Get the company’s top performer and the hardest-working colleague and ask them if their productivity ever got a hit. If they said no, trust us, they’re lying (also maybe they’re worried you’d be a snitch, just saying!). Anyway, back to the real problem here: lack of productivity. Let’s not sugarcoat things or idealize, we’ve all been there, seniors and juniors, managers and even heads. Maybe this will give you a sense of relief, but don’t get too relaxed right there at your workstation. We’re not here to judge, we’re just stating facts and trying to propose solutions
Disclaimer: We’ll not portray office dynamics through rose-tinted glasses, in fact we'ill discuss office dynamics raw and real, with no idealism here. So, read along if you want practical ideas, not some handbook advice.
Limit the gossip time. Yes, we didn’t say cut off or stop the gossip time completely, because come on, who are we kidding, we know everyone just wants to enjoy some spill-the-tea session every once in a while. Of course we are not encouraging the behavior, but we just know it for a fact, there will always be gossip at the workplace. So if you can’t really resist the temptation, at least do it during breaks instead of pausing your work for it.
Take regular breaks. Yes, we are advising someone who is unproductive to take breaks for the simple reason that burnout is probably one of the reasons why you have reached this point. If you feel like you can’t get anything done lately then maybe you were too stressed at work to the point that now it feels like a heavy burden you are trying to escape. Take a 5 or 10-minute break every hour to reenergize.
Create a playlist. Music definitely puts us all in a good mood. Create a playlist for work, whatever the genre is, as long as it keeps you hyped up. Not to state the obvious, steer away from melancholic songs, you don’t want to be sitting at your desk staring at the laptop while revisiting all your wrong life decisions or remembering your ex over some sad songs.
Find a cheering workmate. Don’t pick up an already motivated co-worker and ask them to give you a boost, they’d probably want to stay focused on their work rather than help you get motivated. Instead, find a workmate as demotivated as you, make a pact, and decide that you will encourage one another. The reason why it is better to team up with someone who is in your shoes is that there is mutual benefit, they can relate, and you will push one another to get competitive in a good way.
Finally, and what is most important is getting down to the root cause of your lack of productivity. Is it a burnout? A routine that needs to be changed? Or maybe you need a new source of inspiration? Maybe you need a refresher in your work dynamics to give you a push. Just understand that it is normal, it happens to everyone, and can still be fixed.
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