Who doesn't know the moment you sit at the computer and maybe have been sitting at the computer all day. The motivation has arrived in the basement. This moment, when you actually love your involvement in the home office, but would now love to exchange it for a moment for an engagement in the shelter. You could go there now, turn off your head to take your favorite dog Woody on a leash and turn a round around the block.
This feeling is well known to anyone who has worked in the home office before. The wonderful freedom you have through your digital commitment. Especially the comfort in your own four walls (or even in his constantly changing walls) while you create great things is wonderful. But even with this freedom come all the disturbing factors. These disruptive factors are things that just seem more irrational to you in this moment.
The inner pig dog and its friends
In the following section we take a look at the four classical disturbance factors. And then I give you five strategies, how they can no longer harm you and your motivation.
1. Friends know where to find
Your friends may also know where your office or project location is, but the inhibition threshold is much higher to visit you there than in your own four walls. Especially if you don't have fixed working hours, it's simply impossible for your friends to know when you're in your creative phase or just on the sofa. Then, of course, we tend to adopt alternative strategies. For example, the argument suddenly arises that other people in their working environment also take coffee breaks on a permanent basis. This is a well-placed argument for sitting on his living room couch with his friends for the third coffee. And from the sofa, it's hard to gather the motivation you need to start again. You may be lucky that your personal schedule fits exactly that of your friends. Thus, you will be spared this sweet temptation. However, what if not?
2. Satt seen on your own computer
Our lives are increasingly playing out in front of screens. Even our parents and grandparents were worried that this could not be good for our eyes. This definitely can't be good for your health and it can't be good for your mind. You just get fed up with one thing, everyone who was quarantined during the Corona pandemic knows what I'm ta
lking about. The own computer, which is the way to infinite information, entertainment media and also to our much-loved freedom in self-determined work, suddenly becomes a shunned object. In so many moments, my cousin's answer to the question of what she wants to work comes to mind: "Something with people." At this moment, I can understand that. I would like to do something with people, no matter what – definitely not something with computers!
3. Email trap
The email account is a disruptive factor that is discussed over and over again and i don't have to go into very deeply. It is still listed here because it is quite treacherous. Because when you work out your emails, you get the feeling that you're pretty hard-working right now. You're actually working on something and you're solving problems that you didn't even know you had in the morning. Nevertheless, if you look at your to-do list after two hours of emails, this whole positive feeling has been undone. Because you have been involved, but we have not made any progress.
4. Cat videos
As soon as you sit motivated in front of your computer, the feeling of work comes up. We have made it this far and now there is practically nothing left in between. However, the computer is not as easy to divide into leisure and work space as you often do in your home. Very few people have a separate work computer and a leisure computer. This means that if you want to deal with your to-dos, it can be good that you have an eye on the leisure activities. For example, it hits the people who care about the Facebook, Instagram or other channels the most extreme. There, the club or company account is directly connected to the private account and you have to run this constantly in parallel. You can start very motivated, but as soon as the first cat videos or a headline is switched to the new DIY soap recipe, you are lost in the automatic playlist faster than you can watch.
Even for experienced social media abstinents, the Internet offers many traps. Thanks to the clever links of exciting blog articles, one quickly gets from the short research on "digitalized association work" to team motivation and suddenly one finds oneself in an article about the disturbing factors in the home office. Short intermediate question, didn't you really want to look for something else? Don't worry, now you've read almost the entire article, so you shouldn't let the solution strategies go through the rags.
The solution is in your hands
We all know these disruptive factors and motivational killers, and congratulations the first step has already been taken: we have made ourselves aware of them! This is definitely the first and most important step, because you have to know your enemies. Home-Office, whether for your social commitment or just for your profession, always offers a special challenge, because you are on the one hand the culprit, but at the same time the only person who actively notices it. All other regulating influences, such as group compulsion (works wonderfully if you can watch each other at work) or even the team leadership in sight, are completely missing. But as an independent, freedom-loving person, you shouldn't worry now, because with a few tricks you have it under control.
Be aware of your motivation
Each project also has tasks that are not particularly appealing, which simply cost a little more overcoming. But these tasks are part of the process and are indispensable. At least I assume that if not then simply sort out the task. But the big goal, the meaning behind your task/project should make you aware. For some, it helps to write down big or to visualise as a desktop background. Keep your eye on the big goal.
When you decided to participate in this project, what convinced you then?
What will improve because of your work in this world?
Be aware of your freedom
If you are currently struggling with the form of work and you may feel lonely, then remember that motivational fluctuations are quite normal. Home-Office, of course, also has its pitfalls, especially at times of motivational holes. This is normal and also happens in other forms of work. But be aware of why you wanted to work digitally and what positive things you can draw from it.
What freedoms have you gained and what does it mean for you, for your family?
Be aware of your responsibility
Be aware of your position in your team. Who is waiting for your feedback or results and what a great impact it will have once the entire project is running. You are not alone, even if you do not see your comrades (or rarely), you are part of the big picture. You are working on something important and without you it will not continue. Your work is important and your team needs you.
What role do you play in your team?
Contact your personal motivator
Especially those who are engaged at a distance need a personal motivator. This can be someone from your project environment or from outside. This is a type thing and can also change depending on the situation. It is super important to know your personal motivator and to contact him in his motivational holes. A quick call helps and you remember the reasons why you are fully behind the project! The craziest thing is, sometimes you don't even have to talk about the project for it to work.
With whom can you get new energy with a conversation?
Be nice to you
What you can get tomorrow, postpone also to tomorrow. If your task is not particularly urgent, do yourself the favor and push it up. Call your best friend and ask if you can lead his dog Gassi. Changing wallpaper, distraction and listening to the gut feeling doesn't hurt. And as you know, the best ideas were born in times of recovery!
What kind of distance does the new energy give?
How can you incorporate balancing activities into your everyday life?
Turning to the essential seamands
Digital club work or even home office in professional life can be, like life itself, a roller coaster of emotions. This is normal and you just have to be aware of your greatest weaknesses. The different strategies will hopefully give you a few hand tools to help you get ready for the next motivational hole. In addition to all the solution strategies, it is of course also important in the long term to create a balance. Even if you like to engage digitally, there is nothing against reporting to the local sports club or the nearest shelter (here you will find the nearest shelter – gladly happen!). The mix does it!
What strategies do you use to motivate yourself to work on your computer? I would be happy if you would share your ideas for me and the other readers in the comments.
You may be working with people in the home office or are you looking after digital volunteers? Then the article hopefully gave you an exciting insight into the difficult hours of your team members. If necessary, you will answer the questions from the solution strategies at your next team meeting and maybe such good ideas can be exchanged in the team. This is definitely a good team building measure. More information and exciting tips for the management of digital volunteers and employees are also taught in our online course. Sign up now without obligation and don't miss the start of the next course!
