How do you find motivation at work?

[MayorOfAmerica]

For the past couple of months, I've been stuck in one of those work ruts where I am just so sick of what I am working on I feel like I just can't anymore. Taking pride in my work and getting ahead of schedule used to mean something to me.

Throughout the course of my career (software engineering) I've been through these ruts before, but somehow managed to pull myself out of them. This time, it's especially bad for some reason. The nature of the work was pretty cool at first, but now it's just boring.

Add to that unrealistic, overly aggressive schedules, idiot coworkers, a lab that is sound proofed, has no windows, and is painted black from floor to ceiling and it sums to: I am bored, fed up, and sick of it all.

The unrealistic schedules force me into doing things I wouldn't normally do work wise. For instance, if I had a little more time I could take the time to design a system properly, implement and test it accordingly, and feel good about what I have produced. However, due to time constraints (mainly because of this 'genius' always underestimating tasks, which I object to usually but it falls on deaf ears) I'm forced into just "getting it done" which results in lots of hacked together piles of shit that meets the requirements but will probably be a nightmare to maintain. As a result, I get disgusted in what I am producing and I am not having fun anymore. Everyone knows about idiot coworkers and depressing environments, so I don't need to get into that here.

Have you ever been stuck in a rut at work? How did you pull yourself out of it so you enjoyed what you did again? I should disclose that I definitely picked the right career because I love creating software, but this job has sucked all the fun out of it. Also, the employer is virtually recession-proof and I do have real life responsibilities, so leaving isn't an option for me.

I have personal projects I am working on at home which are pretty much the only saving grace in this whole ordeal.

/crying

 

[DesiPower]

Get a new job?

 

[FoBoT]

350 people are getting axed by next tuesday

 

[RedRooster]

Work to live and live to work.
I hope someone posts an answer that doesn't include excessive alcohol or drugs, because I would love to know too. Don't know about you, but I'm only a third of the way done before retirement, not sure I'll make it!

 

[henryay]

I would like to hear what other people say.
What you describe is exactly like my current situation.
I'm thinking of looking for other jobs.

 

[Rumpltzer]

Work is not life. Life is that stuff that you do after you leave work. Find fulfillment outside of work.

Listen to music or podcasts while at work to entertain yourself.

Take a vacation; leave the country and go somewhere you've never been before. Airline tickets to Asia are running up for the summer, but once on the ground you can live and eat cheap in the less developed countries (Thailand, Indonesia, Cambodia, etc.). Just try it.

If you have a boss who might care, talk to him about not feeling challenged or whatever.

Develop a secret superhero identity.

Develop a secret serial killer identity.

Find a new job.

 

[MustISO]

Change of scenery should snap you out of it. Start looking for a new job and see where it leads.

 

[BoomerD]

My motivation used to come in an envelope every Friday afternoon.

If you need more motivation that that, you're in the wrong job.

 

[MayorOfAmerica]

Thanks for the replies so far. I wish I could combine the nature of the work from my last job (really out-there R&D) with the the security and paycheck from this one. I have a family to support and since this employer is so secure and the money is good, I'm a little hesitant to change jobs, especially given the state of the american economy. I think it boils down to being bored and all the other things I mentioned simply compound the problem.

 

[chusteczka]

Some Westerns show a cowboy riding a horse hard until it falls dead. The cowboy then steals his next horse and continues riding it hard.

Then you get the cowboy who takes care of his horse, riding normally, brushing it down at the end of the day, petting its face, and feeding it carrots.

Then you have donkeys that refuse to be ridden hard and are stubborn as hell.

The cowboy rides as hard as the horse will let him, often until it drops dead. If your cowboy does not take care of you properly, then you may need to act the stubborn mule and work according to your comfort level. They will push you as hard as you allow them to.

If I had a deadline that was too close or difficult to meet, I told them about it. Communication is key. If they did not listen, I went home early and the next day told them it would be completed a week after the deadline.

There is never time to do it right, but always time to fix it later. Forget that. Do it your way, properly, the first time. Of course, do take deadlines under consideration in your development but do not let them ride you into the ground.

When you leave, are people going to cuss you when they have to fix your work or will your work operate flawlessly for a long time to come?

The high pressure companies can be good for a beginner. They push a newbie into increasing his skills, speed, and quality. Pace yourself and find your rhythm. Then you will find your happiness and will not mind when your cowboy quits feeding you carrots.

 

[olds]

You either have to accept that things are what they are or change jobs.
But leave the work at work. Don't let it bleed over into your personal life. When you leave work, stop let out a breath and tell yourself that work is over till tomorrow.

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

You could always work at what you love like I do but, the pay sucks.

