Many people work in a job they dislike or just find it difficult to stay focused at work. The days seem long and they can't wait to get home and go out or see their family.

How easy do you find it to be motivated and stay motivated at work?

How would you like to make changes today to enjoy your work more?

Read on for my top tips.

1. Plan your day - it can be hard to be motivated when you see the clock going around slowly and it feels an eternity until 5pm. So plan activities into your day, such as the tasks you need to achieve, and also make time to stretch your legs, or make a drink. Then you will be amazed how fast time will pass and what you will achieve.

2. Remain positive - office politics or negative colleagues can often reduce morale and make people feel demoralised and demotivated. So what can you do to remain positive - remember the good things, the thank-yous, the positive comments and thoughtful appreciation. Then share your positivity with others.

3. Manage your projects - if you are working on a project which feels daunting or overwhelming, take some time to break it down into manageable chunks. What can you do today to move the project forward? Setting and achieving mini-goals will motivate further and help you to achieve the project.

4. Consider what you enjoy about your job - even those people who are really unhappy at work enjoy one or more aspects of their work. Remember what attracted you to the job in the first place, what do you enjoy and appreciate, and how it benefits other parts of your life.

5. Have something to look forward to - whether you are planning your next holiday or a night out with friends, schedule activities and events that you love. Or if you are working hard to afford a new car or other big expense, remind yourself of what you are doing to achieve that goal.

6. Remember that you don't have to work flat out all of the time - make sure you take a break every so often, whether you make the tea, have a chat with your colleagues or do a different task.

7. Take a lunch break away from your desk or working area - fresh air and exercise is a great motivator and it is good to give you time away from your work. It has the added advantage of making you feel more refreshed and more productive.

8. Delegate some work to others - delegation of the right tasks will help you to reduce your workload and will also give a new challenge to another person. Show them what to do, give them a timeframe and then let them get on with the task.

9. Set goals for your working future - if you don't want to be in the same job in one year's time, do something about it. Set a goal of where you want to be, and then start to work on it today. What can you do within the next two weeks to move you closer to that objective?

10. Call for help - if you are having trouble staying motivated in your job, find someone to help you. Whether you choose a colleague, friend, partner or a coach, talking about it will help you to overcome this slump and clarify what needs to change.

If you enjoyed this article, sign up today for the free Self Discovery newsletter, go to http://www.selfdiscoverycoaching.co.uk. You will receive a free career planning tool and monthly newsletters filled with tips and ideas for you.

Copyright Karen Williams 2008. All Rights Reserved

Karen Williams is a Personal Development Coach and runs her own coaching practice, Self Discovery Coaching. She has over ten years experience of working in Human Resources, training, coaching and management roles and is a Chartered member of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD).