How to Stay Motivated on a Remote Internship (or While Working from Home)

It’s easy to let excitement take over every time we embark on something new. It’s often why we’re so motivated at the start of a new role or project. But this initial excitement can dwindle quickly once the novelty of it all starts to fade.  

A remote internship is a fantastic opportunity to get some great, real-life experience from the comfort of your home. But working from home might not have the excitement of being abroad or on location. 

Try out our tips to help you stay motivated at home. Learn to separate your professional from your personal life. And use these same methods to facilitate your career success in the future too!

Well… kind of. The science of motivation reveals three main resistances that keep us from achieving tasks. And they all stem from how we think. Identify these main resistance indicators and you’ll be a motivational machine in no time! 

First thing’s first, you must find the ignition key of your ‘self-drive engine’. It comes down to our attitude. When we think of tasks simply as things we have to do, they lose their appeal. However, when this happens, try to turn that ‘have-to’ attitude into a ‘choose-to’ one.  

Put it this way, our urge to take matters in our hands increases our motivation levels. Think of high school – arguably the arch adversary of motivation for many –  doing your homework was an inconvenient task that you had to do. But think of all the school projects that you chose to do. It’s likely those are the ones that stick out the most. 

Second, if you struggle to complete a task and think “I can’t do this”, try not to give in to defeat. On a remote internship, we are at a distance from our colleagues. If it were a traditional internship, you’d likely have someone to ask for help. But don’t forget, you can do this on a remote internship too. Don’t fear, ask for help! You’re new to this role and this industry and your colleagues and line manager know this.

Lastly, if you notice your motivation level dropping, try to work at it. You’d practice a language so why not practice putting effort into a task you’re struggling with? You will only get better after practice!

This is why conscious decision making is so important. See yourself as an active participant in the well-being of a company. And while all of your teammates, some more than others, contribute to the overall success, your unique input will be clearly visible to others. But only if you choose, ask for help when it gets hard and work at it.

Take a note from Thomas Edison: “I have not failed. I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work.”

The scientists who conducted the research above on human initiative also discovered a positive link between your set of values and how willing you are to complete something. 

By attaching meaning onto your craft, you can sustain your motivation levels for longer while on your remote internship. 

For instance, you may get assigned a task that’s just not your cup of tea. The best you can do is figure out the benefits of this new tea blend they served you. 

Every so often, we are asked to do things that stand outside our zone of interest and even expertise. Even if we have a passion for that particular industry. Nevertheless, no problems should be looked in a bubble, but instead in a vast interconnected web. 

Trace the string that takes you directly to what interests you and see how you can fit the two pieces together. If, let’s say, you love landscape photography but are assigned to a real estate photoshoot, try to expand the scope of the project. 

Take a few extra shots or try to apply landscape photography ideas to your work. In this way, it satisfies both yours and your colleagues’ desires. Plus, someone might decide that they like those extra photos you took. And, as a result, they may even change the way they approach real estate photography altogether. 

When you work remotely, your mind will involuntarily remind you that you’re home. Which, in turn, can have an affect on your productivity in general. 

For that reason, you should try to forge connections with your colleagues. Not only will these people be eventual contacts in your chosen field but some might turn out to be great friends too. 

Never be afraid to ask for help or support if you need it. And join in on video meeting calls if you have something to say. This level of connection will keep you motivated to succeed on your remote internship. 

Also stay connected to your role by treating it the same as you would in the outside world. Don’t be tempted to wear tracksuit bottoms as you work. Anything that reminds you you’re home, may tempt you to put less effort in. 

So keep your mind busy and away from thoughts of home. Of course, have regular breaks but don’t take longer than necessary. This conditioning will play a vital role in your future career success. As when you enter the workplace, you’ll be better prepared.

Goals can either be self-serving or for the common good. Regardless, mentally or literally illustrating is an effective way to keep motivation levels high. 

There’s a reason so many companies put up inspirational quotes and images around the office. Try sticking a positive motivational post-it note to your monitor. You don’t even have to look at it often, but know it’s there just on the peripherals of your sight. Because if it’s completely out of sight, you can bet it’s out of mind. 

Keeping your goals nearby and at the forefront of your mind is imperative on a remote internship. Envision yourself in five years time. You’ll feel motivated to get there. But if not, sometimes an inspirational quote, sketch, or picture can always get you pumped up.

Remote working can certainly be a challenge. You might feel untethered and even isolated. But remaining motivated throughout is an achievable goal. It’s all about your mindset – because ultimately, you’re the one in control. 

If you change your mindset, you can change your situation. It’s all about perspective – and you can’t demand perfection from yourself all the time. Take breaks and look after yourself – consider failure a mere delay on the road to success, not the final destination.

Connect yourself to others – in our modern era we’re more interconnected than ever before, so take advantage of it! Humans are social creatures and we always benefit from friendly chat or advice. Most of all, keep your goals in mind. 

At Beyond Academy, we’ve partnered with over 1,000 firms to offer a range of remote internship opportunities. Our remote internships offer international work experience with a prestigious firm, all from the comfort of your own home. It’s a fantastic way of burnishing your CV with world-class industry experience; you’ll be sure to stand out in a crowded and competitive job market.

If you’d like to find out more, please check out our remote internship opportunities here!