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How to reclaim your work mojo

Sometimes we fall into a bit of a work rut. Get up, head to the office, put in a day’s graft, head home. Rinse and repeat. Maybe there’s a never ending stream of tasks, or perhaps there isn’t enough to fill the hours. The days go too quickly, or too slowly – either way, you find yourself wondering where the weeks are disappearing to.

I think I recently sunk into one of these, and didn’t quite realise it until one day I simply woke up eager to get to work and get stuck in. Seriously.

What did it take? Some positive feedback that reinvigorated my enthusiasm, and some fresh success that really proved motivating. When your efforts are paying off, that’s a HUGE shot of re-energisement. Sometimes that’s all you need.

So if that’s you, how can you find your mojo again?

I think it all boils down to one simple thing.

Figure out what it means to you.

Remember why you got into the job. To save money for a round the world trip? To keep going while you build an empire on the side? Get experience and build your resume? To make a difference?

Whatever it is, tap into the factor/s that drive you. Rediscover that lightning bolt and turn it into renewed vigour.

(And if your job sucks, plain and simple, then take action.)

Any other tips of your own to share?

9 thoughts on “How to reclaim your work mojo

  • Reply Mo' Money Mo' Houses (@momoneymohouses) April 17, 2012 at 12:20

    I totally know what you mean. I’ve been at my job for almost two years now and I feel like I’m in a bit of a rut. There are lots of pros to my job right now but I definitely sometimes feel like I’m just going through the motions. What’s keeping me going right now is that I need this job to keep saving for my wedding and backpacking honeymoon trip, plus I really do love the people and my job.

  • Reply addvodka April 17, 2012 at 15:19

    I haven’t been in my job for even close to the amount of time I’d usually get restless around.. but I’ve been there before and it’s the worst to be in a work rut!

  • Reply insomniaclabrat April 17, 2012 at 15:52

    You know, I haven’t really thought about how I got my work mojo back these past few weeks, but I think you’ve got it right.

    I didn’t consciously think about what it means to me, but due to a change in the way I’m approaching my experiments, I was reminded that what I like about research is asking questions and trying to figure out how to find the answers.

    Having a good committee meeting and joint lab meeting definitely helped, too!

  • Reply Miss T (@prairieecothrif) April 18, 2012 at 02:45

    I had to do this recently. I was feeling burnt out and unmotivated at work but then one day I got myself to snap out of it. I reminded myself why I got into this in the first place and now focus on the good parts of my day. I feel much better.

  • Reply mmarinaa April 18, 2012 at 03:24

    If “get experience and build your resume” is the reason you’re at a job, how does that give one any sort of vigor? (I’m not being cheeky, it’s a question I am genuinely trying to answer. Spoiler alert: I’m failing miserably to find a good one.)

  • Reply MyMoneyDesign.com April 18, 2012 at 04:49

    To get my work Mojo back, I just pretend I’m going to be fired and how bad that would suck to try to go get a new job. I usually get back into the swing of things really quick!

  • Reply denisegabbard April 18, 2012 at 05:03

    Have to tell you I was exactly at this point when I finally said, enough already! From that point on, I have worked from home with the TV droning in the background, taking breaks for walks with my doggie– and actually being home when the husband gets in from work. In the winter, we hit the beach when he can’t work in our cold climate.
    Point being—if you really want something, you can make it happen. It is all a matter of focus and putting YOUR plan for you, and not somebody else’s– in action.
    I think it is something you live and learn-our kids are grown, so I’m likely older than you, but I often wonder how different things would have been if I’d decided this 20 years earlier.

  • Reply fabulouslyfrugirl April 25, 2012 at 14:09

    Thanks so much for this article – though I am a bit late to commenting!

    I’ve been feeling like I’m in a rut for the last year or so. I don’t usually blog about work on my blog since I’m always afraid that someone might find it – but I’ve been trying for the last year to get my mojo back. Sometimes, it comes back when I make certain changes, but now, I think that it’s just time to move on. I’ve been at this position for almost 4 years, and I really don’t feel happy, and I don’t know what else I can do to change it.

  • Reply Link love (Powered by doughnuts | Musings of an Abstract Aucklander May 7, 2012 at 00:48

    […] post on getting back into your groove, How to reclaim your work mojo, was in the last carnival of personal […]

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