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Lacking motivation? Check out our top tips and book recommendations for staying motivated professionally during the COVID-19 pandemic.


With all the upheaval of the COVID-19 pandemic, it’s easy to become demotivated. The lack of structure that comes with working from home can make it hard to engage on a professional level, especially if you have young children and no access to childcare. Fortunately, there are a few things you can do to boost your motivation levels and stay productive during this time.

Create structure in your day

Working from home can be convenient, but it can also lead to blurred work/life boundaries. To avoid this, carve out specific times in your day for work, relaxation and spending time with loved ones and family. This will give you a sense of structure and help you to maintain healthy boundaries between work and downtime.

Stay connected in your industry

Just because you can’t meet in person, doesn’t mean you need to be isolated. Schedule virtual get-togethers with subject matter experts in your sector. Have a chat with them about future developments and trends so you can be prepared when things start to recover.

Catch up on some reading

Reading is a perfect way to pass the time during lockdown. There are plenty of books out there that can help you with motivation and self-development. At i-exchange, we’ve been reading a number of great books – here are our top three recent recommendations:

The Jelly Effect – How to make your communication stick

Andy Bounds

Order from Amazon Australia

The Jelly Effect likens communication to throwing jelly at a wall. If it’s poor, it will simply slide off. If you’re looking to communicate more effectively, this book will teach you simple, easy to use techniques for getting attention and more business. Learn how to improve your networking, selling and presenting so you can be more effective in your work.

This book is particularly useful for Employer Engagement Consultants and anyone that needs to communicate effectively in their professional lives.

The Tall Man – Death and Life on Palm Island

Chloe Hopper

Order from Amazon Australia

In her review, Readings Monthly editor Jo Case describes this book as “a microcosm of the wider story of Australia. It is, at its heart, a story of the ongoing clashes between tribes in our country: the police and the Palm Islanders, white and black Australia, northern and southern Australia. It will make you angry, horrified, ashamed and sad.” Thankfully we have moved on a lot since this book was set, yet it’s a reminder of how things like the recent introduction of the Healthy Welfare Card are not exactly new.

With the JobSeeker Allowance set to return to pre-COVID rates, this book is a timely reminder of how income management and restrictions impact on individuals.

The Entrepreneur’s Manual – Business Start-Ups, Spin-Offs and Innovative Management

Richard M White

Order from Amazon Australia

This book is different to most other books you’ve read. It almost takes you back to those books you had as a child, with alternative endings and different navigation options as you progress through the pages. It keeps your attention with powerful insights and clever short stories, business ideas, successes and pitfalls.

Considering that over the past 30 years, the NEIS program has helped more than 250,000 people start their own businesses. Every Employment Consultant in the country should have this book within arm’s reach. Help your job seekers explore NEIS options and start the process of entrepreneurial thinking with market testing, comparing sectors and innovating.

Need Support?

Remember if you need assistance in managing your workload during lockdown, i-exchange offers specialist, end-to-end consultancy, marketing and training services. We can help with all aspects of projects from initial ideas and design, to costing, development and execution.

Working with clients in a range of sectors including employment and disability services, NDIS and care, justice, community services, registered training and childcare, we are experts in government funded services, consumer choice models and outcome-based contracting.

Contact i-exchange today for a confidential discussion.  

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Post Author: Michelle Thomas-Kerr