How do you stay motivated at your job when things are not going well at work?

Just think about the money.

If you’re at that job for a reason, focus on what brought you there in the first place. If (like most people) you’re there just to earn a living, focus on the other good aspects of you life- relationships, friends, anything that keeps you going. And oh yeah, the money is pretty good too.

Also, watch Office Space. That movie always gets me rough patches at work.

@jeffgoldblumsprivatefacilities yes indeed. There’s days I want to ask my boss “So what would you say… you do here?”

What things are not going well? Is it interpersonal, technical, slow economics? If there is a way to address the issue at hand, it will raise your spirits and others’ morale. Try to be proactive and offer resolutions or distractions. I once had a short freelance gig modelmaking on a super tight deadline for a nazi architect. EVERYbody was like a zombie in there. One night, some of us had drinks and little by little everyone let out all their frustrations. After that, I swear, everyone was a lot lighter. A weight had been lifted. Sometimes, the place of work isn’t the place to solve the problem.

@The_Compassionate_Heretic You could also use a Jump To Conclusions Mat to decide what to do about your job.

you just need to pound it out. I transferred departments to something alittle more stressful and physically demanding other than my old day job and though i hate it, and i do want to quit, its only for the summer/until remodel is over with. If you can grind through the rough patches, the smooth will feel so much better.

I just think of it as a means to an end. Though, I’m in a slightly different situation in that I just have to finish my current project, and then I will be done with this place. I don’t really like what I am doing, and it doesn’t really interest me anymore, but it is the step I must take to move on to something new.

talk to your supervisor about some new and innovative ideas you have that may spark growth and change.

Phone the crash team.

@jeffgoldblumsprivatefacilities I don’t think I’ll be doing that.

Personally when my work isn’t going well and I need to stay motivated (sales requires motivation), I do a number of things. I post positive affirmations around my desk and read them every few hours, I do the thing I dread most first so I can have a sense of accomplishment for the day, I try to find one thing to be thankful for at that moment in time, I try not to take things too seriously, and reward myself for having survived another day in hell by doing something I enjoy and promising myself tomorrow will be a little better than today :)

If things are not going well at work, “motivation” isn’t your biggest problem. Find out what you’re doing that’s making things not go well and fix them.

Weigh the odds of things changing, how I can affect them in my favor such as bolstering someone with the connections to help me. If I’m in a spot strictly for the money and see no other avenues within then I’ll either look for something else or ride it out if it’s the best deal going.

Why stay motivated? Why not be like a lot of people, and do just what you need to do in order to get along?

@daloon Doing the bare minimum just to get by doesn’t jive with me.

@The_Compassionate_Heretic Then why are you having trouble with motivation? If you aren’t motivated, it’s because something is wrong, and if you don’t try to find a better situation, then it doesn’t make sense to try to bust your ass for someone or some organization that doesn’t give a shit.

Looking for work elsewhere is my solution.

The right thing to do if you really aren’t lovin’ it! Life is too short to spend it hating your days….