Why Are We Losing Motivation During the Quarantine?

Five Reasons People May Lack Motivation During Quarantine

Why have we had trouble getting out of bed to get to work even when it is 10-feet away? Eight weeks into the quarantine, and it is clear that the majority of people are beginning to struggle. Like most people, you probably experienced an initial rush of adrenaline at the beginning of the restrictions. But over the past two months in-house, we have exhausted our adrenaline, productivity has decreased, and a sense of fatigue or disinterest has increased. People are finding this disconnection from society difficult and, more so, struggling with keeping a positive mental health. For example, some people are working longer to make up for a sense of lack of productivity, while others are having trouble seeing the end-goal or impact from their work. This abrupt work from home experience has not and is not the best way for all folks to do work. But there are a lot of remarkable remote work solutions that can help you find meaning in your work and support your organization’s longevity. While it may seem that the only solution is to open up businesses again, there are ways to support your work and personal life under this quarantine. Ultimately, organizations need to stop the employee engagement gap from growing, propel their people to maximize their input, and understand the range of issues employees are facing amidst this crisis. Here are five reasons why people might not be motivated during this quarantine:

1. Anxiety – This quarantine has put people in an anxious state; most people are persistently worrying about what can happen to them, their family, and their career. This fear about the coronavirus crisis’s impact has caused folks to neglect the benefit of doing work and foreshadow the worst.
2. Distractions – During this indoor strand, the temptation to be distracted has increased. Indoor chores, children, pets, social media, isolation – the lockdown has unlimited amounts for distractions. It has become clear that when our attention goes out the window, we attend to non-urgent tasks to keep busy and avoid tackling the issues that need addressing. This, in turn, leads to people trying to compensate for time lost, feeling lost or behind, and losing the structure of their day.
3. Environment – Enforced work from home is different from choosing to work from home. The house is overfilled with children, parents, and pets that all require attention, specific needs, and open space. It can be overwhelming to manage all the external factors and focus on your work when you have multiple things to attend to.
4. Burnout – This quarantine has put everyone’s mental health to the test. Many individuals are unable to dictate how much work they should be doing. Also, the lack of connection with their team has made them burden themselves will loads of work, minimal support, and the stress of completing it at an average or faster pace than before the quarantine.
5. Lack of Rewards – It has become difficult for people to acknowledge their effort when there are no clear end-goal or fewer moments to reward oneself. Most office folks take moments to reward themselves by catching a break, chatting with colleagues, making a quick meal, and so on. However, now that we are at home, it can be challenging to figure out when to reward ourselves or see the finish line of our work.

This article also aims to provide five ways to help you and your workforce regain a sense of purpose, direction, and focus within their roles:

1. Create a Daily Routine – Structure a routine that works for you. Set up your workspace and work certain hours, plan your breaks, cook dinner after work, have a steady sleeping schedule, etc. By doing this, you can make the most out of your time, hold yourself accountable, and have a sense of purpose.
2. Begin to Reach Out – Your team is feeling isolated, fearful, and anxious. Reach out to your organization, and stay connected throughout the quarantine. When someone is sought after and heard, they feel valued and appreciated.
3. Bridge in Digital Workplace Technology – The best way to alleviate workplace stress and fears that all organizations are feeling is by communicating effectively. However, not all organizations have the technology cable of supporting their people. Tools like Microsoft Teams and Viva Engage are some of Office 365 best digital workplace solutions that unite people, increase productivity, and deliver value.
4. Strive to Learn Something New – When we don’t have a sense of direction or progress, we begin to question ourselves negatively. This quarantine is a great time to try new things, such as test new recipes, learn a software program, create a Power App, investing in an extension course or license, etc. People can feel accomplished and optimistic about the future when they are proactively building up their tool kit.
5. Mentor your People – Leaders in the organization need to manage, protect, and support their teams. They need to ensure everything is covered: taking care of working from home logistics, using the right digital tools, and making sure colleagues can connect and collaborate. Without proper communication in place, people can not set goals, work efficiently, or receive help. Therefore, the most critical responsibility of managers is to ensure that their team could run at full quarantine capacity.

We Are Here to Help

We want to remind you that Klarinet Solutions is committed to supporting your organization. Our goal is to best understand your organization in order to optimize internal corporate communications, improve workflow efficiency, and empower leaders with the tools they need to unite their people, especially in this crisis. If there is anything we can do personally to help, please feel free to reach out to us here.