Not in the Mood to Work? Here's the Solution

Those in their productive years have generally gone through seasons of not feeling in the mood to work. Doing anything feels draining, not because we deliberately want to laze around, but because we have lost the drive or motivation to do our work. Eight hours feels so long, and time is wasted with no significant results.

Of course, this does not happen without a reason. When your mood for work disappears, do not just leave it alone. Immediately find the source of the problem by checking your health from various aspects.

Are You Healthy in Terms of …

1. Physical

In a healthy body, there is a strong soul. Your physical condition greatly affects your mood . You may feel healthy, but is your lifestyle really healthy?

Have you been lacking sleep lately? Have you eaten the wrong foods so your digestion feels off? Could it be that you are not exercising enough, so your body is not in good shape? Are you experiencing certain symptoms, such as dizziness, weakness, body aches, or a cough/cold?

If you feel that your health is not in good condition, take time to care for yourself. Self-care is biblical because our bodies are God's temple. A healthy body will support a better mood at work.

Do you not know that you are God's temple and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? If anyone destroys God's temple, God will destroy him. For God's temple is holy, and that temple is you. – 1 Corinthians 3:16-17

2. Mental

Mental health or emotional health is just as important as physical health, but we often do not realize it or deliberately ignore it.

When your mood for work drops drastically, ask yourself these things:

• Am I feeling pressure from work or from the people around me?
• Could it be that I am working too much, so I have no time for myself?
• Perhaps I am experiencing conflict with someone else?
• Am I depressed / stressed because I cannot be honest or be myself?
• Perhaps I am feeling sad, lonely, like a failure, disappointed, or afraid?
• Do I have to deal with many problems at one time?
• and so on

There are so many things related to our emotional condition, and they are so complex, that it is impossible to write them down one by one. However, this problem needs to be resolved, because it can also disrupt your physical health.

A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones. – Proverbs 17:22

If you are too busy, take time to make a priority list, or if necessary, delegate some of your work to others. Share your burdens with people you can trust, such as your community or spiritual mentor. Their input and advice can help you get out of the problem so that you can be more enthusiastic in your work.

In quite serious cases, we may need professional help. Do not hesitate or feel ashamed to ask for help, because mental health will affect various aspects of our lives.

After identifying the root of the problem and dealing with it, you can also apply several tips to improve your motivation to work:

Tips for Working in a Good Mood

1. Take Time to Pause for a Moment

Do you often feel that you have no time for yourself? How can you possibly work with a good mood and optimal results if you do not give space to yourself to pause for a while?

Pausing for a moment does not mean you have to go on vacation somewhere far away. You can exercise in the morning, or pray and read the Word longer than usual. You can enjoy some me time by watching something, taking a relaxed walk, listening to music, having a gadget-free day (if possible), or simply resting at home.

Even the Lord, the Owner of the Universe, stopped on the seventh day after creating the world in six days. If we keep working without stopping, does that not mean we think we are better or greater than God?

And on the seventh day God had finished the work that He had made, and He rested on the seventh day from all the work that He had made. – Genesis 2:2 

2. Restore Your Relationship with God

When our relationship with God is disturbed, usually other areas of our lives are disturbed as well. When my quiet time starts becoming irregular, I usually become more easily moody and my emotions become less stable.

When your mood gets worse, try asking yourself, “How has my relationship with God been lately? Do I have a regular and deep quiet time?”

Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. – Psalm 119:105 

3. Remind Yourself of These Things

When you start not feeling in the mood to work, remind yourself:

• What if I get fired for slacking off at work? Will I not regret it if my income decreases because I keep being in a bad mood?
• Working in any field is indeed not easy, but would it not be even harder if we did not work?
• Remember again all the struggles you went through to get to this point. Why did you want this job so much in the first place and start it?
• Out there are many people who do not have work and wish they could work like you. Be grateful.
• Remember the people who are your responsibility, such as your wife, children, or parents. If you keep letting your mood affect your work, what will happen to them?

There are times when we forget what we have and fail to appreciate our work. So, take a moment to remember again the Lord's blessings, as well as your journey so far. May this improve your mood so that you can once again give your best in your work.

Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits! – Psalm 103:2

4. Challenge Yourself

It could be that one of the reasons you have lost the mood to work is because you are bored. You are bored because every day you do the same thing. Or, because you feel you are already skilled in your field and can no longer grow .

Perhaps this is the time to challenge yourself to do more. You can ask the company to give you new assignments or responsibilities. Learn new things within or outside the scope of your work, such as attending training or seminars to add to your skills and knowledge. Or, learn from a friend who is skilled in the area you are interested in.

Challenge yourself to go the extra mile and to be better than you were yesterday. Surely, you will be more motivated and enthusiastic in doing your work.

Whatever you do, do it wholeheartedly, as for the Lord and not for men. – Colossians 3:23

A bad mood or not being in the mood to work can affect anyone, and the causes can vary greatly. First make sure that you are healthy physically and mentally. In addition, apply the four tips above to restore your enthusiasm for work, so that your work may bear good fruit for God's glory. Give it a try!

Related Articles:

• 5 Simple Ways to Be a Pleasant Person at the Office
• Consistency: An Important Element of Success
• An Unpleasant Environment? Overcome It with These 4 Ways
• 3 Tips for Peak Performance Even When the Workplace Isn't Ideal
• Evaluate Yourself: Why It Matters and How to Do It

-