How to maintain motivation working from home

As many of us continue to work outside of our regular place of employment, we may be finding that over time it can be difficult to remain driven to complete tasks, attend online meetings and keep up with our responsibilities. Luckily, there are many small changes you can make each day to boost your motivation. In addition to creating a schedule, working in small blocks of time, limiting distractions, and dressing for the job, there are several ways to stay motivated in your home office to maintain your productivity levels.¹

Make time for activities that are meaningful to you

Our employed work is a means of generating intrinsic motivation. However, many of us have lost sight of other meaningful activities like participating in sports, seeing loved-ones, or going to bustling restaurants through the pandemic. This leaves us lacking something to look forward to that recharges our batteries at the end of the day. Motivation can be enhanced when we have something fun and relaxing to anticipate, so be sure to include time for nature walks, puzzles, home décor, cooking, or whatever your favourite activities are in your daily routine.

Prioritize your mental health

If you're finding it more difficult to find your motivation generally, then maybe it’s a good time to consult with your doctor, see a counsellor, or talk to your manager about accommodations. It shows tremendous strength to prioritize your mental health and can boost productivity and engagement over the long run.

Tidy up

Decluttering and keeping your space clean has been proven to provide a calming effect, improve a person's mood, and provide a sense of satisfaction and accomplishment, which is key to motivation. As an added bonus, you’ll be getting a little bit of movement in your day, which can further increase focus and productivity. ²

Practice self-compassion

“It is vital to practise self-compassion” reports Rachel Thibeault in her CAOT webinar series, Pathways to resilience: Strategies for a world in upheaval www.coat.ca/COVID19. Kindness towards ourselves is imperative through changing times, and is a skill that needs to be practiced like any other. Try offering yourself some compassionate words through the day, and be mindful of replacing any self-deprecating thoughts with caring ones before they snowball.³

Take naps / rest

A 5, 10 or 15-minute lie-down can go a long way. If you’re feeling unproductive or you're dozing off at your screen, take advantage of the fact that you are working from home and are near your bed or couch! A quick snooze is a powerful way to reset and come back to your work with a clearer mind. For the best results to increase motivation and productivity, nap for 30 minutes or less, and before noon.⁴

Hold yourself accountable

Like having a gym buddy, you can also find a self-care buddy. This person can help hold you accountable to your goals, whether those goals relate to going to bed earlier, going on afternoon walks, taking scheduled breaks, and so on. Sometimes it’s easier to justify other people’s self-care than our own, and this can be a great way to give ourselves that extra reassurance that it’s okay to do what you need to do to maintain healthy motivation.

Experiment with different strategies

Find what works for you out of these tips and other ideas you feel may boost your drive to work. Sometimes naps don’t suit your energy levels but using a reward system works great. Some people benefit from meditation or yoga, while others prefer belting out heavy metal music. Not one size fits all, so try out different options for a few days and learn what works for you!

The ideas here can be tried out one at a time, or you might choose to integrate a couple of them into your life. If you find you’re lacking drive even after implementing these tips, an occupational therapist can help you to address specific issues that may be holding you back.

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¹ Source: Mee & Sumsion, 2001 ² Source: Saxbee & Repetti, 20102

³ Source: Saxbee & Repetti, 20103

⁴ Source: Thibeault, 20204 Source: Dhand & Sohal, 200