Getting motivated and getting things done...

LordSplodge · 7 Jul 2009 at 14:53

Recently I have found myself having a hard time getting motivated and getting things done.

Now in some ways I can understand why I don't have much motivation at work as I don't really like working in IT, and I don't like the environment I have to work in. However, there are some very good projects on the go that are both interesting and good for my career.

Instead of focusing on these projects and getting them done I simply cruise along or browse the Internet.

Now the second area is different. I am working on a business idea that could net me quite a nice amount of money and has a potential to replace my 9 to 5 job as well as improve my families and my standard of living.

Trouble is it requires a lot of work before it is even ready to launch never mind start making the projected money.

I had two days off week this week (Monday & Tuesday) and instead of using most of my time producing the material needed I have mostly dicked around and done very little work on the project. The deadline for the initial launch is September (to time with another product release) and it is getting closer and closer leaving me more and more work to do.

Now this has nothing to do with depression or any other perception of lack of interest in life and doing things on my part. On the whole my life is great. My job is good (despite my lack of interest in IT), my wife and son are awesome, my family close and supportive.

I simply cannot get motivated to do the above and wondered what others do to get over this lack of motivation. It is kind of like my brain is happy with how things are and puts a block on these things.

Any suggestions or ideas?

rsatd · 7 Jul 2009 at 14:56

Create a machine, that kicks you, every time you browse on the net. In a couple of weeks, you will be the MVE! (most valued employee)

Oxide™ · 7 Jul 2009 at 14:58

it was a struggle posting in this thread but I just did it

Ucof · 7 Jul 2009 at 15:05

I used to have HORRIBLE motivational problems (too much smoking and realising that whatever i was supposed to be doing was just not worth the effort

).

I found that saying "Just do it" was the best way.

9 times out of 10, it isnt has tedious or as hard as you think it is, and you feel so much better when it is out of the way.

D5T · 7 Jul 2009 at 15:10

I know where you're coming from. I'm in a reasonably similar position. I feel like I sat around waiting for things to happen. I've got all the reason in the world to get on but for some reason loaf around.

Recently I've forced myself to crack on. I found creating a list for each day/timeframe of things you need to achieve breaks it up and makes large tasks seem manageable in smaller chunks.

spitzoid · 7 Jul 2009 at 15:16

Lazy.

Grow a pair and do whatever you have got to do.

If this "new project" will definitely bring in the big bucks and improve your family's standard of living and yet this is still not motivating you, the only explaination for not doing what you need to do is stupidity & sloth tbh. If you don't do it you will only have yourself to blame - How would you be able to look your wife and son in the eyes if you ruin their chance of a better life through your laziness? Perhaps you should use that as motivation.

Saundie · 7 Jul 2009 at 15:22

spitzoid said:
Grow a pair and do whatever you have got to do.

I love this attitude. It's like telling somebody with a broken leg to man up and go jogging with you.

Mr Jack · 7 Jul 2009 at 15:22

Just do it.

Yeah, you won't get much done at first. But if you keep pushing yourself to just do a bit you can slowly raise your baseline until you're getting a reasonable amount done. Remember a bit done is better than none done.

ScarySquirrel · 7 Jul 2009 at 15:25

I'm the same. I find it very hard to motivate myself at work recently. I guess that is the result of being completely taken for granted for 2 years and never given any form of reward for my efforts.

Janesy B · 7 Jul 2009 at 15:27

spitzoid said:
Lazy.

Grow a pair and do whatever you have got to do.

If this "new project" will definitely bring in the big bucks and improve your family's standard of living and yet this is still not motivating you, the only explaination for not doing what you need to do is stupidity & sloth tbh. If you don't do it you will only have yourself to blame - How would you be able to look your wife and son in the eyes if you ruin their chance of a better life through your laziness? Perhaps you should use that as motivation.

Perhaps if he got his work done on time he could get to punch you in the face, motivation enough

spitzoid · 7 Jul 2009 at 15:29

Saundie said:
I love this attitude. It's like telling somebody with a broken leg to man up and go jogging with you.

The problem is though he hasn't got a broken leg, and I'm not asking him to go jogging. He hasn't suggested that anything is getting in the way of him completing his tasks apart from a "lack of motivation" which translated into English = laziness. Added to that, the fact that he has got all the motivation he needs i.e. a better standard of living for his family, he really shouldn't have to ask for help.

Janesy B said:
Perhaps if he got his work done on time he could get to punch you in the face, motivation enough

Bring it on. Unfortunately for him, I am a very hard internet tough guy.

LordSplodge · 7 Jul 2009 at 15:30

rsatd said:
Create a machine, that kicks you, every time you browse on the net. In a couple of weeks, you will be the MVE! (most valued employee)

Not aiming to be most valued employee but just to get motivated to do the work that will be good for my career (should my business option not work out)

spitzoid said:
Lazy.

