How can I "motivate" myself to still care about work when approaching FI?

[Lentils4Lunch]

Lately, I've been feeling so done with work. Like, I am just to the point where I really don't care any more. I used to really enjoy the work- It's writing a lot of in-house software to help our statistical analysts, mainly. When I get into a good groove, I finish the day feeling content and energized. It just seems like these days are becoming less and less common for me lately. I've gotten into a bad habit of beginning my day by looking at all our account balances, then calculating FI dates under different scenarios. Often, I will waste an hour just reading blogs... stupid. By the time I've completed my morning time wasting rituals, it's usually time for meetings, answering co-worker questions or other time-consuming activities that aren't actually productive work. By quitting time, I'm often really mad at myself for being such a time-waster.

You would think I'd miss deadlines with this kind of behavior, but I tend to rally when a deadline approaches and actually get recognized for handing off deliverables ahead of schedule, despite all the hours I frittered away there along the way. Still, if this continues, people are definitely going to start noticing. But then, part of me doesn't care because we're pretty decently far along on the FI track. Still, when I've had one of these zero-value days, I want to punch myself in the face. That time would have been so much better spent at home with my family, or outside communing with nature, or just reading a book. If I'm just showing up to collect a paycheck and adding no value, then I should just quit right now.

It's not time to quit, though. We are still a few years away from FI, and even after reaching FI, I still want to stay on part time, so somehow I've got to start getting my lazy ass back in gear so I can have more of these good days where I actually feel I've added value.

How do you overcome laziness and keep yourself productive at work when you're nearing that big FI goal?

[Meowmalade]

I could have written the exact same thing, except for your job description :)  I like my job, but am currently struggling to stay focused until we achieve our number in the next few years-- the days feel so long!  I also want to cut down to part-time, but now is not the time.  It does help a bit to remind myself of how lucky I am to be in this position, as it would be a heck of a lot more painful if I hated my job.  And I've recently decided to just start working from home more often (not sure if this is an option for you) as it makes things more bearable.  But it's so hard.  I think I will stop feeling this way when I can cut back my hours.

[retired?]

You write "Still, when I've had one of these zero-value days, I want to punch myself in the face. That time would have been so much better spent at home with my family, or outside communing with nature, or just reading a book."

That's probably always true...maybe from the time you had your first job.  But, even though it 'would' have been spent better, if you still need the paycheck then it 'could' not have been spent better.

Working for a paycheck has its merits. 

While you are close to FI, you still have a decent amount of time left.  You could look for a different job that might be more stimulating.  Or, one thing I experienced as I moved further along in my career and roles were less defined, I had the freedom to choose to do what I saw added value rather than the work in my job description.  So, if you see other ways to help, just start doing them.  Generally speaking, most firms would prefer to have you active than having a lot of filler time.

[kudy]

Lately, I've been feeling so done with work. Like, I am just to the point where I really don't care any more. I used to really enjoy the work

This is getting close to how I've been feeling lately as well. It's a mixture of things, but I don't have the energy I used to have for it. Part of me thinks a new job would re-energize me, but I am not sure. Like Meowmalade, I try to remember the good things about my job, and focus on the positives.

Depending on how "new" the idea of FI is to you, you may just be in the obsessive phase... if so, it will hopefully eventually pass and you can stop checking the balances every day and spending every idle moment thinking about optimizing :) Eventually most people seem to get into the groove of saving, waiting, and focusing on enjoying everyday life as it is now.

[anotherAlias]

When anyone comes up with motivational tips, please share.  I'm in a similar boat too.  I was pretty happy and motivated until about November when my boss and my boss's boss both left/'resigned' and the powers that be decided the developers needed to completely change our work processes.  The resulting mess has left me with little to no work to do for the past two months and the department morale has sunk to new lows.  If it weren't for an interesting project that I'm supposedly slated for and the tons of benefits this job has, I'd be looking for a new job.  Alas, there aren't many places around here that would pay me what I make, offer the sweet medical and retirement benefits, let me work from home 2-3 days/week, pay for my gym membership, give me 4 weeks vacation and not require on call support.  LOL can you tell that I'm really trying to focus on the benefits instead of the suckyness of this job.

