Some jobs are different every day. If you work directly with the public, it’s likely that even though your day to day tasks might be mostly the same, dealing with different people, their problems and situations, helping to meet their needs and improve their days, means that no two days are quite the same. You might have a job where your days are vastly different, and even the more mundane tasks are overwhelmed by differing challenges and situations. But, not all careers are like this.

In some professions, working in a lab, or research facility are great examples, while things can change, massively, it’s usually over time. You can easily be working on the same project for months, if not years. While the results can be worthwhile, and your tasks within the project might be slightly different, it can be slow work, and it’s all too easy to start to get bored and lose motivation.

When this happens, mistakes are made, things start to go wrong, and projects can take even longer than they were supposed to. So, how do you stay motivated and fulfilled, when your days are mostly the same and results are slow to come? Let’s take a look at some ideas.

Credit

Give Everyday Focus

Each day should have its own targets and goals, and these should be seen as small steps towards the end of your project. Ask yourself what you can focus on each day that will move you further on. It might be something small like finding a new 96 deep well plate for your lab, to improve results. You might just need to clean equipment or type up notes. Make yourself a to-do list at the start of the day, to give each shift clear focus. Then, start ticking them off.

Make Changes Elsewhere

Your work life might be the same every day, but that doesn’t mean that the rest of your life has to be. Keep balance and stimulate your mind by making changes in other areas. Start walking to work or taking a different route. Try new hobbies and have a go at new recipes. Find ways to make new friends and other ways to give your home routine a shake-up.

Celebrate Your Successes

On a long-term project, your day to day wins might be relatively small. But, that doesn’t mean that they aren’t worth celebrating. Reward yourself, and your team, for your efforts, even though the victories may be tiny.

Keep Learning

One of the best ways to motivate yourself is with continual learning. Try to learn something new every day. Be inquisitive; look for new ways to expand your knowledge, and ask questions. Your work will always be more interesting if you are always learning.

Change Your Processes

Your project might be the same, but does that mean that your processes need to be? Could you go about things a different way? Or tackle tasks in a different order? If possible, get out of the office and work outside for a while, or just go for a walk on your lunch break to get some fresh air.