How do you stay motivated and productive?

Sorry to hear about it...

Motivation is an unfortunately difficult placeholder word when a lot of other words and descriptions could work better. Could it be that your preferred perspectives and roles are blocked by others at work, and your ability to believe in a good outcome is compromised? Just as one example. In this case it might help to reframe your role and your tools, in a way that still fits your skills. In this way, differing descriptions of the problem can sometimes offer new leverage.

Same with "boring". Can your perspective on boredom be described in a different way that highlights solutions that weren't on the table before? I have one friend who finds a lack of ideation boring, because he's a conceptualizer. I have another friend who finds a lack of physical stimulation boring.

And we would need to know, are you only temporarily comfortable ruling options out before trying them, and are you eventually going to feel more willing to allow for random unknowns and outside possibilities and try them? In such a case we could put switching jobs externally and internally both back on the mood board, which at least gives you more local control over the general process.

There's a lot of ground to cover but I hope you find yourself getting some good ideas as you ask around. Good luck and may you find yourself in an awesome new work situation.

This is bad advice, so don't do this, but here's what I do when I have a big project to tackle and want to work through it: I basically bribe myself with snacks or other stuff I like. Two more hours and I'll go make a peppermint tea with honey and lemon. Four hours in, I'll sit with legs up the wall in yoga pose. Six hours have some gummy bears. Etc etc.

It's not a good practice for all-encompassing stuff like the job overall, but for specific dreaded projects it tends to work well!

The other thing you might like to check out is Cal Newport's book "So Good They Can't Ignore You." His premise is basically that all jobs suck and are just jobs, and how you train yourself to "enjoy" them is to become the expert at the processes and things you do and do them so well that you end up enjoying the work for the sheer satisfaction of it. I don't know if I'm explaining that part well but basically you kind of learn to enjoy the frustration parts by learning to master them.

When all else fails, become friends with your coworkers and now you have friends at work to bond with and that makes it enjoyable!

If you really hate your job, quit and find a different one. If you hate the tasks, asks for different tasks.

I know this might not be an option though. So some things that help me to do tasks that I hate doing is to break things up. Set a small goal, accomplish that, and then take a break. Go for a quick walk or grab a snack or read something. Rinse and repeat. Slow and steady wins the race. Eventually the larger task is done. And while you're doing the smaller task, try not to get distracted. Manage your distractions and just let yourself get distracted in your breaks. You can take a lot of breaks lol.

I also find that doing random things to make myself happy let's me enjoy my time working a little more. Like having some nice snacks at my desk, or wearing really comfy clothing, or listening to good music. Then I'm not just wishing I could be done, because at least I'm eating these snacks.

I've been here. It sucks. I really would suggest trying to find a job you like doing a little more. Good luck!

You sound like you might be burned out. If that's a possibility, my advice for you would be: get some professional help. A lot of psychologists offer a free first session. Take one.

If you don't want to do that, I would advise concentrating on improving everything that isn't your job instead.

Spend quality time with you r family. Exercise regularly. Eat healthy. Reconnect with old friends, or make new ones. Do some creative hobby from time to time. Sleep enough hours.

Those things compound. It will be much easier to endure those boring tasks at work if the rest of your life is enjoyable.

And you might find it easier to find a different job once you're have a more positive mindset.

The worst that can happen is that you feel better and your work situation doesn't change.

If you happen to be a Christian I recommend Spiritual Depression by David Martyn Lloyd-Jones. Addresses many of the reasons people get in a funk or a rut.

From what you say it sounds like leaving is not an option. Can you make the job better in some way? Can you automate anything, and not tell your employer, so you look more productive but they don't know why? ;) Learning some bash and python to script stuff, could help here (and be v useful long-term skills). Make copious notes, to help with the context switching? If you're pretty much stuck, can you reduce outgoings and save some money, in order that one day you could work for a less-paid but more satisfying job? That could be a motivator, if you had a financial goal to reach, and could see yourself getting towards that daily? Do you absolutely have to live where you do, if local job market isn't fantastic? Is there some compromise involving moving "a little way down the road"? Just some ideas.... trying to help :)

I don't, and I don't care.

Productivity comes and goes. If I feel good, I'm productive naturally. If I've got a reason to be motivated, I'll be productive. Otherwise I might not be that great.

I have standards which are above what others, including managers, expect of me. I don't communicate these to anyone, in fact I don't have them written down. These are so internalized that I get anxious about failing them, in the same way I might about a deadline. This is where I get my motivation.

Motivation is fickle. The longer I've fallen back onto standards and motivation the greater the chance of slipping the standards. When that happens, the motivation evaporates.

If I feel good, I'm productive naturally. How much energy do I have? Energy comes from sleeping, eating, and exercising. If I'm doing those three things well, I don't have to worry about productivity at all.

None of this was set up with 'productivity' in mind. I really don't care about it. My 'standards' influence but don't include productivity. I sleep, eat, and exercise not because I work better but because I feel better.

Obsessing over 'productivity' feels like a mental health trap to me, like money.

> Also, switching jobs [...] externally doesn't seem to be a likely option

Why is that?

Remember why you started.

If the situation/conditions are different now and you are not happy or your expectations are not fulfilling: Time for change ?

Spite has been a great motivator for me lately. Be like Michael Jordan and take it personal:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ss5Ndz0tn9o

Then do the bare minimum as quickly as possible so you have time to plan and do what's necessary to change your situation.

Time for a new job. You've probably been there too long and have gotten fed up with the way of doing things.

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> It's just a job, not a career

What's wrong with this? You realize that if you died today your job would get posted before your obituary, don't you?

Don't let your job mean too much to you. Do the job, get paid, and find meaning, community, and fulfillment elsewhere.