You aren’t imaging things. It’s hard to get motivated to work during the summer. It’s so hot. Your friends are on vacation. The kids are home.
But you still have emails to send, social media to update, newsletters to publish and the 101 other things you’re asked to do as a nonprofit communicator.
Assuming you can’t just skip work all summer, how can you make it through the next few months?
Here are seven ideas to help you stay motivated at work during summer:
Look at Your Work in a Different Way
Instead of thinking of your lead newsletter article as a burden, think of how it will educate, motivate, or challenge your supporters. Or you can think of it as an important part of your professional development. You are enhancing your writing and marketing skills.
Prioritize Your To-Do List
If your to-do list is overwhelming, narrow it down to the three tasks you HAVE to do today. Then go back and add your other tasks as you go.
Break Your Work Into Smaller Steps
Anything you are working on starts with one smaller step. Don’t worry about the end result and just start with step one.
Just Get Started Already
Sometimes you are just not going to want to do something no matter how much you try to motivate yourself. This is when you Just. Have. To. Start. Working. As I mentioned above, breaking the work into smaller steps should help. It maybe time to take a deep breath and dive in.
Get Hyped
Got a song that gets you pumped? Or maybe a motivational speaker or article can help spark that work? Find it and use it! I am currently on a Chappelle Roan kick.
Reward Yourself
Create some motivation by giving yourself a treat when you complete a task. Chocolate, time on TikTok, a walk – whatever you think of as a treat can work.
Celebrate Your Wins
Keep a daily “Small Wins Diary,” regularly talk about small wins with others (Pass Holders, have a space in our Community devoted to this), and refocus your thoughts away from frustrating “how” questions to the more fulfilling “why” questions related to why you do your work.
