At some time or another; most of us will have sat at our desks and thought “I just haven’t the energy, motivation (insert your own words) to cope with this today!” You may have even found yourself texting this sentiment to a friend and clock watching until it’s coffee break, lunch break or the end of the working day which can feel like a very long time when you just want to put your head down on your desk and sleep or even be tempted to look for another job!
The first thing you need to know is that this is entirelynormal. We all have bad days, tired days and grumpy days even when we are in a job that inspires us, and there is no doubt about it that working as a Project Manager can be challenging and naturally tiring at times.After all – the adrenalin has to wear off at some point.
The trouble is you don’t want to stay in this rut for too long because a lack of motivation will lead to procrastination, meaning that tasks will be left undone. You still need to be an effective team leader; otherwise, you could end up with a mutiny on your hands.So, what do you do if willpower alone isn’t enough for that “can’t be bothered” feeling to lift? How do you get back to your best in the rewarding role that you most of the time you love? The answer is to use the clock to your advantage and take baby steps, really looking at time management to get you through those first difficult days. This is one of the skills needed for project management that will build momentum, and before you know it – you will hit the ground running again.
Don’t wait until you feel like it
Taking small steps doesn’t mean waiting until things feel perfect to do so. The answer is to take the e out of emotion and focus on motion alone.Courses for professional project management will teach you that action actually precedes motivation so the more you do – the more you’ll actually feel like doing!
Give advice and support to others
Unfortunately, we can be our own worst critic so the old adage of “what would you say to a friend” in the same position will remind you to treat yourself nicely and get through the work doldrums together!
Ride the wave
We all have our own unique ways of working, and this depends on our individual time clocks and energy levels that naturally rise and fall throughout the day. For instance – some people are morning people and do their best work before lunchtime. Others don’t really get firing on all cylinders until the afternoon no matter how many cups of coffee they have drunk.
The advice here is to take advantage of the times in the day you ARE motivated; not only prioritizing your task list but for getting systems in place for when you feel less motivated so that you can take things easier and run on autopilot for a while.
Is your workplace time toxic?
Every successful company needs their staff to be productive, but Project Managers need to be given the opportunity to work smarter not always harder; under their own steam and in a user- friendly space. Poorly designed environments, unrealistic expectations and a lack of support will all have a detrimental effect on time and motivation.So, before you blame yourself (and lower your motivation levels further), you need to ask yourself whether your working environment could be the culprit? If so, it may be time to step back and assess how you can change this to allow you to work better.
Spend more “me time.”
When we think of time management, we tend to think more in terms of “productive” work but if you don’t have enough R & R in your personal life – your work life will suffer too. Feeling unmotivated when left unchecked can quickly lead to burnout, but this risk can be mitigated by taking up or spending more time on a hobby, deliberately resting (meditation, taking things easy). Even just taking regular walks, deep breathing, and a few weekly treats can get you back to your best in no time.
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