It can be frustrating to feel your motivation drift away as you get closer and closer to Friday, especially when your to-do list is miles long. While it may feel like the end of your work week is destined to be unproductive days of watching the clock, there are a few things you can do to regain momentum and get things done. If you’re struggling to stay motivated throughout the week, here are a few tips you can implement right away.
Create a Morning Routine
The way you start your day is incredibly important for how motivated and productive you are. If you find yourself rolling out of bed minutes before you need to be in the office, you’re likely to spend the entire day feeling off and unable to focus on your tasks. But, if you start your day each morning getting ready for the challenges you’ll need to tackle, you’ll be ready to take on whatever comes your way.
Prioritize Your Tasks
Taking a moment to prioritize your tasks can help you get the big projects out of the way. Not only will this relieve some pressure if you find yourself drifting off on a Thursday afternoon, but it can also help you feel more accomplished. This can keep you motivated to finish off your week on a productive note. If you can’t plan your entire week, create a prioritized to-do list each morning. Do the big projects first and leave the smaller projects for later.
Take a Short Walking Break
Taking a short break to get some fresh air and think about what you still need to accomplish can help you get a new burst of energy. Exercising regularly will give you more energy and make you more focused. It can help you sleep better, which can also improve your energy and focus levels — and you don’t have to hit the gym hard to get these benefits. Walking to get your lunch or even taking a twenty-minute stroll around the outside of your office building can be enough exercise to keep you going. Look for opportunities to get moving and away from your desk whenever you can, especially as you reach the end of the week.
Give Yourself a Challenge
To stay productive, you need to stay interested. Giving yourself a weekly challenge is a great way to push through your week until the very end. By pushing yourself to do something you enjoy or want to learn by the end of the week, your mind will stay focused and you’ll get more done. You’ll also find yourself looking forward to the end of the week.
Create a Career Dream Board
Visualizing your goals helps you stay motivated and working towards the things you’d like to accomplish. Creating a dream board gives you a place to refer to when you’re feeling unmotivated, reminding you what you’re working towards and what you’d like to accomplish. Your dream board should include pictures or descriptions of anything that gets you excited. Things like houses, cars, cities or pets are all wonderful things to include. However, you can also include inspirational quotes or images you like.