“You didn’t come this far only to come this far” – Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Remember the professional goals you had set when you started out? As you probably know by now, the journey to achieving them is long. There will be times when you may feel exhausted. In such cases, it’s up to you to stay self-motivated at work. You need to remind yourself what you ultimately want to achieve. We’ll help you learn some effective ways to keep yourself motivated.
How to Stay Self-Motivated at Work?
Staying self-motivated in the workplace is important for your growth, especially when you’re a fresher. Here are some valuable points to help you:
1. Set Meaningful Goals
Defining clear and meaningful goals for yourself can help keep you motivated and focused.
Here are a few examples of goals you could set as an intern:
Software Development Internship:
As a software development intern, one long term goal could be to develop and deploy a fully functional web application. You could aim to do this using a specific programming language or framework. You can also implement Stick to industry best practices and security standards.
Implement automated testing procedures for an existing software system. Try to achieve a significant increase in test coverage and identifying critical bugs.
Improve the performance of a database query by optimising its execution plan, reducing query response time.
Marketing Internship:
You could aim to Increase organic website traffic by 20% within a month. You can do this through SEO practices, keyword research, and content optimisation.
Plan and execute a successful social media influencer campaign to increase brand mentions, engagement, and followers.
Conduct customer surveys and market research to identify ten key customer pain points and propose improvements.
Business Development Internship:
Close five partnership deals or client contracts using your negotiation skills.
Deliver a comprehensive market analysis report. Do this by identifying popular trends and proposing recommendations for expansion.
Assist in creating new sales pitches and presentations to help convert leads.
2. Break Down Tasks
One way to stay motivated at work is to try to break larger tasks down into smaller, manageable ones. This way, you can quantify you progress easily as you complete each task. The task also seems more manageable that way. Let’s take an example of coordinating a major event. Here’s how you can break it down into smaller tasks:
Defining the goals of the event:
Identify the target audience (What is the purpose of the event? e.g., networking, fundraising, educational)
Setting the budget and allocate resources:
Figure out the resources required. (What is the available budget for the event? How is it being allocated among the venue, equipment, speakers and catering?)
Planning the event logistics:
Create an event timeline, including setup, registration, program flow, and breakdown. (Have you discussed terms and finalised contracts? Have the necessary permits, licenses, and insurance been arranged?)
Coordinating with the speakers or performers:
Identify and invite the speakers, performers, or panellists
Coordinate their logistics, which includes their travel, accommodation, and requirements for the event (Have the event details been shared with the participants?)
Developing marketing and promotion strategy:
Create strong event branding and design materials (e.g., posters, brochures, social media)
Come up with a marketing plan to reach the target audience (e.g., social media campaigns, email marketing, partnerships) (Are you monitoring how well the marketing efforts are working?)
Managing registrations and attendees:
Set up an online registration system
Manage inquiries and provide necessary event information
Monitor and track registrations, payments, and any special requirements
Coordinating event day operations:
Create a checklist for the event setup (e.g., branding, equipment, seating arrangements, etc.)
Manage event registration, check-ins, and attendee flow
Coordinate event staff, volunteers, and vendors to ensure smooth operations
Evaluating the success of the event:
Collect feedback from attendees through surveys (Are you analysing event metrics e.g., attendance, participant satisfaction, social media engagement. Are you identifying areas for improvement for future events.)
3. Celebrate Small Wins
Acknowledge and celebrate your achievements, no matter how small they may seem. This is an important aspect of staying self-motivated. What’s stopping you from putting out a small victory post on LinkedIn? Treat yourself to a nice meal or some chocolates. Or if you want to do something more subtle, share a small message on your family WhatsApp group.
The point is, do something that makes you feel good. Recognising your progress will keep you motivated.
4. Find Inspiration
Surround yourself with sources of inspiration. Follow industry leaders, read books, attend webinars, or join professional forums to gain inspiration.
You could also get someone senior from office to be your mentor. This way, you’ll have someone to look up to if you need help. Learning from others and exposing yourself to new ideas can drive your motivation.
5. Seek Feedback
Constructive feedback can help reinforce your motivation. Whenever you complete a task, send out the document to your supervisor/peers and ask them for feedback. Take notes of what they’re saying.
6. Seek out opportunities to learn
Find ways to learn new skills, attend workshops, and take on challenging projects. Look at it as a challenge — set goals and work towards achieving them. Pursuing knowledge for personal development can keep you motivated and engaged in your work.
7. Take Regular Breaks
Take regular breaks to rest and recharge. Overworking can lead to burnout and diminish your motivation. When we talk about breaks, it could be anything that gets you away from your work. Talk a short walk, get a coffee or maybe go to a restaurant nearby to grab a bite to
8. Don’t Take Setbacks Personally
When someone points out a mistake, it’s not a reflection on you as a person. Don’t take it personally. Instead of getting demotivated, view them as opportunities for growth and learning. Analyse what went wrong, see how you can improve, and move forward.
9. Create a Positive Work Environment
This may not work for everyone but creating a positive work environment really helps with motivation. You spend half of your day at your workplace, so it doesn’t hurt to personalise it a little
Get things that make you comfortable. For example, if you don’t like your work chair, change it. Maybe keep a small plant at your desk. Listening to music you like can also boost your motivation and productivity.
10. Take Care of Yourself
Take care of your physical and mental well-being. Eat nutritious meals, exercise regularly, get enough sleep, and try activities that help you relax and recharge. Self-care can ignite the energy and motivation to help you at
Developing these practices take time but they can really help you stay enhance your ability to stay motivated and achieve your goals.
FAQs on Self-Motivation at Work
Q1. What is self-motivation?
Ans: Self-motivation is when you are able to drive yourself to achieve your goals and overcome obstacles without relying on any external factors.
Q2. Why is self-motivation so important at work?
Ans: Self-motivation is crucial at work as it inspires productivity and persistence to improve. It also helps you push through and achieve long term professional goals that you set for yourself.
Q3. How to show self-motivation on a fresher resume?
Ans: To show self-motivation on your resume, highlight accomplishments and experiences that indicate your proactive approach. You can also include initiatives in academic or other activities, such as leading projects and achieving academic excellence.
Q4. How to improve self-motivation skills as a fresher at work?
Ans: Here are some ways you can improve self-motivation skills at work:
a. Set clear and achievable goals for yourself
b. Break down larger tasks into smaller, manageable ones
c. Seek feedback and learn from constructive criticism
d. Stay organised and prioritise your tasks
e. Celebrate small successes along the way to stay motivated
f. Surround yourself with positive and supportive individuals
g. Continuously learn and seek opportunities for growth and development
h. Take breaks and practice self-care to avoid burnout
Q5. What are some examples of self-motivation?
Ans: Here are a few examples of self-motivation:
a. Taking the initiative to learn new skills or expand your knowledge
b. Setting personal goals and working consistently towards achieving them
c. Going beyond assigned tasks to deliver exceptional results
d. Seeking feedback and actively working on improving weaknesses
e. Maintaining a positive attitude and working through challenges
f. Showing enthusiasm and passion for the work you do
g. Practicing self-discipline and consistently meeting deadlines
h. Showing a willingness to take on new challenges and embrace change.
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