How to Stay Motivated at Work When You Want to Quit

Feeling like you want to quit your job because you’ve lost motivation is an extremely common experience. But giving up altogether may not be the best choice.

There are many strategies you can try first to regain enthusiasm and joy in your work.

Staying motivated at work when you’re feeling demotivated takes effort, but it pays off. Avoid quitting a job impulsively when you may just be temporarily feeling uninspired.

1. Take a Long Vacation

Burnout from exhaustion is one of the top reasons people lose motivation at work and want to quit. If you haven’t taken an extended break in years, you’re overdue.

Book a vacation for 2-3 weeks if possible. The longer duration gives you time to deeply rest and recenter yourself. Practices like meditation, journaling and yoga during your vacation can enhance the renewal effect.

While away, consciously release any tension or negativity you’ve accumulated. Come back to work with a sunny, optimistic mindset, ready to give 100%. Time away helps you gain perspective on aspects of your job you miss and appreciate.

2. Set Engaging Goals Aligned With Your Values

Are you just dragging through each workday with no higher purpose? Lack of meaningful goals drains motivation fast.

Take time to reflect on your core values, strengths and interests, then set ambitious but achievable goals that align with them. Having a fresh purpose makes your daily tasks feel worthwhile.

Goals around helping others, learning new skills, taking on leadership roles or starting new initiatives are incredibly motivating for most people. Track your progress and celebrate achievements.

3. Increase Variety in Your Daily Routine

Repeating the exact same routine every single day leads to boredom, which quickly destroys motivation. Starting each morning and ending each shift in the same mundane way sucks the joy out of work.

Spice up your daily work schedule with changes, both small and large. Adjust when you eat lunch, drive a different commute route, read a book instead of your phone on breaks. Learn new skills and take on special projects.

Variety boosts enthusiasm. Keep mixing up your day while still accomplishing your core tasks. Your motivation will thrive with a touch of chaos.

4. Measure and Chart Your Progress

It’s easy to overlook your achievements when heads down grinding each day. But progress is a huge motivator.

Start recording metrics like sales numbers, new customer accounts, page views, conversion rates, errors reduced,etc. Seeing concrete markers of your progress keeps you striving.

Visuals enhance motivation more. Turn your stats into simple charts showing your progress over weeks or months. Examples like growth trends or performance rankings compared to colleagues can inspire you.

5. Connect with Passionate Colleagues

People are social creatures. Isolation at work breeds demotivation. We thrive when part of a purposeful team. Seek out and spend more time interacting with colleagues who exude passion. Their fire is contagious.

Share ideas, collaborate on projects, have lunch together, or socialize after work. But limit contact with negative co-workers who dampen morale – don’t let them poison your motivation.

Surround yourself with the bright, ambitious people who make you feel supported and inspired. Their energy motivates you to achieve more.

6. Prioritize High-Quality Sleep

Sleep deprivation destroys workplace enthusiasm. When you’re dragging all day hopped up on caffeine, motivation for anything evaporates. Prioritize getting 7-9 hours of quality sleep per night.

Optimize your environment – cool temperature, complete darkness, minimal noise. Avoid using electronics before bedtime. Go to bed early enough to allow 8 hours in bed. The better you feel physically, the higher your motivation levels.

Don’t underestimate sleep’s impact. Aim for nights where you wake up refreshed and ready to seize the day. Your motivation will skyrocket.

7. Find a Work Mentor

A mentoring relationship provides guidance, support and motivation. Your mentor believes in your potential and invested in your growth. Their wisdom and support keeps you striving even through challenges.

Seek out a passionate, experienced colleague you admire and respect. Ask if they’d mentor you – most will be flattered. Meet regularly and be open about your goals, challenges and desire for growth.

Quality mentoring gives you a morale boost when things get tough. Every meeting motivates you to reach higher. The investment in your potential pays the mentor back in loyalty.

8. Reward Small Milestones

Celebrating major accomplishments like promotions is important. But highlighting smaller progress boosts motivation and morale tremendously.

Did you implement a new system, resolve a long-standing issue, or finish a tough project? Recognize these tiny triumphs. Keep a journal detailing daily progress and wins. Review it when motivation lags.

Treat yourself to lunch, experiences, or gifts that commemorate major milestones. Celebrating each achievement makes you eager to reach the next one. Stay motivated with regular small rewards.

9. Schedule Play Time

Laughing and having fun makes work feel less like drudgery. People with a playful mindset are more passionate and motivated. Schedule regular socializing, team building activities and de-stressing “fun breaks”.

