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Lost all motivation at work

brikis98

Diamond Member
About a week ago, for no particular reason whatsoever, I completely lost motivation in my job. There is nothing wrong with the job and I honestly have nothing to complain about: I like my boss and coworkers, the pay is great, the work is varied, and the environment is excellent. I got the job 6 months ago and I was genuinely enjoying it.

And then, all of a sudden, I'm just not interested in it at all. As far as I can tell, nothing has changed about the job. However, something must have changed about me because now I come in, I procrastinate, I work slowly, I find every distraction I can, and I'm just flat out bored. All I can think about is how much I want it to be the end of the day, how I want to hit the gym, go home to hang out with friends or the gf, etc.

Yes, I know no one likes working. I know everyone wants to get out as soon as they can and have fun at home. But I used to come in, bury my head in work and the day would be over before I knew it. I completed some very cool projects. I was having fun. What the hell changed? Has this every happened to you? How do I turn it around?
 
First job out of college?

Take a few days/a week off. See if that re-energizes you. Or it could possibly mean you don't like your current job. Obligatory "Welcome to the real world, work sucks.....blah blah" statement.

I like my job, and it happens to me too. Some days I just feel unmotivated. I would say it happens to most people. Why do you think there are so many people on this forum with post counts higher than their annual salaries?
 
I lost my motivation when I got a 16% raise but I thought I deserved a 25%. The key is to realize everyone still loves you so you only show up for 7 hours a day (including lunch) and slack off 10 months out of the year.

Then, when you get fired, you can explode and say you sacrificed your life for this company and they throw you out on the street.
 
Happened to me too. You need to punch your boss.

Joking aside, could it be the project you are working on? Maybe previous projects were much more interesting and you just dont like the current one as much?
 
Happened to me too. It took a couple months but I slowly came out of it. Well, not completely out of it, but enough so that I don't get fired.
 
Originally posted by: SpazzyChicken
First job out of college?

Nope

Originally posted by: SpazzyChicken
Take a few days/a week off. See if that re-energizes you. Or it could possibly mean you don't like your current job. Obligatory "Welcome to the real world, work sucks.....blah blah" statement.

Just took a long vacation recently and don't have any days left.

Originally posted by: SpazzyChicken
I like my job, and it happens to me too. Some days I just feel unmotivated. I would say it happens to most people. Why do you think there are so many people on this forum with post counts higher than their annual salaries?

🙂
 
Happened to me a while ago. Then I took a break from Anandtech for a couple months and was eager to work again. Sadly I have had a relapse and spend too much time here again.
 
Originally posted by: brikis98
About a week ago, for no particular reason whatsoever, I completely lost motivation in my job. There is nothing wrong with the job and I honestly have nothing to complain about: I like my boss and coworkers, the pay is great, the work is varied, and the environment is excellent. I got the job 6 months ago and I was genuinely enjoying it.

And then, all of a sudden, I'm just not interested in it at all. As far as I can tell, nothing has changed about the job. However, something must have changed about me because now I come in, I procrastinate, I work slowly, I find every distraction I can, and I'm just flat out bored. All I can think about is how much I want it to be the end of the day, how I want to hit the gym, go home to hang out with friends or the gf, etc.

Yes, I know no one likes working. I know everyone wants to get out as soon as they can and have fun at home. But I used to come in, bury my head in work and the day would be over before I knew it. I completed some very cool projects. I was having fun. What the hell changed? Has this every happened to you? How do I turn it around?

What happened to me is I stopped being challenged and therefore I got bored.
 
Originally posted by: Turkish
Happened to me too. You need to punch your boss.

Joking aside, could it be the project you are working on? Maybe previous projects were much more interesting and you just dont like the current one as much?

I have a couple projects now, probably no better or worse than the others I've done, but I have no interest in any of them.
 
Originally posted by: brikis98
Originally posted by: Turkish
Happened to me too. You need to punch your boss.

Joking aside, could it be the project you are working on? Maybe previous projects were much more interesting and you just dont like the current one as much?

I have a couple projects now, probably no better or worse than the others I've done, but I have no interest in any of them.

You're starting to sound more and more like me a couple of weeks ago. I think I am you posting from the future. Don't drink the coffee, it's poisoned.
 
Originally posted by: JD50
Originally posted by: brikis98
Originally posted by: Turkish
Happened to me too. You need to punch your boss.

Joking aside, could it be the project you are working on? Maybe previous projects were much more interesting and you just dont like the current one as much?

I have a couple projects now, probably no better or worse than the others I've done, but I have no interest in any of them.

You're starting to sound more and more like me a couple of weeks ago. I think I am you posting from the future. Don't drink the coffee, it's poisoned.

Piss in the coffee pot and laugh

and yes, i'm kidding

 
Originally posted by: JD50
Originally posted by: brikis98
Originally posted by: Turkish
Happened to me too. You need to punch your boss.

Joking aside, could it be the project you are working on? Maybe previous projects were much more interesting and you just dont like the current one as much?

I have a couple projects now, probably no better or worse than the others I've done, but I have no interest in any of them.

You're starting to sound more and more like me a couple of weeks ago. I think I am you posting from the future. Don't drink the coffee, it's poisoned.

creepy. what did you end up doing?
 
Unfortunately that's me at my first job. Way to start =[. I have to say my internship last year took off slow too, but that's because it started with training and stuff. I never neffed. I was totally into my job by a month and at the end I enjoyed juggling multiple projects and being thoroughly busy the whole day.

Here... ehh different story.
 
Originally posted by: brikis98
Originally posted by: JD50
Originally posted by: brikis98
Originally posted by: Turkish
Happened to me too. You need to punch your boss.

Joking aside, could it be the project you are working on? Maybe previous projects were much more interesting and you just dont like the current one as much?

I have a couple projects now, probably no better or worse than the others I've done, but I have no interest in any of them.

You're starting to sound more and more like me a couple of weeks ago. I think I am you posting from the future. Don't drink the coffee, it's poisoned.

creepy. what did you end up doing?

I dunno, it just got better as time went on. I still feel it a little bit though, and I'm looking to get onto a different contract.
 
I have had that problem as well. This is where you decide if you are a hard worker or if you are a slacker. When it gets hard, you either push through and remain a reliable, good employee or you slack off and waste the day. I hate that feeling just as much as you do but making yourself do the work means you are responsible.

It helps me to take small breaks throughout the day to just walk around and stretch my legs for a few minutes. When I get back to my desk I feel like working hard for another 45 minutes to an hour, and then I walk around again for 5 minutes. It seems like a lot of wasted time, but considering it drastically increases my productivity, I don't feel bad.
 
I'm in the middle of one of those motivational lulls right now, too.

It's doing wonders for my postcount.
 
Originally posted by: buck
I have been feeling like that for the past couple months. It comes in waves...

mine does too. Usually about ever 1.5yrs I just get that "this sucks" feeling and want a change. Sad part is that I really like my job and have huge opportunities here.
 
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