LACK OF MOTIVATION: Six Reasons to Avoid Work
“Lack of motivation” is a dangerously vague euphemism for unwillingness to work. Let’s clarify it.
If you or anyone else do not want to work, it happens for one of the following reasons.
First, there is a lack of “what.”
You do not understand what you must accomplish—you have no picture of the endpoint. Naturally, you cannot organize your work if you do not know what you want to achieve. The only cure is finding it out. Communicate to reduce uncertainty: ask questions, and do not be afraid to look less intelligent than you are (or than you think you look now).
Second, you do not know why you do this—what is there in it for you, what internal need will it fulfill.
The result has no value, or its (subjective) value is so small that you cannot exert effort.
If there is no value, and you are working in a crappy joint, then procrastination might be your healthy response to the unhealthy orders. {PROCRASTINATION, CRAPPY JOINT, VALUE, “Bullshit jobs” by David Graeber}
However, why will you (or anyone) work for such an organization? And if you do, why not make an effort and leave it ASAP? Unlikely you will enjoy your life if you spend it on nonsense. {PERMIES}
We have a subdivision of the second reason.
Life is changeful, and what once had value for you lost it. You continue moving by inertia, yet the journey lost its pleasure. Analyze it. If you are sure the value is gone, switch to another activity with value.
Third, there is a lack of how—you do not have enough resources (tools, skills, or knowledge) to approach the work.
The absence of feedback applies here as well. When the goal is too far, and the delay is enormous, you must have feedback on your way toward it. Otherwise, you do not know if you are getting closer to it. Figure out how to get the feedback and from whom. If you cannot get it from others, find a way to provide it yourself.
For instance, if you write a thesis and do it alone, having a daily writing quota might serve as feedback. You can agree with yourself that you write 1000 or 1500 words daily. Forget about the quality—you are writing the first draft. Write it. You can finalize the first draft of a master’s thesis in 20 work days—less than one month of work. {SMALL WINS, ENDPOINT TIERS, ECPM, FEEDBACK, DELAY}
Fourth, you depend on someone else’s input—too many people and their outputs stand between you and the endpoint.
Your work does not receive input when needed, and this situation—the chronic lack of control over work—demotivates you. The more dependent you are on other people in your work, the more stress you experience.
Eliminate the dependencies. Persuade the supervisor to help you. At least make the supervisor aware of the problems that hinder you.
Fifth, you might be tired, hungry, or not recovered from the previous day’s burden. Maybe you are not healthy or got up earlier than you should. According to some data, seven out of eight people experience social jetlag—i.e., they must start the workday before their organism awakens. {For its effect on our health and links to other publications, see}
Only the sixth reason can be considered the “lack of motivation”—the lack of will. You have no self-discipline to do what you understand and know how to do—you procrastinate or postpone the effort.
Arthur Schopenhauer once noted, “Willpower is to the mind like a strong blind man who carries on his shoulders a lame man who can see.”
If you lack self-discipline, practice it and force yourself to work.