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How To Keep Productivity High When Motivation Is Low
Minimize distractions
Minimizing or removing distractions is a great way to keep your productivity high, and it goes beyond just smartphones.
The root cause is our emotional discomfort and a need to be distracted.
Plan your day calendar reflecting your values, and stay on the tasks at hand.
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Introduce some greenery
One study found that workers in spaces with plants showed a 15 % higher productivity compared to those in plainer surroundings.
Live plants also promote healthier indoor air, which research has shown has some effect on cognitive functioning in the workplace.
Show appreciation
Creating motivation and making your team feel appreciated is a critical part of long-term productivity.
Encourage your team to keep gratitude journals - writing down a couple of sentences about what you are currently grateful for a couple of times a week. This practice improves productivity by increasing happiness.
Create some privacy
If people can't focus on their work, they are less effective in areas like collaboration and learning, and they are less likely to be satisfied with their jobs.
Workplaces with a balance between individual focus and collaboration are more innovative, creative and encouraging.
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Don't waste valuable energy
We can't waste valuable energy on mindless activities while putting off what matters most for later.
In business, wasting energy means working on low-value tasks, and thinking busywork is the same as productivity.
Cut out the optional
Being overwhelmed may be the new normal, but taking on too many responsibilities may be watering down our overall impact.
Bring back your focus to what matters most. Work on the projects that are the real game-changers. Delegate the discretionary work and eliminate unnecessary meetings.
Design an action plan
Running a thriving business means understanding how to organize your work by importance and knowing when to delegate.
- Find your sweet spot. When you consider taking on a project, see if it aligns with your purpose and the organization's broader goals. Ask yourself if you're the right person with the right skillset.
- Automate. As your company grows, use automation tools for low-level work. It also allows your employees to make more meaningful contributions.
- Set boundaries. Learn to say no to low-level tasks. Set your own limits about what you'll take on.
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Stress and motivation
Used effectively, stress can motivate us to accomplish more than we had imagined possible. Stress can jolt us to reach our potential. Without stress, we’d feel rudderless and without purpose.
However, while a little stress can help us stay motivated, chronic stress can leave us irritable, depressed, distracted and anxious.
Not all stress is bad for you
- “Good stress”: which psychologists refer to as “eustress,” is the stress we feel when we’re excited about something.
- Acute stress: when something surprises us or catches us off guard. Acute stress is the body’s response to ensure you react and take measures to deal with the unexpected situation. It has no lasting negative effects if we deal with it quickly and move on.
Build your resilience
Resilience is how we deal with stress effectively so we “bounce back” after a difficult time.
As we deal with issues that cause tension and strain, we learn to face adversity, deal with significant issues and overcome problems. We learn how to formulate realistic plans and carry them out.