Win at Work in 2022: 5 Ways to Stay Motivated

Today, the Singaporean workforce feels a renewed sense of optimism in the labour market as the scenario has improved significantly over the past two years. As COVID-19 restrictions loosen, vaccination programmes succeed, and more job postings open up, Singaporeans have much to look forward to as they make career plans — especially as more workplaces adopt a hybrid or remote working scheme. But while these changes inch you nearer toward the old normal, work motivation is a different matter. After the strain of the past two years, many employees have lost their edge and enthusiasm.

While tips on maximising productivity and efficiency are a dime a dozen, it also pays to place just as much importance on your well-being in the workplace, particularly on staying motivated at work. Work motivation is essential in helping you perform to the best of your abilities — it gives you a sense of purpose and direction rather than just clocking in and out each day, a phenomenon that can lead to burnout. A survey on work-life balance last year revealed that, after Hong Kong, Singapore had one of the most overworked populations across several cities in the world.

Although the pandemic has contributed its fair share to a dampened outlook on work and employment, Singapore has long dealt with a burnout culture. The city-state still landed in the #2 spot for most overworked cities in 2019. Singaporeans’ are known for their nature of excellence, which led to the formation of one of the most intense workplaces globally. And as work-from-home schemes rose in popularity, this particular workplace culture became even further pronounced.

What is work motivation?

Despite the numerous strides the country has made in curbing the COVID situation, you're still likely navigating yourself through this new world. After all, you continue to live in a VUCA world: volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous. WeYouremain caught in between rapidly changing behaviours, mindsets, and worlds — and the uncertainty and unpredictability, especially in the workplace, may lead to chronic stress and affect work motivation.

Work motivation is described as “the psychological force that generates complex processes of goal-directed thoughts and behaviours.” However, you can quickly lose the drive that pushes you to do better and do more in the office. Think about how your work hours run longer as the pile of undone tasks stacks rise higher and higher. 

The more you expose yourself to prolonged stress and anxiety, the likelier you are to suffer from sluggish work performance, a lack of drive, and even burnout. But with proper motivation, you can maintain consistent quality in your output and a limitless sense of purpose and renewed energy.

Your health and well-being continue to matter, particularly in these volatile and ambiguous times. We understand that you may be getting used to certain adjustments, which can further add to the feeling of stress and nervousness. Fortunately, you can take the following actions to improve your disposition at work and help you cope even better.

(Read more: Does Singapore Have a Burnout Work Culture?)

Sometimes, all it takes is a renewed perspective to regain your drive to succeed at work. Here are five tips you can follow to stay motivated in your tasks:

Break up a big task into smaller goals.

When handed a massive project, don’t be intimidated by the deadlines or by the sheer size of the task itself. Divide the project into step-by-step tasks. Set up deadlines for each item off your list. Setting these mini “milestones” for yourself will allow you to keep track of your progress day-to-day, as well as ensure that the final project is completed to the best of your ability.

Make and check off items on your to-do list.

Similar to the first tip above, write down your tasks – these could encompass emails that need to be sent, calls that need to be made, or even groceries that need to be bought – on a place easily accessible for you. Some people prefer using physical notebooks or to-do notepads, but there are also plenty of apps available on the market that can be synced to your phone and laptop. Once done, check each task off as you go; this will give you a sense of accomplishment that can fuel your motivation to keep working.

Always put in your best effort.

Regardless of how small the task is, always put in the effort to make your work the best it can be. Present what you think is best, not what you think is acceptable and merely just meets the standard. Submitting your best work will keep you feeling accomplished and productive – the positive feedback and pride that you’ll be able to feel about your results will keep your motivation high, allowing you to improve and get better consistently.

Take a break now and then.

A healthy level of motivation requires a healthy work-life balance. Take a half-hour walk to clear and refresh your mind, keeping yourself on track and focused without burning out, or dedicate one morning a week to playing your favourite sport. It will leave you re-charged and ready to tackle the remaining tasks you have with a clear mindset.

Similarly, when stuck on a particular kink in the project, stepping away for a brief period will give you the chance to approach the problem with a new and original mindset, making you more productive in the long run.

Celebrate your achievements.

Once you’ve completed a milestone of your project, or even the project itself, reward yourself accordingly. This could mean a slice of your favourite dessert after a long and fruitful day at work, or a night with your friends after successfully undertaking a big task. By recognising and priding yourself on these accomplishments, you’ll be able to keep yourself motivated and your job satisfaction high!

Employing these five tips will help you to stay motivated at work. They can assist you in continually producing steady but excellent results and help you envision longer-term plans in the workplace. Just working night after night with no end in sight will not maintain your motivation – the drive to succeed must be kept high with active thoughts and actions.

However, when you think your burnout is from a need to switch careers. Find opportunities for #JobsThatMatter and find a role that will give you a sense of purpose and motivation at work. Update your JobStreet profile and add the hashtag #WorkNow, so prospective employers know you’re ready to work immediately. 

For more expert advice on maintaining motivation and happiness in the workplace, visit the Career Resources page. You can also download JobStreet’s nifty app available on the App Store and Google Play.