Does this look familiar?

Do you remember your first day at your new job? There was a rush of anticipation that overcame you when you first walked through the doors as you awaited all of the exciting new things to come. You were likely bursting with so many ideas that you were eager to share and could hardly wait to create positive changes for your new company. Now, you're probably sitting in your home office, surrounded by monitors and task alerts, and lacking the motivation necessary to continue to make a difference. It's easy to lose motivation when you're no longer surrounded by the people or things that kept you inspired before. In a work-from-home scenario, you have to find your reason outside of the recognition you may have received in the office. Many of us have lost that drive, and it's not easy to get back. However, that doesn't mean that it's time to pack it in and look for a new job. You have to reignite the spark for the work you are doing. How? Let's discuss. 

The purpose of creating a SMART goal is to set you in the direction of completing something specific. If you have a precise goal in mind, you are more likely to achieve it. Let's discuss the Five W's to your SMART goal :

1.  WHO is involved in this goal?

Are you planning on completing this goal on your own or with help? Just because you are working from home doesn't mean you can't include a colleague. I bet your co-workers are happy to help you achieve success!

2.  WHAT do I want to accomplish?

What specific result will qualify as completing your goal?

3.  WHERE will this goal help me? 

In what areas of my work specifically will this goal help me?

4.  WHY create this goal?

Why are you trying to accomplish this specific task? Is it to benefit you, someone else, or maybe the company as a whole?  Understand YOUR why.  

5.  WHEN is the time frame to complete this goal?

If you portion out your goal and assign a "due date" for each specific part, it will be much easier for you to accomplish overall. 

We are all guilty of not seeing how much we accomplish each day. It's important to take a moment to slow down and celebrate OUR wins. Call a co-worker, your partner, or a family member and share your success stories. Look back over the last year and think about how much you achieved. It's never too late to celebrate something, even if it happened six months ago. Make a note of your achievements, and don't be afraid to share them with your support system. Remember to give yourself that pat on the back because you deserve it!