Tell jokes, decorate the office for holidays, play pranks on April Fool’s Day, or do dress-up theme days. Order goodies on Fridays or set aside time to just mingle over food and music. See colleagues as friends, not just co-workers.

Playfulness creates bonds and support that increase motivation. Don’t let work get too serious. Lightheartedness improves morale and job enjoyment.

10. Declutter and Organize Your Physical Workspace

Clutter creates mental clutter. Your motivation suffers when your surroundings are messy and disorganized. Set aside 30 minutes each week to thoroughly tidy, sort and clear your workspace.

Store things conveniently, neatly and accessibly. Group related items together. Only keep current projects and necessary tools within reach. Remove distractions and personal items.

A clean workspace helps you focus. Streamlining your physical environment untangles thoughts and motivates clear action. Escape clutter-induced demotivation through organization.

11. Dedicate Time for Learning Every Week

One of the fastest ways to become disengaged and demotivated at work is feeling you’re not developing or advancing. Schedule weekly learning to combat stagnation.

Read industry books and blogs, listen to career-related podcasts, take online courses, attend seminars, learn from colleagues. Growth is motivational fuel.

Develop skills strategically. Seek opportunities to learn the abilities needed for your dream job or business. Becoming more valuable boosts workplace motivation and job security.

12. Organize Regular Team Building Activities

Is there office politics, gossip, and excessive competitiveness where you work? Toxic team dynamics are incredibly demotivating. Foster camaraderie and morale through shared experiences.

Plan regular out-of-office activities, like mini-golf, escape rooms, bowling, trivia nights, dinners, volunteering events. Bonding together reduces friction that drains motivation.

Make occasions celebratory by highlighting recent group or individual wins. Celebrate milestones and achievements as a team. Social motivation inspires greater unity and results.

13. Adopt a Solutions-Focused Mindset

It’s easy slip into complaining about all the negatives at work, which worsens morale. But determined pessimism sabotages motivation. Respond to challenges with a solutions mindset instead.

Rather than harping on problems, immediately pivot to brainstorming constructive actions you can take. Stay future-focused. Think “what’s the next step?” not “woe is me”.

Avoid co-workers stuck in victim mode. Negativity drags everyone down. Rally people to see setbacks as growth opportunities. Optimism and solutions thinking motivate.

14. Take Regular Movement Breaks

Sitting hunched over a computer all day denies your body the movement it needs to function optimally. Get your blood pumping regularly with exercise breaks.

Go for a quick walk outside, do squats or jog in place, take the stairs, stretch. Moving your body energizes and motivates your mind. Schedule fitness as part of your workday.

Ask about standing desks too. Even slow walking while working combats the mental fatigue from excessive sitting. Don’t let inactivity sap your motivation.

15. Cross-Train to New Departments Periodically

Doing the exact same role for years breeds boredom and lack of challenge. Negotiate with your manager to rotate to a different department or shadow other teams periodically.

Training across divisions combats monotony. Exposure to new people, skills and thinking builds empathy and big picture perspective. You gain insider insights you take back to your role.

Cross-training boosts motivation through variety and continuous development. Even a couple weeks in a new department can reignite workplace passion.

16. Work Reasonable Hours

Extreme overtime and 24/7 availability lead to burnout. Allowing work to bleed into all your evenings and weekends leaves you exhausted and unmotivated.

Set clear boundaries. Turn off email on your phone after hours and don’t let work encroach on weekend. Communicate reasonable availability expectations to your manager.

Honor your non-work time to pursue hobbies and socialize. You need balanced mental and emotional nourishment from fulfilling activities beyond work to stay motivated. Don’t become a workplace martyr.

17. Soak Up the Sun

Vitamin D provides a mood and energy lift. If you work in a sun-deprived office, motivation may sink. Get outside for quick breaks to soak up the sunshine.

Position your desk near windows to maximize light exposure. Go outside when you need an afternoon motivation pick-me-up. Walk or eat lunch in green spaces. Take calls strolling outside rather than at your desk.

If your workplace itself lacks sunlight, ask about installing skylights or more windows. Don’t underestimate the impact sunlight has on motivation and vitality.

18. Make Your Commute More Pleasant

If you start and end each workday frazzled, frustrated, and exhausted from a hellish commute, your job satisfaction plummets. Reclaim your commute to boost motivation.

Catch up on reading, listen to podcasts, relax with music. If driving is draining, try public transit. Walk or bike when possible for exercise benefits. Make the most of the time rather than becoming enraged.

Chat to your supervisor about flex hours to avoid rush hour, or negotiate remote work days to avoid commuting at all. Don’t let your commute ruin your job happiness.