[acroy]

Strikes a chord - Similar position here :)

My friend, we have 2 things we must use correctly in this world: Time and Talent. That's really it. Your conscience is bothering you when either is wasted. I struggle with this myself... what has worked reasonably well for me:
-Set daily no-compromise routine (i.e. rise time, exercise, prayer, diet etc)
-Save leisure (downtime) for after the day's work is done
-If you have excess time at work, use it to learn or do something useful. Daydreaming about future FI is using time now, dreaming about time later. It is a waste of time.

Good luck! !

[sw1tch]

Gahh, this has been me for years.  Really hard to motivate myself to do much of anything but look at my numbers and browse the forums.

[MishMash]

This is me to a T.  We've hit the minimum stash amount and are OMYing to plan for the unexpected and some luxury that we want.  I still do my job, and I do it well, no one complains, but I realize it's as dead end as it can get (I'm the only one that does my job, and no one below me so no promotion potential in tiny company) and that I don't HAVE to be here, which makes dealing with the office politics borderline unbearable. 

I spend a lot of time looking at my spreadsheets, browsing the forums, dreaming of the future, and it's totally not healthy so we are trying to take aim at planning fun things in the near future that I can look forward to, like the Berkshire Hathaway meeting, or a show in DC etc.  Just small things that are a "splurge" to look forward to and make getting out of bed each day, and dealing with work, a bit more bearable.

On the days I know certain people will be in the office, I work from home, if I don't have to listen to their BS it generally keeps my blood pressure down.  My boss knows we are FI, she's a mustachian too, so as long as everything gets done, she pretty much lets me set my own schedule now since she realizes they need me, more then I need them. 

[Cryocash]

All these posts resonate deeply. I live my career, but look8ng to FI really can make the small things maje cracks in the enjoyment.
With the lack of expenses andthe excess of wealth building up, could you not ask to try something new?

For me the reason I'm salty is really that I'm never home. I'm going to ask my company about trying the office. It is a position i never liked. But changes can engage smart minds.

[markbike528CBX]

Strikes a chord - Similar position here :)

My friend, we have 2 things we must use correctly in this world: Time and Talent. That's really it. Your conscience is bothering you when either is wasted. I struggle with this myself... what has worked reasonably well for me:
-Set daily no-compromise routine (i.e. rise time, exercise, prayer, diet etc)
-Save leisure (downtime) for after the day's work is done
-If you have excess time at work, use it to learn or do something useful. Daydreaming about future FI is using time now, dreaming about time later. It is a waste of time.

Good luck! !

Best answer so far.

I do feel better when I'm avoiding this blog during office hours, despite the fact that I'm doing EXACTLY that right now :-0 

[Shor]

You find yourself in a great spot.
You have some savings stashed away, you have your routine day dialed in. If work is really all that bad, would there actually be that much trouble to take a break?

I'm not saying you won't come back to work, but maybe you'll find new opportunities cross your path when you're off doing, whatever it is you'd prefer to do.
Or just take on a PT job. No one says that the stash needs to be made 100% from the job, or that you have to get there as Fast a Possible. Take a PT job, enjoy the change of pace, you won't be saving hand over fist, but at least you'll be engaged in life.

[Slow&Steady]

I am not even that close to FI and this describes me right now.  Some of my lack of motivation might be the weather, part of my job includes being outside but I hate the cold.  I generally find I am less productive in the winter and find reasons to be in my office on the computer more often.  Being on the computer more means I check forums and balances more and time just disappears.

I just got me annual review and was give 4+ on a scale of 5 so I guess they are happy with the effort I am putting in.

