A lack of motivation is a time management issue that many people struggle with. It can be difficult to work on a project when you dislike the work or concept or lack the drive to get started. Diminished motivation can result in procrastination, low energy, and drive, and can directly impact productivity.
In this guide, we’ll focus on time management and motivation strategies that can help you seize the day and get more done. We’ll also share strategies that successful people incorporate into their daily lives.
Common Issues That Affect Time Management Motivation
Since a lack of motivation is such a huge productivity killer, it’s important to figure out what might be affecting your ambition to work. Here are some of the most common factors that can affect your enthusiasm in the workplace or when you need to study.
A Poor Rewards System
People feel more motivated to perform well and work hard when they are properly rewarded for their efforts. This reward can be in the form of a salary, or a bonus, or it can be non-monetary incentives like acknowledgments.
If employees feel like they don’t earn enough for their efforts or if their extra input isn’t rewarded or acknowledged, they’re more likely to slow down and can even become reluctant to assist in any way.
A Lack of Structure
With no structure in place, it becomes impossible for employees or students to identify when it’s time to work and when it’s time to relax.
A good example is how long it takes to complete your morning ritual when you oversleep compared to how long it takes to prepare for the day when you have an off day from work. Tasks that take hours to complete when you have a break from work can be completed in mere minutes if you are pressed for time.
A lack of structure during work days can also affect motivation levels. If you have extra time to complete a project, there will be no rush to finish and your enthusiasm may decrease, especially if the project doesn’t appeal to you.
Being Overwhelmed
There are times when a long list of tasks can boost your motivation and make you roll up your sleeves and get to work. However, in some cases, the sheer volume of projects can become too overwhelming.
Overwhelming employees with workloads often causes them to feel unmotivated and eventually give up. Feeling overwhelmed by a difficult project also can trigger procrastination and lead employees to do anything other than start a large or daunting project even though it might be a high-priority task.
Disinterest in Work Projects
We all have to perform uninteresting projects at work from time to time. It’s already difficult to get working on a project that you dislike but it can be equally challenging to motivate yourself to get to work if the project doesn’t seem meaningful.
Everyone wants to feel important in some way. If your work or projects don’t make you feel important or if these projects feel like they are a waste of time, then you may find yourself slacking off or becoming completely unmotivated.
Personal Issues
Personal life challenges can become overwhelming. If personal problems take up too much of your thoughts then it might be difficult for you to focus on work. This lack of concentration along with impulsive thoughts can make it difficult to become enthusiastic about a project.
Psychological issues like depression or high stress levels can also affect your mood, and your general interest, and can make it very hard to feel excited about any work project.
Distractions
Distractions can also affect your incentive to get to work. It’s hard to get your mind into a focused state when distractions are constantly breaking your focus.
Constant distractions will eventually diminish your motivation to get started on a project no matter how much you enjoy your work or how much time management and planning you do.
Fatigue and Low Energy Levels
It’s hard to feel motivated when you are exhausted, fatigued, or struggling with low energy levels. Pressing on despite a busy schedule and feeling tired can result in mistakes because the human brain can only stay focused for a certain amount of time.
Top Time Management Motivation Strategies
Now that you have a better idea of what might be lowering your motivation and drive, it’s time to discover the best ways to eliminate these problems. Here are some simple strategies to feel more enthusiastic about your day and to spur yourself on to get to work.
Create a Reward System
The very best way to motivate yourself and to make things a little bit more fun is by creating a reward system.
Working with a reward system isn’t only encouraging but it can also make you feel better. When you accomplish a task and receive a reward for your project, your mind will release dopamine hormones, which make you feel instantly better after doing all of that work.
Over time, your subconscious will start seeking out this dopamine spike and your mind will become more motivated to get to work on a project.
Most employees and students rely on their company or university for this reward system. However, you can develop your own personal reward system.
Consider what you like and create rewards for yourself that you can indulge in upon completing a project. These rewards can be something simple like a delicious cookie, a gaming break on your phone, or some small token like new stationery that you can start using once you finish a project. The important thing is to find a reward that appeals to you.
Create Structure
Structure is crucial for becoming motivated. The very first thing you need to do is start planning out your day. Once you have the most important goals and projects listed, prioritize the most important tasks.
It’s best to complete high-priority tasks first because you will feel much better when these daunting tasks have been taken care of.
Next, develop a time frame for these projects. Creating a detailed and timed schedule and setting clear goals for the day, week, or even month, will help you accomplish more.
Remember to be realistic with your goals and schedules. If the goals are unrealistic, you will become overwhelmed and your drive will, once again, plunge.
Take time each morning to plan out your day. This will transform your thought patterns from casual and relaxing to proactive.
Working on a structured schedule can also boost your productivity levels in general because you will feel better every time you tick off an important project.
Keep Adapting and Adjusting
While having schedules and goals is important, you don’t want to fall into an automated schedule. If each part of your daily schedule is planned out, you will eventually become bored.
Regularly adapting and improving your schedule can help you develop a plan of action that suits your work environment, schedule, and project types much better.
Make Room for the Unexpected
While you are revising your schedule, you should also make time for unforeseen projects. Avoid booking your entire day back-to-back. Interruptions can wreak havoc on your daily plan and cause you to be discouraged to continue working when your entire schedule has been thrown off balance.
