If you’ve ever thought “Maybe it’s time to shut the whole thing down…” and then, a week later, found yourself buzzing with ideas again—you’re not broken. You’re human. And your relationship with work moves with your state of mind.
Below are five practical, gentle ways to rekindle that spark - without forcing positivity, faking motivation, or making dramatic decisions from a frazzled headspace.
“You’re never more than one fresh thought away from a completely different experience of the same job.”
1) Remember: it’s not “the job” - it’s the state of mind
We don’t experience work directly; we experience our thinking about work. On low-mood days, the exact same inbox can look heavier, colleagues pricklier, and the future scarier. When we see that our feelings are coming from thought in the moment, pressure eases - because we don’t have to fix the entire job to feel better.
Related read: Wisdom in the Wobble
2) Spot your patterns (and wait for a fresher mind)
Many of us have predictable dips - end of month pressure, post-holiday blues, energy slumps. I used to consider closing my membership at the same time every month. Nothing external had changed; my mood had. Noticing your cycles helps you take thoughts less literally while you let your mind clear. Freshness returns on its own (it always does).
3) Shift your attention to what’s still working
Love for work rarely disappears; it gets clouded over.
Try a quiet 2-minute scan: What am I genuinely grateful for here - skills I use, people I enjoy, flexibility, a short commute, meaningful moments with clients? Gratitude isn’t performative; it’s a way to re-tune your focus so you can see options again.
4) If change is needed, move from wisdom - not panic
Sometimes the wisest move is a new role or direction. Notice the feeling of the guidance. Wisdom is quiet and clear (“It’s time to grow”), not frantic (“Get out now or else!”). From that steadier place you interview better, choose better, and carry far less baggage into the next chapter.
Deep dive: Understanding Anxiety Through the Three Principles
5) Rekindle curiosity with small experiments
Aliveness often returns through tiny tweaks: pitch a project that excites you, ask to swap a task you find draining, change how you prep for meetings, or take a short walking break to reset attention. Small moves made from a clearer mind can re-spark enthusiasm surprisingly fast.
Related read: How do I stop worrying?
A gentle note on tough dynamics
You can hold kind, firm boundaries (e.g., choosing not to work with a toxic boss) without carrying resentment forward. It’s not personal; it’s a clear choice about the environment you want to be in. That stance keeps your peace of mind intact wherever you go next.
To Summarise:
Falling back in love with work isn’t about building motivation from scratch - it’s about uncovering what’s already there once the mental storm passes. Slow down, let your state of mind reset, follow the quieter nudges, and let small curiosities lead the way.
Come explore this with me
If this resonated, you’ll love bringing these insights to life inside the Membership - a space for calm, clarity, and real conversations about being human. You’ll receive a free guide from me, Press Pause: Four Insights for a Calmer Mind—a lovely way to begin exploring what we talk about inside while you wait for your space in OUR Membership to open up.
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