How would you be able to look your wife and son in the eyes if you ruin their chance of a better life through your laziness? Perhaps you should use that as motivation.

I'm not lazy and my wife and son are well looked after. I see what you are saying (even if you didn't say it in a good way) and I know I need to just get down and get on with it.

Mr Jack said:
Yeah, you won't get much done at first. But if you keep pushing yourself to just do a bit you can slowly raise your baseline until you're getting a reasonable amount done. Remember a bit done is better than none done.

I'm reading a book on GTD (Getting Things Done) and splitting things into doable tasks is helping. I have also started splitting the production into smaller tasks. Still way behind schedule (for example a final name for the business has only just been agreed) but hopefully I will get there...

Just wish I had not wasted these two days as they would have been useful in getting back on track.

I think when it comes to the business idea I am wary of putting all this effort in and it turning out not to make any money.

With regards to work I simply think it is lack of confidence and thus I am wary of getting something wrong and looking the fool.

Both are fixable and in the long run no big deal - just annoying the living daylights out of me right now.

Look I'm still on OCUK instead of working!!!

GinG · 7 Jul 2009 at 15:32

ScarySquirrel said:
I'm the same. I find it very hard to motivate myself at work recently. I guess that is the result of being completely taken for granted for 2 years and never given any form of reward for my efforts.

I know how you feel, I was in a job for 4 years since leaving college, full of broken promises.

Back to the OP.

I got made redundant, gave me a real kick up the backside. Been with my current job for 6 months, love it and now really motivated, it really shows both in personal at work, it has even bagged me £5k in pay rises since I started!!

My advice, quit you job!! Then your wife and child will be the motivator to get this idea you have kick started!!!

LordSplodge · 7 Jul 2009 at 15:34

Janesy B said:
Perhaps if he got his work done on time he could get to punch you in the face, motivation enough

Now that has me motivated.

spitzoid said:
...he really shouldn't need anything help getting of his backside and doing what he needs to do.

Actually working for myself is more of a motivation that an increase in standard of living for me and my family as I have already said we have a good standard of living.

It isn't laziness more like apathy.

spitzoid · 7 Jul 2009 at 15:37

LordSplodge said:
It isn't laziness more like apathy.

"Apathy (also called impassivity or perfunctoriness) is a state of indifference, or the suppression of emotions such as concern, excitement, motivation and passion. An apathetic individual has an absence of interest or concern to emotional, social, or physical life. They may also exhibit an insensibility or sluggishness.

Often, apathy has been felt after witnessing horrific acts, such as the killing or maiming of people during a war. It is also known to be associated with many conditions, some of which are: depression, Alzheimer's disease, Chagas' disease, Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, dementia, Korsakoff's Syndrome, excessive vitamin D, general fatigue, Huntington's disease, Pick's disease, progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP), schizophrenia, Schizoid Personality Disorder, Bipolar Disorder and others. Some medications and the heavy use of drugs such as heroin may bring apathy as a side effect."

You are a scag addict, admit it!

LordSplodge · 7 Jul 2009 at 15:38

GinG said:
My advice, quit you job!! Then your wife and child will be the motivator to get this idea you have kick started!!!

Given that the business idea will probably take a few years to make enough money to allow me to quit my job I doubt that would be a very good idea. I do have a mortgage to pay and can do both to start with.

platypus · 7 Jul 2009 at 15:40

Yeah, wish I could get motivated most of the time too.

LordSplodge · 7 Jul 2009 at 15:41

spitzoid said:
"
You are a scag addict, admit it

Nice but your wrong.

Apathy said:

Complete lack of emotion or motivation about a person, activity, or object; depression; lack of interest or enthusiasm; disinterest.

Click to expand...

See? Close enough (apart from the depression)

Now stop being an Internet "Hard man" you've given your advice and some of it I get but now you are just being a knob.

spitzoid · 7 Jul 2009 at 15:49

LordSplodge said:
Nice but your wrong.

See? Close enough (apart from the depression)

Now stop being an Internet "Hard man" you've given your advice and some of it I get but now you are just being a knob.

Fair enough, no need for the personal insult, I was just trying to motivate you.

Lazy, whining, moaner. I have no sympathy for you.

Mr Jack · 7 Jul 2009 at 15:50

LordSplodge said:
I'm reading a book on GTD (Getting Things Done) and splitting things into doable tasks is helping. I have also started splitting the production into smaller tasks. Still way behind schedule (for example a final name for the business has only just been agreed) but hopefully I will get there...

A little bit at a time, mate. You'll get there in the end. If you can just make yourself do 10 minutes right now you'll be a little closer. So step away from that keyboard and do ten minutes work right now.

Just wish I had not wasted these two days as they would have been useful in getting back on track.

No point crying over spilt milk, mate. Also, don't set yourself targets you're never going to meet. Accept you're not going to work hard everyday and give yourself the margins for it.