in your favorite mug or a personalized organizational system for your workstation will help make work feel a little more like home. Adding a few non-invasive creature comforts can go a long way toward making your workspace some place that you enjoy more.
4) Set Your Own DeadlinesÂ
If your job requires you to be a bit more self-motivated, just planning out your day and imposing a few personal deadlines can help boost your productivity. If the boss wants a specific task completed by the end of the day, schedule it for completion by a specific time.
Hold yourself accountable for getting the work done and stick to your schedule. You can stay productive if you don’t like your job by making the goals all personal ones, and not paying too much attention to corporate nonsense. Do not, however, punish or berate yourself if you miss the mark once in a while. If it’s time to go to lunch, go to lunch – Technically, you still have until the end of the day.
5) Reward YourselfÂ
We can’t forget to celebrate achievements, no matter how busy we might be. Acknowledge when you’ve completed a particularly difficult or tedious task. Whatever goal you set, reward yourself for hitting it. What should that reward be? Well, what would actually motivate you? Start there and try to work it into your schedule, budget, etc., then be sure to follow through on the promises you make to yourself.
Richard Burns, project manager for EssayTigers shares business management best practices:
“We always try to encourage our writers to work effectively by rewarding them with financial bonuses or additional day-offs for successfully completed tasks. Or we can just let them go home if they’ve done their work earlier. “
Employers like to reward team members who bring positive things to the table. Want to land that big promotion? Demonstrate particular skills in areas of competency, productivity, efficiency, and leadership. Get help in these areas if needs be. It’s an easy way to land a job you actually do find interesting. It may be the only solution to the problem of how to stay productive if you don’t like your job!
By Stacey Wonder
Stacey is a content marketer who manages the team of bloggers and copywriters for Essay Tigers, the writing service. Stacey constantly strives for developing her professional skills and sharing best practices with others. She believes that all employees can be productive if they are properly motivated.
As a manager, you have the influence to create the right environment for yourself and your team, which will boost productivity and happiness. We’ve put together a checklist for managers to ensure teams enjoy being at work.