Okay, so today is a day when I just don’t want to work. It was bound to happen. I came back from a long vacation, worked two days and then… well, then I didn’t want to work. I feel like it should be the weekend already.
Now, truth be told, it’ll be okay. I’ll work today. In fact, my goal is to get my five hours in. That keeps me on track for the year and makes my life really doable, particularly if I don’t want to travel this year. But, it will take some get up and go and, sadly, it already came and went.
So, what am I doing instead? Well, I’m enjoying a cup of coffee and watching my white cat look out at the falling snow. On the ground, we have just a dusting and we aren’t supposed to get much more. So, no shovel necessary and the light snow covers up some of the dingy, making it appear quite pretty outside. Sadly, that further distracts me from work.
Today, thankfully, is essentially designed to save me from myself. I’ve got three calls today which will soak up at least half of my five-hour target. That means I just have to buckle down and focus for another 2.5 hours on my own. I can do that… I think.
One of the things about working from home and working largely independently is that you have to be a self-starter. Honestly, I’m typically one of those people. It actually comforts me to take the first few minutes when I wake up in the morning to think about what success will look like that day. Then, I’m ready to pursue success and check off the boxes on my list. But every once in awhile, I struggle with motivation. Today, the first end-of-the-week day since I got back to work, is just one of those days. As it so happens, I already feel the “work juices” kicking in. I’m ready to finish this missive and get crack-a-lackin’.
However, for the days when the juices don’t kick in or for people who have the difficulty of self-starting when they work from home, here are some of my “go-to” tips to getting the mojo back:
- Make a list of what you need to accomplish that day. This is key because it gives you back your focus when you really just want to lay around and scroll through your phone. By having a list, you know what needs to get done and it starts to put guardrails around what a successful day looks like.
- Include both “low-hanging” and “difficult-to-reach” tasks on that list. The low-hanging tasks help to get you started. Once the juices get going, if you’re anything like me, then you want to tackle the big thing and get it out of the way. That just leaves a few little things left at the end of the list and by that time, the momentum carries you right through.
- Set a definite start time. Generally, I like to work 9-3 and get my six hours in early enough that I can switch into “homemaking” tasks by mid-afternoon. Still, I want a relaxing morning to enjoy a cup of coffee and my pets before I swing into work. Today? I have a later call – part of what was de-motivating me – so I set at 9:30 a.m. start time. I can still get it all in and be done at a decent time, although an hour later than I usually finish. Had I not forced myself to set a start time? I’d likely be still lingering and whining about not wanting to work today.
- Set an end time. For the days when you really don’t want to work, setting an end time is like letting yourself know when you can open the relief valve. That’s important because if you can’t determine when your day is going to be over, it’s going to be much harder to start it.
- Create the right environment. In about 10 minutes when I officially start my work day, I will be dressed in jeans, this missive will be posted and my cell phone and personal computer will be on the other side of the room, far enough away to not be a distraction. Then, I can get to work and get it done. By getting temptation out of my way, I give myself the best opportunity to stay focused on work.
- Take a second and mentally address that task you’re avoiding. I often find that when I want to avoid working, it’s because I really don’t want to do a specific task. However, if I just take a few minutes, think about my approach and what I would like to accomplish on that particular task, I find I feel a whole lot better about it and it becomes easier to actually start it. Like now, the reason I didn’t feel like working today is because the biggest thing I have to do today is going to be, well, complicated. But I’ve thought about it, I’ve got an approach and now I actually want to get started on it.
- And if all else fails, take mini breaks during the day. Sometimes when the motivation just isn’t there, I can work for an hour and will need a break. Then, I can work for another hour. Yes, it ends up extending my day but at least I’m still moving the ball forward. (I’m planning on this today, which is why I’m starting at 9:30 but ending at 4 p.m. Imma gonna need some breaks.)
So that’s it. That’s my big seven steps to overcoming the I-don’t-wanna-work blues. Not so fancy pants at all. But they work, at least for me. And now that I’ve gotten all of the blah-blah-blah out of my system, I’m ready to start for the day.
Here’s to Friday Eve!
The Yuppie Homesteader 