Vocational School of Justice
TIME TO WORK NOW!
The experts state that after a long holiday and the summer coming to an end, there may be back to work adjustment problems and it would be best to increase the motivation. Clinical Psychologist Nilgün Köstem, Coordinator of IUE Psychological Development and Counselling Centre, indicated that especially the first weeks after the holidays were the toughest times to get back to work and responsibilities. Köstem said, “We need to be highly motivated for a prosperous and successful work life. Motivation can be seen as driving force and energy. Efficiency, productivity, creativity, and success require versatile and intensive motivation. We need intrinsic motivation resources when we are working. Therefore, we need to review how success is defined, and be realistic when we are identifying our goals. Then we can enjoy the success.”
Köstem pointed that earning money, promotions, being appreciated alone were extrinsic and concrete motivation resources and they may not be sufficient for being happy in work life. She said that we need to try couple of times to reach the desired goals. “If success doesn’t come the way we planned, it doesn’t mean a total failure. Thinking like ‘I tried’, ‘I did all I could’, and ‘I will do better next time’ will be more motivational to work and to continue to try. Disruptive criticisms such as ‘I failed’, ‘I messed up’, and ‘I knew I wouldn’t be able to do it’ will harm your self confidence in a non-realistic way and negatively affect your work motivation, said Köstem.
‘Appreciate Yourself’
Köstem stated that individuals needed to set long term and easier goals so that their self-confidence and satisfaction from job would increase. She said that this would increase the motivation necessary for willingness to work. She said that instead of the failures, people should focus on their achievements more frequently. Köstem made the following suggestions:
“Celebrate a successful project, a sale, an organization, or an operation. Appreciate and reward yourself. Acknowledge your achievements and enjoy them. Because they will become your energy supply and motivation at times you feel least motivated tired, bored. Any time off from work is a holiday indeed. Working all days and hours of the week is not something a person can take mentally or physically. You will not be able to rest if you don’t get away from work or leave work at work. This weariness adds up in time and turns into boredom, lethargy, unwillingness, and thus lack of motivation.”