How do I get my mojo at work??

plzhelpmesave!

Hi all

I work in a "part time" role in the voluntary sector as a project development worker. been doing it or just over a year now and at first really loved it as I was back at work for the first time after having my kids, youngest is still at nursery.

My problem is that I don't have as much confidence in myself as other people seem to. I often work from home, on my own on the phones etc, and go out when I have organised meetings or activities. But I don't really follow things through and see things through to the end - in a way just get lazy as I am working from home so no one to really answer too. I have no set structure or routine and just do things as and when - how do I get out of this?? I am also scared of growing the work that I am doing and feel I don't really know what I am doing, but somehow it all just comes together.

I procrastinate and put things off and off until the absolute last minute and then panic and have sleepless nights over things.

Everyone tells me I am doing a great job but I'm always thinking about ways of getting out of doing things... or putting them off. why?? I'm glad to be back at work, and have a provisional 3 year contract - which is something tobe so grateful for in these times.

The pay is not brilliant and the lack of structure may be what is demotivaing me...so how can I get my mojo back?? I really wanted to start off the new year with a positive go getting attitude, but slipping very quickly into "can't be bothered mode, i only work part time, they don't pay me much" etc

Any help gratefully received!

getmore4less

How do you track your time to make sure you are only working the hours that are paid?

I think the first thing to do is get some structure.

Set up a work place that is used just for work.

Set aside time for the job, have say 80% on fixed hours and that way you need to fill the time doing stuff that needs doing, leave the other 20% to handle the last minutes and time for stuff outside your set hours.

I would make the set work blocks 3-4 hours so about 1/2 a traditional days job, they need to be long enough to get stuck in, if you work a full day 2 blocks have a set lunch break time and get away from the "office".

Make sure you have proper days off where you do nothing associated with work.

When I worked from home it was very tempting to multi task work with personal stuff like taking breaks to put out the washing, try to avoid this.

Another technique that can work is to do reports even if you don't have to.
A weekly report to yourself with the achievments of the week, new things that need doing, problems that need sorting. if there are things that should be done but can be put off for weeks they will stand out and you get fed up of reporting them each week so you get them done. There is a motivation for stuff to go straight into the acheivements section.

donquine

plzhelpmesave! wrote: »

I often work from home, on my own on the phones etc, and go out when I have organised meetings or activities. But I don't really follow things through and see things through to the end - in a way just get lazy as I am working from home so no one to really answer too. I have no set structure or routine and just do things as and when - how do I get out of this?? I am also scared of growing the work that I am doing and feel I don't really know what I am doing, but somehow it all just comes together.

Working from home is actually really hard to do because you need an awful lot of self discipline. You can't treat it as 'working from home'; mentally you need to see it as 'working from another office.' Get up first thing in the morning, shower, put on work clothes and do your work from a dedicated space within fixed hours.

If you intend to work for 3 hours, decide, say, you're going to work from 9 to 12.30. Don't start at 10, get distracted, do some housework and start again at 11.30. Also, don't try working in your PJs even if no one can see you - you won't be in the right frame of mind. It is very much a case of tricking yourself into believing you're in another 'proper' workplace.

PlutoinCapricorn

I am interested in this as I work at home myself, although I am self employed and I am assuming that you are an employee.

My first question is whether you work at home by choice, or whether it is a requirement of the job because of shortage of desk space etc. If the former, you may want to reconsider, and if the company wants you to work from home you may need to discuss the related problems with them.

I have found that working at home is definitely not for everyone: some people like company, they need supervision and interaction and office surroundings to perform. I am the opposite: my efficiency, productivity and effectiveness soar when I work alone at home, and it takes no self discipline at all as I enjoy the work.

I am not sure whether it is your environment or the work itself that is causing the problems. If it is the way you work, then other posters have made some very good suggestions.

Strider590

When working from home its always best to separate an area of the house and treat it as an office, you go to work when you walk into that room. Hell.. I even know people who built large sheds in the garden for just this purpose.