What to Do When You Really Don't Want to Work Today

Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsReasons Why You May Not Want to WorkWhat to Do If You Feel This Way

Table of ContentsView All

View All

Table of Contents

Reasons Why You May Not Want to Work

What to Do If You Feel This Way

Some peoplelook forward to their work, whereas for others it can feel like a struggle on some days.

This article lists some reasons why you may not want to work and shares some tips that can help you cope when you really don’t feel like working.

These are some reasons why you may feel like you don’t want to work today:

The Growing Burden of “Reply ASAP” Culture

These are somecoping strategiesthat can help if you don’t feel like working today. An obvious one, if you are able, is to take the day off.

If you’re feeling physically unwell, take a sick day. If you’re feeling mentally and emotionally burnt out, take amental health dayto rest and recuperate. While they are not a cure-all, there are many benefits to taking a day off every now and then.

Reflect

Spend some time reflecting on why you don’t want to work. Do you feel this way every day, or is it just today? Is it because you’re tired or stressed, or is it your job or the work environment? Pinpointing the cause of this feeling can help you make changes to your life and improve your situation.

Get Moving

If you don’t feel like going to work simply because you’re feeling bored or lazy, it can be helpful to get up and moving. A run, a brisk walk, or any other form ofexerciseyou enjoy can help you feel better, boost your energy levels, and make it easier for you to think, focus, and work.

Work From a Different Location

Start With Easy Tasks

Take Breaks Regularly

Make it a point to schedule a few breaks for yourself during the day. If your job involves sitting in one place, try to take a five- to 10-minute break every hour to walk around and get some physical activity.

Change Your Routine

Try and identify whether there’s room for improvement in your dailyroutine. For instance, would it help to go to bed earlier, so you can wake up for work on time and feel more rested?

Or, would you feel more energetic if you ate a healthy breakfast before you started working? Your routine can make a big difference to your daily life, so it can help to optimize it to suit your needs.

Focus on Your Goals and Reward Yourself

It can be helpful to remind yourself of why you work and what your goals are. For instance, are you working toward buying a house, supporting a family, or being able to afford a certain lifestyle? Keep your goals in mind and check in with yourself regularly to evaluate your progress.

Make it a point to celebrate your achievements at work and reward yourself for meeting your work-related goals, to help keep your motivation levels high.

The rewards don’t have to be expensive or extravagant—they can be small gestures of personal acknowledgment. For instance, you can treat yourself to a coffee for every assignment you submit in advance of your deadline.

In fact, your reward also doesn’t have to cost any money at all! You can take a nice walk, watch a movie you’ve wanted to see for a while, or take a soothing bath. You can also reward yourself with a break after working for a designated amount of time.

Evaluate Your Job

If you don’t feel like working because of issues related to your job, your colleagues, or your organization, start working on a plan to remedy the situation.

Would it help to talk to your manager about your concerns? Would a different role suit you better? Do you think you want to look for a different job andquitthis one? Once you have a plan, start working toward it.

Plan a Vacation

A vacation can be a goodbreakfrom work that allows you to come back refreshed and rejuvenated. While you may not be able to go on one right away, you can schedule one in the near future and start planning it today. It’ll give you something to look forward to.

Get a Health Check-up

If you’re feeling unwell ortiredand aren’t sure why, a health check-up can help determine whether you have any health conditions that could be causing you to feel this way.

See a Mental Health Professional

If you’re struggling to cope mentally or emotionally, it can be helpful to see amental healthcare providerand discuss your concerns with them.

8 Tips to Handle Work From Home Stress

A Word From Verywell

Everyone has days where they don’t feel like working. However, if you’re facing physical or mental health issues that are making it difficult for you to work, it’s important to seek treatment for them. On the other hand, if you’re facing issues related to your job, it’s important to reevaluate your work situation and consider your options.

9 SourcesVerywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Axelsson J, Ingre M, Kecklund G, Lekander M, Wright KP, Sundelin T.Sleepiness as motivation: a potential mechanism for how sleep deprivation affects behavior.Sleep. 2020;43(6):zsz291. doi:10.1093/sleep/zsz291Alhola P, Polo-Kantola P.Sleep deprivation: Impact on cognitive performance.Neuropsychiatr Dis Treat. 2007;3(5):553-567.Lam LT, Lam MK, Reddy P, Wong P.Factors Associated with Work-Related Burnout among Corporate Employees Amidst COVID-19 Pandemic.Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2022;19(3):1295. Published 2022 Jan 24. doi:10.3390/ijerph19031295National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health.Stress at work.National Library of Medicine.Stress and your health.Medline Plus.Körner M, Wirtz MA, Bengel J, Göritz AS.Relationship of organizational culture, teamwork and job satisfaction in interprofessional teams.BMC Health Serv Res. 2015;15:243. doi:10.1186/s12913-015-0888-yvan Hooff MLM, van Hooft EAJ.Boredom at work: proximal and distal consequences of affective work-related boredom.J Occup Health Psychol. 2014;19(3):348-359.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Benefits of physical activity.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Physical activity breaks for the workplace.