[effigy98]

I could write this same exact post. I think several of you work with me on my team or we share brain waves.

I am still learning how to cope with this problem. Here are some things that have helped me:

Looking at my numbers helps keep me motivated, especially keeping a "timeline" of goals. If I cut this out, I will have more free time but less motivation to work more, FI sooner so I keep it as a weekly ritual.

I keep a simple pad and paper next to my keyboard. In there I have a prioritized list of tasks. Everyday I rip the list off the notepad and make a new list for tasks I did not finish or new ones I need to add. This list keeps me focused more then anything I have tried. For some reason keeping it digitally does not have the same impact for me so pen and paper only.

I have a side gig that pays a couple times more then primary job (per hour). I can do that remotely so when I finish my work tasks, it's time to speed up my FI date. I treat work tasks as things to get out of the way so I can be productive on lucrative side hustle. Since my employer insists on paying the same bonus, the same salary, no matter how hard or little I work or how much I deliver (seems mostly based on politics which I suck at), it is difficult for me to stay motivated to do more then I have too at primary job. It is very easy to stay motivated in hourly paid side gig where results has a direct money value. Even if overall this side hustle only pays 1/3rd of the primary job in total compensation, it gives me a feeling of control over my FI date, like I can make more progress with additional effort. I think this is the biggest thing missing from most of our day jobs, we feel like we are stuck with the same pay and cannot (or don't know how to) optimize it any further to help get to our goals sooner even when we have the energy to do so. So my advice, get a side gig and focus on that during work downtime.

[Lentils4Lunch]

Take a PT job, enjoy the change of pace, you won't be saving hand over fist, but at least you'll be engaged in life.

Oh, this sounds incredible. If I could only convince my husband...

[Lentils4Lunch]

Thanks for all the replies, everyone.

Someone earlier on this thread suggested working from home more. I actually have a great schedule of working from home three days a week. Unfortunately, this sometimes enables me to goof off all day and then hate myself at the end of the day. Being in the office makes me more productive because folks can see what I'm doing in my cube. That doesn't mean I'm gonna start going into the office more... heck no!

I like the notepad and pen next to the computer idea. I might try that tomorrow when I'm working from home. I have a habit of starting to-do lists and not really following up, though. Hmm...

Today I had an idea to expand on what someone else suggested related to setting routines. I'm not a person that prays, but perhaps I could meditate for 5 minutes every morning and visualize getting into a "flow" work state and the feeling of accomplishment that I'll have come 4pm...

About the side gig. Oh, how I wish I had a side gig that I could work on when things are slow...  I actually just posted in the forum about side gigs. I feel like I need one, but I don't know what it would be. It seems like a lot of them require an initial time investment...

[rpr]

P2F.

[slugsworth]

I was at a meeting to talk about craziness in my field lately and one of the panelists said "we are all volunteers" which is a sentiment I liked. No idea if he is a secret mustachian, but we all have a choice - even without FU money any of us could find another job and quit. If the job you have is the really good then thinking about the good attributes of the job, why it is better than the alternatives, is key. If it isn't better than the alternatives, break through the intertia and make your life better.

At least that is my internal dialog when I need to pick myself up.

[Lentils4Lunch]

we all have a choice - even without FU money any of us could find another job and quit. If the job you have is the really good then thinking about the good attributes of the job, why it is better than the alternatives, is key. If it isn't better than the alternatives, break through the intertia and make your life better.

Very good point. This morning, I actually started to browse job listings and then said "what am I thinking? My current job is actually awesome."  I really think the problem is me.

Once I start really working, I get into a good flow and I really enjoy myself. Often, the hardest part is just starting, taking that initial plunge into the real work. Breakthrough the inertia, as you said.

How do I get better at this? Practice, I guess.

[AZDude]

Why do you need to care about work? Just don't screw anyone over and don't get fired. FIRED not Fired. Other than that, do a mediocre job and live your life.