19. Celebrate Work Milestones

Work hard, play hard. Earning rewards for your efforts makes you feel valued and motivated you to keep progressing. Celebrate milestones like work anniversaries, completed projects, meeting sales targets, etc.

Go out for nice lunches, plan office parties, treat yourself to some luxury. Big wins deserve a toast with colleagues. And don’t wait for manager organized celebrations – proactively reward yourself and your team.

Just be sure rewards align with your budget and health habits. Thoughtful celebrations invigorate you to strive for the next goal. Enjoy the fruits of your labor.

20. Take a Tech Sabbatical

Do you compulsively check your phone, email, and social media during every spare moment? Tech overload frazzles your mind and damages your ability to focus. The result is demotivation.

Give yourself a short sabbatical from unnecessary technology each day. Turn off notifications. Avoid scrolling during spare moments. Take an evening or weekend offline. Give your mind stillness.

Reset yourself with restorative activities like walking, reading, meditating, and face-to-face socializing. You return motivated, focused and mentally renewed. Don’t let tech burnout zap your motivation.

21. Set Morning Motivation Rituals

How you spend your mornings sets the tone for your day. Rushing out stressed puts you in reactive mode right from the start. Begin each workday with motivation rituals to start energized.

Wake up early enough to move slowly. Start with mindfulness practices like meditation, reflection or stretching. Listen to or read inspirational material. Eat a nourishing breakfast.

Drive, walk or commute with motivation-boosting audio programs or books. Arrive to work centered, uplifted and purpose-driven. Mornings motivate.

22. Take a Week-Long Staycation

If you can’t manage a proper extended vacation, a staycation of a week or more can provide a mini-reset. Take time off just to relax and rejuvenate at home. Say no to honey-do lists and social obligations.

Catch up on much needed rest and self-care. Do light reading, meditate, take baths, go for walks. Allow your mind to unwind without an agenda. Recharge your motivation battery.

Staycations satiate your need for rest without using up your vacation days. Even a week’s staycation uplifts you and boosts motivation upon returning to work.

23. Ask for Meaningful Work

Few things demotivate like feeling you’re wasting your time on work that’s pointless or unfulfilling. Instead of tolerating a terrible task, speak up respectfully.

Schedule a meeting with your manager. Explain you’re eager to contribute more value through work aligned with your strengths and goals. Provide suggestions if possible.

Most managers want motivated team members and will try to incorporate your needs if approached collaboratively. Find meaning through assignments that matter to you and grow your skills.

24. Change Your Mindset About Challenges

When you view difficulties as personal attacks or unfair treatment, your motivation plunges. Adopt a growth mindset that embraces challenges as learning opportunities, no matter how unpleasant in the moment.

Remind yourself “this too shall pass”. Concentrate on gaining knowledge from each trial so you emerge wiser and more skilled. Any hardship makes you more resilient and capable for the next one.

Stay motivated with calm optimism no matter what arises. Maintain faith in your ability to turn leads into gold if you put in the effort to learn from them. What feels like misery may be a disguised blessing

25. Find Work That Sparks Your Passion

If your motivation chronically stays low despite your best efforts, consider your job may no longer be the right fit. Listen to your inner wisdom. Are you bored? Burned out? Stuck in the wrong culture or role?

Rather than force yourself to stick with unfulfilling work, start exploring what does spark your passion. Update your resume and network with contacts who can connect you to more meaningful opportunities.

Stay inspired by pivoting your career until you find the work that motivates you to jump out of bed each morning excited to start your day. Don’t waste your precious time and energy where it’s not valued.

Staying Motivated Is Up To You

Motivation fluctuates naturally. Ups and downs are normal even when you love your job. Use the 25 tips above to regain motivation during low ebbs and re-energize yourself.

But also know when it’s time to move on rather than trying to force motivation that just isn’t there. Listen to your intuition. Stay self-aware.

Your enthusiasm and joy for work depends on how well the job fits you. Keep exploring until you find the right match.

Stay true to your values, play to your strengths and keep growing. The right opportunities to excite you await. With self-care, determination and inner wisdom, you will always find motivation again.

In Closing

It’s normal to experience fluctuating motivation levels at work. New challenges, monotony, excessive stress, or lack of work-life balance can all sap your enthusiasm temporarily.

Try the tips above to boost motivation when you hit a slump. But know that it’s okay to move on if your job is draining you. There is always another opportunity waiting to ignite your passion.

Stay mindful of your needs, keep growing, and don’t be afraid to make a change when something no longer feels right. Maintaining motivation requires self-care and self-awareness. Prioritize both and you’ll succeed.