It’s hard to feel motivated to keep working when you are aware that there is no way you can complete a certain project at that time of day. Leaving a bit of room for flexibility can help you avoid feelings of despair and help you stay focused even when things don’t turn out the way they should.
Ask For Help
It’s important to ask for help when you feel overwhelmed. Too much work tends to make people feel miserable, stressed, and anxious. These negative emotions can also get in the way of productivity.
Try to communicate your situation with superiors or ask colleagues for some assistance with projects. Collaboration on a project can increase your motivation since it can be a lot more fun to brainstorm together or share ideas and concepts.
Incorporate the Four D Strategy
One of the most popular and advanced time management techniques is the four-D strategy. This strategy includes four steps: Do, Delete, Defer, and Delegate.
- Do: Examine your project list and identify all projects that can be completed in two minutes or less. Now get to work on these projects. It’s easier to motivate yourself to work on small projects than to keep focusing on an overbearing assignment. Taking care of the small projects will make you feel a little bit better and will alleviate some of the stress.
- Delete: Identify projects, strategies, or methods that are not meaningful or helpful in any way. Get rid of these projects or simply ignore them. It can be discouraging to work on time-wasting or meaningless projects or chores.
- Defer: Defer projects that are not as urgent or important. Place these last on your to-do list so they won’t become a distraction or a way to procrastinate.
- Delegate: Work that is too hard to control all on your own should be shared. Start by breaking up larger projects into smaller pieces and delegate some of the unimportant or smaller tasks. Delegating work can free up time and help you get a project done much quicker.
Break Work Up Into Sections
Massive work projects are daunting and can be overwhelming. But if the project is broken down into smaller tasks or steps, you will feel more motivated about getting started.
For example, it’s intimidating to plan out an entire corporate event on your own. But if you break down the event into sections and start listing all of the important things that need to be done, the project becomes simplified and it is easier to get started.
Take Regular Breaks
According to Brain Balance, the average attention span of people over the age of 16 is around 32 to 48 minutes. Since the human brain is only able to focus for short periods, it’s best to take regular breaks while you work.
Allocate time for movement so blood can properly circulate through your body and try to step outside of the building for fresh air. A short ten-minute break can be all the time you need to recharge and refresh your mind so you won’t become discouraged or distracted while you work.
Leverage Modern Productivity Apps and Tools
Modern technology is a double-edged sword.
On the one hand, there’s the negative impact that entertainment can have on our ability to stay focused. It’s a lot more fun to scroll through social media posts than it is to work and that means that mobile devices can be a huge distraction.
On the other hand, these devices have countless productivity applications that can make it easier to manage your time, schedule your day, communicate with colleagues, and get work done.
Try to leverage modern technology while steering clear of apps that distract you. Use your mobile device or laptop as a tool and take charge of your life. There are quite a few ways to do this.
Start by installing social media blockers like Cold Turkey. These types of apps will stop you from venturing onto social media or gaming sites during working hours.
Next, get a good calendar app where you can schedule and plan your day. These apps are superior to traditional notebooks because they can send notifications about important projects that are due and you can take notes as you go.
Explore communication apps so you can stay in touch with colleagues. These apps make it easy to delegate important work tasks and can help everyone work together with ease.
Improve Your Wellbeing
No app or amount of planning can help you feel positive about work or motivated if your personal life and health are a mess. Take time for self-care and to tend to your personal affairs.
Start by improving your physical health. Eat healthy foods, follow a healthy diet, and start working out. These simple changes can make a huge difference in your energy levels. When you feel more energetic, you will be more motivated to tend to important tasks.
Focus on personal connections. Relationship issues can be draining and depressive. Take time to work through problems with loved ones so these issues won’t occupy your thoughts during the day.
Build a solid social life to give you a huge boost in confidence. Take a break from work, change the scenery, and step out for a bit of fun with friends. With a healthy social life, you will feel better in general and you will be more likely to improve your relationships with other employees, which can also increase productivity levels at work.
Eliminate Distractions
Distractions can be discouraging. Eliminate as many distractions as possible in and around your workplace. This can be done by decluttering your work area, investing in calming and soothing interior decor, and by removing pictures or decorations that normally cause your mind to wander.
The biggest and perhaps most important distractions to eliminate are the internet and mobile devices. Constant notifications, spam calls, and text messages can be distracting and will eventually break down your motivation.
Create a calm and quiet work environment. This can be done by setting clear rules for your office space or by keeping the door closed when you need to focus.
Playing brown noise tunes can also help filter out background noise and these sounds are known to enhance focus.
Conclusion
Being motivated plays a huge role in time management. Without motivation, it can be hard for employees to take that first step on a project and they can become quite discouraged. There are many ways you can become more motivated to work hard even when the work or projects don’t appeal to you.
We hope that our guide and time management motivation strategies we shared help you feel more motivated with your current and future projects.
At Top Productivity Apps, we are constantly sharing great advice that can help you increase your productivity levels. We would love to hear your thoughts on these motivational strategies and invite you to have a look at some of our other guides should you need more advice or strategies to get you through tough times.
