Our first months at a job are often full of energy and excitement. For people who are new, getting a job is an important step. We are happy and want to show our best work during this time.

But for some people, this feeling does not last long. Motivation can become less when we start to feel the hard parts of everyday work. When this happens, we do less work and it becomes harder to do our jobs.

Top 4 reasons for demotivation

1. Fear of failure

   Not having enough skills or knowledge can make you feel bad and take away your motivation. You may feel less sure because your English is not perfect. Or maybe you made a mistake at work because you had to learn something new fast. These situations can stop you from doing important parts of your job.

   Tips to overcome it: Be good to yourself. Remember that you are still learning and will make mistakes. Understand that it takes time to get good at your job and get used to work culture. Stop blaming yourself, but take responsibility. Find out what you need to improve. Look at your mistakes and learn from them. Keep getting better at your skills. Take a language class, find chances to talk to people, or get a career mentor. Be active in making yourself better.

2. You feel that your job is beneath you

   Most of us have to start over with our careers when we move to Canada. We take a lower-level job or a survival job. If you were already a manager or senior level in your home country, you may find this hard to accept. Sometimes you may not see the point of doing some tasks and may be thinking: “I used to solve big problems for my company! Now I don’t even need to think to do this job!” This bad feeling can grow and take all your energy.

   Tips to overcome it: Change how you think! Do not let pride stop you from doing a good job. Remember that all jobs are important and should be done well.
   If you are in a temporary job, see it as part of your change. It is only a way to get started. It is not forever.

   Learn everything you can from the job. No one is too perfect to learn new skills. You could improve your English or learn more about Canadian work culture. If anything, see it as a way to grow patience and strength. Keep looking for a better job. If you really can’t do it anymore and can wait for a better chance, then quit. But remember, there must have been a reason why you took the job at first. Sometimes having a job you don’t like is better than having no job at all.

3. You take on too much

   Are you the worker who keeps taking more tasks? Too much work can lead to stress and burnout. Some people think that being very busy is a sign that they are wanted and needed. Your boss and co-workers might see it differently. They may think that you are too eager or easy to push around.

 
Tips to overcome it: Learn to say no. Stop wanting to always be working. You should:

• Say no to extra work especially when it will affect the quality and time of your main tasks. You should not be scared to say no, especially when you have a good reason. You can say nicely, “I would love to help but I need to work on ____” or “My priority is finishing ____ which I need to turn in by _____. I’d be happy to discuss helping out after.”
• Don’t do someone else’s job. Instead of helping, your co-worker might see it as interfering.
• Don’t volunteer for tasks when you know that you won’t have time to finish them.
• Take time in doing your main tasks. That is what you were hired for. Use your time to do high-quality work. This will show you are a good employee.
• Respect yourself and take care of your needs. Don’t work outside of office hours. You will be taking time away from self-care or family time. You need these moments to get your energy and excitement for work back.

Read: 5 habits to help you achieve work-life balance for more tips.

4. You feel that you are not valued

   It can make you less excited if you feel ignored by your boss or if you didn’t get a promotion even though you did a great job. This can also happen if your boss does not listen to your ideas or give any feedback on your work. It can stop you from doing your best and helping in a meaningful way.

   Tips to overcome it: There could be many reasons for this situation. Maybe your boss is too busy. They could be dealing with important things you don’t know about. Another reason might be not telling them what you did. You might not have shared your achievements clearly. Talk to your boss and tell them your concerns. Ask for regular meetings if possible. You don’t have to make it all about what you did. It can just be updates on your projects. You can also share your ideas during the meeting. Keep it short and clear. This is a good way to tell your boss about what you did well while sharing your ideas.

Resist negativity!

We often try to find a way out when we feel unhappy or not interested in something. Some people might use drugs or alcohol to feel better. Others might talk about others to feel better about themselves or to get back at their boss.

Negativity never solves anything. It can only hurt your mind and body. To do better at work, think about the good things about your job. This could be a flexible schedule, a chance to leave the house and meet people, or small benefits like vacation pay.

Remember, things might be hard now, but they will get better. Try to make the situation better by changing how you think, talking about it, making yourself better, or looking for new chances. You can do it!
 
Article updated June 6, 2023.
 
Sources: How to keep going when you are demotivated at work, Mihir Patkar, Lifehacker; Feeling unmotivated at work? 7 ways to get back in the groove, Lindsay Kolowich, Hubspot; and Three reasons why you’re unmotivated at work (and how to beat them), Melody J. Wilding, The Muse. All accessed April 4, 2018.