Topic: Staying motivated after you've handed in your notice.

[Lfsea]

Really struggling myself.

This is the first proper job I've ever left and I can feel the motivation to work hard slipping away by the minute.

I obviously want to do the best I can, but with the thought of another 2 months to serve, I'm already at the end of my wick.

Any tips?

[♠Dirty Harry♠]

Never shit on your own path, you never know when you have to walk back down it.

[Lfsea]

I'm still working as hard as ever, but I'm finding it mentally tough to stay that way.

Definitely not going to shit on my own doorstep.

[What's the procedure Mr Mod?]

I agree with the 'shit path' analysis, completely, but you're supposed to slack a little, you just need to be tactical about it. Do what's required and keep in everyone's good books. Work for your colleages, if your line of work allows, not letting them down is what did it for me..

[Kez]

I just started a new job having served a 3 month notice period from my old job that I was neither contractually or statutorily required to do. I could have walked out with 2 weeks notice because they forgot to give me a new contract to sign when my old one ran out. In the end I decided that I didn't want to screw my colleagues over (plus for other reasons the 3 months suited me) and that's why I did the full 3 months (although I made a point of telling them that I didn't have to in my exit interview).

At the end of the day it's up to you. You can do sod all and have all your colleagues remember you as the twat who screwed them over when he was leacing because he couldn't be arsed any more or you can remind yourself that the people you stand on on the way up are the ones who you'll be underneath you if you ever fall back down, so best not to piss them off too much. This is particularly relevant in any career where there is an increased likelihood that you will come into contact with your current colleagues (or work contacts) again in the future. The last think you want your soon-to-be-former colleagues telling your professional contacts is that you're the twat who left them in the lurch.

[Lfsea]

I'm in a job where it's impossible to hide from your duties, and it's very much colleague-centric.

I'm more interested in how people stay mentally sharp when the exit is just around the corner.

[Lfsea]

I'm also not that type of person. I couldn't live with myself if I did anything that was deliberately to the detriment of my colleagues or my work.

[Kez]

I'm in a job where it's impossible to hide from your duties, and it's very much colleague-centric.

I'm more interested in how people stay mentally sharp when the exit is just around the corner.

Fortunately I didn't have too much difficulty in that respect. I'm in the sort of job where if I stop paying attention I make mistakes and if I make a mistake I run the risk of being negligent. I really didn't need that sort of stain so early on in my career! The other thing for me is that I made the conscious decision to move, so I was really looking forward to going, and as far as I was concerned every day was one step closer to where I wanted to me. Plus I wanted to leave a good impression for future references. No point shooting myself in the foot!

[bleedsred1978]

I'm also not that type of person. I couldn't live with myself if I did anything that was deliberately to the detriment of my colleagues or my work.

If they are any good they will factor in a dip from you. Nobody could keep to their level once you have told them you are leaving.  Why such a long notice period?

[Claire.]

I've been in the curious position of knowing I was leaving but legally not allowed to tell any of my colleagues. That was a tough few weeks, particularly during planning

In other jobs, I've just treated it the same as I would before going on holiday, make sure I meet as many deadlines as I could and otherwise make sure to do a proper handover.

[Lfsea]

@bleedsred I do a very specific job that you have to have to have significant experience and skills to do. When I joined I agreed that if I stayed more than 2 years I would have to serve an extended notice period - mainly to provide training to those with lesser experience.

[bleedsred1978]

@bleedsred I do a very specific job that you have to have to have significant experience and skills to do. When I joined I agreed that if I stayed more than 2 years I would have to serve an extended notice period - mainly to provide training to those with lesser experience.

Well there you go then, your focus for the next two months is to ensure the person/s who are to fill the role are fully up to speed and will speak if you in glowing terms for the training you gave them long after your gone.

[What's the procedure Mr Mod?]

I can't really relate to the situation.

It's colleague based work, and you don't want to let them down. You're there to help train others in preparation for your departure, and it's not in your nature to slack and to not work to your potential.

Surely, therefore, you should be motivated to get through it.

[Circa1892]

I think it depends on the job doesn't it.

Had one job a year or so back which I fucking hated, working for a massive corporation who treated me and others like shit. After I handed in my notice just worked 9-5 to the minute and just worked to contract really.

More recently I've left a job that I've loved and if anything worked harder in my notice period.

[Ben S]

Just make sure your next job is one where they won't want you to work your notice period. Result.

[Lfsea]

Is that also known as getting sacked?

[Crosby Nick]

@bleedsred I do a very specific job that you have to have to have significant experience and skills to do.

Alright Liam Neeson.

[macca888]

Stop thinking about the big picture Dan, and just motivate yourself one day at a time. It's much easier to maintain that level of motivation over a shorter period of time and then repeat it rather than think you've got to attain it every day. Just remember, if you hadn't handed your notice in, the normal status quo is that some days you'd be much more motivated than others; it's just the natural scheme of things. That way, if you do have an off day, you can pick yourself up the next one without it affecting your overall performance and responsibility to your colleagues.

[StevenLFC]

Just treat each day as it comes mate. I recently changed roles within the same company and I remember during the bad days thinking 'fuck it, it won't be my problem next week', so I get where you are coming from, but at the end of the day I knew that I had to carry on performing well as I'd be letting the people around me down. I'll be honest, I didn't carry on working hard for my manager or the company, I did it for my own peace if mind, and for my colleagues.

[jason23]

Really struggling myself.

This is the first proper job I've ever left and I can feel the motivation to work hard slipping away by the minute.

I obviously want to do the best I can, but with the thought of another 2 months to serve, I'm already at the end of my wick.

Any tips?

Dan, are you leaving for a better job or leaving because you can no longer do the current job?
If you are moving on to better things, then just do your current job to the best of your abilities without putting in all the extra effort that you did while you were staying there...
If you are not leaving of your own accord, then I guess you can just do the absolute bare minimum to get by until the end of the notice.

It also depends on what kind of person you are....

The day I handed in my notice to leave my 15 year job at McDonald's was incredibly scary. I was leaving a decent paying job, company car, private medical for the family, good perks and writing my own work schedule but it was time to move on. I still turned up for every shift on time and did my job but I didn't do as much of the extra stuff that I previously did - staying on after my shift, going in early, not taking my full breaks and working on my days off.


Good luck in your future endeavours mate.

[Azi]

Really struggling myself.

This is the first proper job I've ever left and I can feel the motivation to work hard slipping away by the minute.

I obviously want to do the best I can, but with the thought of another 2 months to serve, I'm already at the end of my wick.

Any tips?

dude your leaving a dream job obv your going to be gutted   

but just take it one week at a time dont think of it as a two months to go it will go in

[Frank.]

Reply to my PM and let me buy you a beer when you're there, ha.

[Malaysian Kopite]

Alright Liam Neeson.

Damn your wit! 

[MichaelA]

Any tips?

Stop dicking about on New Stars Soccer and concentrate on the jobs for a few weeks.

[Grobbelrevell]

I'm in a similar position at the moment in the fact that I handed my notice in a few weeks ago. Personally though i've not had an issue with motivation, mainly because I don't mind the job and I quite like the company and the people (I say whilst browsing RAWK during work hours - again  ).

I do agree with those that have advised taking care on how your handle your exit though, because you really do never know where you might find yourself further down the line. I know from past experience of taking the piss in previous jobs that it ultimately worked against me when I was out of work and looking around for something because they wouldn't touch me with a barge pole after that, frankly.

I guess you could say that I learnt my lesson and I make a point to leave on good terms if at all possible now.

[BarryCrocker]

People will always remember the last thing you did rather than all the things you’ve done. I’ve always worked to the last minute. Certainly helps when your old boss gets called for a reference.

[rob1966]

Only advice I'd give is enjoy the fact you are leaving and look forward to the day you do, rather than thinking fuck I've another 2 months of this.

I transferred from the operations side of our place to IT 11 years ago, its like getting a new job as its a totally different environment and I had to retrain in programming, I had to stay for 2 months to train my replacement and while I hated the job and couldn't wait to go, (hence the transfer) being positive made it a breeze. Two months is fuck all, the footy season finished nearly that long ago.

[timiano]

I'm currently two weeks in to my 4 week notice period, and I'm struggling too to be honest. It's like pffffft, whatever......

Actually, it's not really my notice period, it's voluntary redundancy, so I obviously need to avoid getting in trouble , so I'm doing the minimum that is required of me and just tying off a few loose ends.

[AndyInVA]

Ive always found that once the day starts I work pretty hard

but when Ive been in that position I was out the door at 5 and wouldnt come back in till I was supposed to be there

[Robert_B]

I recently just moved jobs and I didn't find it hard to stay motivated to do a good job.

Though I'm really good friends with my colleagues, so I didn't want to screw them over. Plus with the sort of work we were doing, it's very hard to avoid your duties because people will hang over your shoulder as you do it - so you can't get out of it.

[surfer]

People will always remember the last thing you did rather than all the things you’ve done. I’ve always worked to the last minute. Certainly helps when your old boss gets called for a reference.

Simply said but the truth.

[hassinator]

i'd just spend it loafing around on RAWK.

not a massive shift from my current situation to be fair

[Phil M]

Dan, can I have your job? Thanks mate.