It's sometimes hard to tell if the people responsible for the mess in these photos have caused it due to their lack of experience, on purpose, or because of some force majeure.

One of the UK's highest-rated life coaches who has coached psychologists, doctors, therapists, neuroscientists as well as athletes, celebrities, and high net-worth individuals, Nick Hatter, told Bored Panda there can be a number of reasons why people feel unmotivated. "What differentiates us from an animate object (like a rock) is the fact that we have certain needs that must be met by our environment if we are to be psychologically healthy," the author of The 7 Questions said.

"According to the Humans Givens model of psychotherapy, we all have a need for quality sleep, connection, belonging, self-esteem, a sense of competency, meaning and purpose, autonomy (a sense of control), a sense of status, as well as financial security (given that money buys us essentials such as food, utilities, and shelter). We also need some fun and laughs!"

With that said, here are a few reasons why Hatter thinks we can stop caring about our job:

• A lack of belonging (eg. cliques, bullying, politics);
• Feelings of incompetency (such as by poor management);
• Not having enough meaning and purpose in the job (eg. by not being challenged enough, or management not being clear on why the company mission matters so much, internal politics); 
• Not having enough autonomy;
• Not feeling valued and respected;
• Need for financial security not being met;
• Need for a sense of status not being met;
• Any other fundamental human needs not being met;
• Prolonged states of stress (caused by crushing work schedules and continuous pressure).

If you're concerned about your situation, it might be a good idea to have an honest and frank conversation with your manager to discuss how you can get these needs met. "A good manager will have some coaching skills and will respect your feelings," Nick Hatter pointed out, "They could help you formulate and agree upon a plan to help you thrive and perform well at the company. A bad manager however will poo-poo your feelings and invalidate them."

But if your doubts are really crushing you, Hatter says you should probably think about who you are showing up to work for. "Are there people who depend on you, such as clients, customers, animals, or dependents? Being needed by others is one way we can derive more meaning. For example, certain professions like nursing can be thankless, extremely hard work, and underpaid, but many patients would die or be even iller if it was not for their work. To quote Nietzche: 'He who has a why can bear almost any how.'"

Sometimes, you might be in a good place after all. Maybe it's just burnout and all you needed is a bit of time off and relaxation. "A holiday, a staycation, or a bit fun can be what's necessary to spark motivation," Hatter added. "Chronic states of stress and anxiety can be what's zapping our motivation and our creativity."

"If you struggle to rekindle motivation at work, then it might be time to leave and find something else life is too short to be doing unfulfilling work," Hatter said. "You might benefit from working with a career or life coach if you need help with motivation."

However, if you can't afford to do so, books can also guide you along the way. Nick Hatter's The 7 Questions (due Jan 2022), for example, is a good start.

"[Please consider that] motivation to even get out of bed or show up for life may be a sign of depression and may require the help of a therapist or a coach trained in psychotherapeutic approaches," Nick highlighted.

If you're unsure what to do next, he suggests asking yourself, 'What's the next smallest step I can take?'

"Small steps are how mountains are climbed, whether that mountain is finding a new job or starting your own company," the life coach said.