 

[AlienCraft]

You are the epitome of the modern American Worker. Willing to over-produce until you can't see staight. Loathe to take the vacation time you've rightfully accrued out of some sort of misguided sense of loyalty or even a fear of losing one's "place" within the organization.
I would say you're in line for some "me" time. sounds like you need it.

 

[nboy22]

I am in the same spot right now, I'm in AZ working as a lead 3d Animator. I have built the company up to where we are finally getting higher paying clients. The reason we are landing these clients is due to me building up our demo reel in my own free time. Clients come in, see the work I did in my free time, and agree to do business with us. And I get no benefit from it, no raises or anything and I make shit as it is.

Going to be moving to around LA soon, where I will show my awesome reel and get paid probably 2-3 times as much as I do now. I used to make more working at a call center, that's how bad it is.

Sounds like you need to switch jobs just like I do.

 

[IndyColtsFan]

I'm in a similar situation now, OP. Over my career, they've come and gone but now, I just can't seem to pull myself out of this rut. There are a lot of changes going on at my company now and that just makes the situation even worse. I really just wish I could stay home most days. In fact, I think I am going to take a mental health day tomorrow. I just can't take the "team building" crap tomorrow.

You are the epitome of the modern American Worker. Willing to over-produce until you can't see staight. Loathe to take the vacation time you've rightfully accrued out of some sort of misguided sense of loyalty or even a fear of losing one's "place" within the organization.
I would say you're in line for some "me" time. sounds like you need it.

Yep, that describes me last summer and I don't think I've recovered. I just feel spent and burned out.

 

[IndyColtsFan]

My motivation used to come in an envelope every Friday afternoon.

If you need more motivation that that, you're in the wrong job.

In most jobs, you can do just enough to get by and still get that pay check. For some people, that isn't enough. I pride myself on being a star employee but more and more, it ended up getting me more work and nothing else. Now, I'm in the "I just need to do enough to survive" mentality. I hope I snap out soon. I hear the OP loud and clear.

 

[randomrogue]

WHAT DO YOU WANT TO DO?

What does your gut tell you deep down inside?

 

[Ronstang]

That is one of the nice things about being self employed, you don't have to worry about motivation. The harder and smarter you work the more money you make....all the motivation you need. There is definitely some satisfaction in doing a good job and making the customers happy but let's not kid ourselves....the money makes the difference.

 

[randomrogue]

That is one of the nice things about being self employed, you don't have to worry about motivation. The harder and smarter you work the more money you make....all the motivation you need. There is definitely some satisfaction in doing a good job and making the customers happy but let's not kid ourselves....the money makes the difference.

Most people can't take off if they're self employed so your entire job becomes your job.

 

[SaDiZTiKStyLeZ]

I kind of gave up long ago.

Not being paid enough.
All software we work with is bootleg.

I have no internet where I'm living, so pretty much any personal shit I need to get into, I have to do at work. That makes it even easier to not give much fucks about work.

I used to thoroughly enjoy working. At least all jobs I had before this one.

I'm not sure if it has to do with just the job. But I also feel like the whole psych ward, jail & homelessness last year played a role too.

 

[BoomerD]

In most jobs, you can do just enough to get by and still get that pay check. For some people, that isn't enough. I pride myself on being a star employee but more and more, it ended up getting me more work and nothing else. Now, I'm in the "I just need to do enough to survive" mentality. I hope I snap out soon. I hear the OP loud and clear.

I've only had one job like that...it was as a public employee, and I couldn't stand it. "We get paid by the hour" was the prevailing attitude...I finally quit to go back to construction where we got paid well to work our asses off every day.
If you're bored at work, you're slacking off. There's always SOMETHING that needs doing...even if it's just "busy work."

 

[Dr. Detroit]

I get paid 2X a month, I vest 2X month -

Work is work - I work to live, not live to work

Work hard while at work or you will not be getting paid 2X a month, rather you will be selling your hair to a wig shop in Vegas.

 

[IronWing]

Going postal may not be the best solution but it is a solution.

 

[Ronstang]

Most people can't take off if they're self employed so your entire job becomes your job.

Only for a time young man. Then you get to the point where you have a bunch of other people trained to do what you once did and now not only are you multiplying your profit you can fuck off all day if you want. It's all a matter of putting in your time and staying focused to get to that point.

 

[randomrogue]

Only for a time young man. Then you get to the point where you have a bunch of other people trained to do what you once did and now not only are you multiplying your profit you can fuck off all day if you want. It's all a matter of putting in your time and staying focused to get to that point.

If you don't mind me asking how old were you when you got to that point?