What do you do if your motivation is waning during an internship?

Many of my Gen Z clients ask how to maintain motivation in our fast-paced, distracting world. Well, it's perfectly normal to experience dips in motivation, especially when comparing yourself to others. Imagine Mr. X, sweating it out in a factory HR internship during the summer, while scrolling through Insta and seeing Ms. Y's glamorous Training & Dev internship at a luxury hotel. Of course, this could dampen Mr. X's motivation! There are countless scenarios like this that can negatively impact our thoughts and feelings. The good news is, if your motivation is waning during your internship, it doesn't mean you're failing. The important thing is that you recognize it, because then you can take steps to address it.

Utilizar la atención plena es indispensable para evaluar y explorar la energía a diario y varias veces al día. Haz pausas (3 min max) y pregúntate: ¿cómo me siento ahora? ¿qué estoy necesitando? Identificar como te estas sintiendo y ponerle palabras es un hábito que ayudará a tener autoconocimiento durante la pasantía. Es importante además que se pueda indagar de donde vienen esas emociones. Muchas veces, la falta de motivación está asociada a una distancia con las expectativas, con lo que se esperaba.

Before diving into goal setting or action plans, take a critical step: identify your Zero Moment of Truth (ZMOT). Ask yourself: • What is the purpose of my career and how does this internship fit in? • How important is completing this internship for my goals? • What's draining my energy and hindering my motivation? By brainstorming these questions, you'll uncover the "energy vampires" eating up your motivation. Once identified, address them head-on with these Golden Questions: • Am I confident in my abilities? • Do I believe I can succeed and excel? If you answer yes, fantastic! If not, don't worry – we'll tackle those doubts in the next steps and help you turn things around!

Here's few suggested touch points which may help you actively seek feedback on your concerns raised earlier: • College Teachers: Reach out to professors for a quick word. • Mentors: Connect with a mentor, like a sibling, relative, or anyone in your field • Team Members: Identify a supportive senior or peer who's known for being constructive and non-judgmental. Ask them for feedback on your work. • Accountability Partner: Whoever you trust as your "go-to" person, tap into their honest feedback. • Connect with yourself - Take a moment to simply "be" and observe your thoughts. Are you overthinking things? Sometimes, a mindful break can be all you need to move forward or just be your best version.

Cuando afrontamos cosas nuevas puede ser retador. No importa lo difícil o fácil que sea, sentimos miedo e imaginamos un futuro catastrófico. Enfocarte en el momento presente ayudará a poder abordar estos desafíos con más calma y tranquilidad. Recordar que el miedo es valido y abrazar esa emoción forma parte del proceso para atravesarla. Cuando se sienta miedo, estrés o poca claridad tomar un momento para respirar (un slow moment) servirá para encontrar quietud y silencio e indagar en esa emoción. Pregúntate: -¿qué me quiere decir esta emoción? El miedo es la emoción que nos protege del peligro. Los desafíos pueden verse como peligrosos. Anímate a ver el desafío como un experimento que puede salir bien o mal.

Remind yourself each day why you became an intern. 1. Learn from those with more experience. 2. Building skills. 3. Developing, and possibly sharing, your ideas. be mindful of your position, and approach each day with enthusiasm.

A few likely steps : 1.Remind yourself of your “Why” you took up the internship in the first place , ie your intention and purpose. 2. Check for clarity - I) has your purpose changed II) does there seem to be an internship - purpose mismatch III)is it an old habit pattern of losing steam midway or inertia IV) is there some toxic relationship at work V) is there any other happening in life which is impacting you 3. Once you are clear and truthful about the reason then you can begin to address it meaningfully by asking for the required support from peers / friends / mentor / senior / family / coach

Remember, every successful professional was once an intern :-) Your curiosity is a superpower, so use it to unlock new knowledge, learn from professionals around you and establish great relationships. You will be pleasantly surprised to see that most of the people around you are very open and willing to help interns. Take advantage of this support system and actively seek feedback throughout your internship. #RiseOn