9 Sources

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Axelsson J, Ingre M, Kecklund G, Lekander M, Wright KP, Sundelin T.Sleepiness as motivation: a potential mechanism for how sleep deprivation affects behavior.Sleep. 2020;43(6):zsz291. doi:10.1093/sleep/zsz291Alhola P, Polo-Kantola P.Sleep deprivation: Impact on cognitive performance.Neuropsychiatr Dis Treat. 2007;3(5):553-567.Lam LT, Lam MK, Reddy P, Wong P.Factors Associated with Work-Related Burnout among Corporate Employees Amidst COVID-19 Pandemic.Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2022;19(3):1295. Published 2022 Jan 24. doi:10.3390/ijerph19031295National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health.Stress at work.National Library of Medicine.Stress and your health.Medline Plus.Körner M, Wirtz MA, Bengel J, Göritz AS.Relationship of organizational culture, teamwork and job satisfaction in interprofessional teams.BMC Health Serv Res. 2015;15:243. doi:10.1186/s12913-015-0888-yvan Hooff MLM, van Hooft EAJ.Boredom at work: proximal and distal consequences of affective work-related boredom.J Occup Health Psychol. 2014;19(3):348-359.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Benefits of physical activity.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Physical activity breaks for the workplace.

Axelsson J, Ingre M, Kecklund G, Lekander M, Wright KP, Sundelin T.Sleepiness as motivation: a potential mechanism for how sleep deprivation affects behavior.Sleep. 2020;43(6):zsz291. doi:10.1093/sleep/zsz291Alhola P, Polo-Kantola P.Sleep deprivation: Impact on cognitive performance.Neuropsychiatr Dis Treat. 2007;3(5):553-567.Lam LT, Lam MK, Reddy P, Wong P.Factors Associated with Work-Related Burnout among Corporate Employees Amidst COVID-19 Pandemic.Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2022;19(3):1295. Published 2022 Jan 24. doi:10.3390/ijerph19031295National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health.Stress at work.National Library of Medicine.Stress and your health.Medline Plus.Körner M, Wirtz MA, Bengel J, Göritz AS.Relationship of organizational culture, teamwork and job satisfaction in interprofessional teams.BMC Health Serv Res. 2015;15:243. doi:10.1186/s12913-015-0888-yvan Hooff MLM, van Hooft EAJ.Boredom at work: proximal and distal consequences of affective work-related boredom.J Occup Health Psychol. 2014;19(3):348-359.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Benefits of physical activity.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Physical activity breaks for the workplace.

Alhola P, Polo-Kantola P.Sleep deprivation: Impact on cognitive performance.Neuropsychiatr Dis Treat. 2007;3(5):553-567.

Lam LT, Lam MK, Reddy P, Wong P.Factors Associated with Work-Related Burnout among Corporate Employees Amidst COVID-19 Pandemic.Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2022;19(3):1295. Published 2022 Jan 24. doi:10.3390/ijerph19031295

National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health.Stress at work.

National Library of Medicine.Stress and your health.Medline Plus.

Körner M, Wirtz MA, Bengel J, Göritz AS.Relationship of organizational culture, teamwork and job satisfaction in interprofessional teams.BMC Health Serv Res. 2015;15:243. doi:10.1186/s12913-015-0888-y

van Hooff MLM, van Hooft EAJ.Boredom at work: proximal and distal consequences of affective work-related boredom.J Occup Health Psychol. 2014;19(3):348-359.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Benefits of physical activity.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Physical activity breaks for the workplace.

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Reflect#

Get Moving#

Work From a Different Location#

Start With Easy Tasks#

Take Breaks Regularly#

Change Your Routine#

Focus on Your Goals and Reward Yourself#

Evaluate Your Job#

Plan a Vacation#

Get a Health Check-up#

See a Mental Health Professional#

A Word From Verywell#