I'm currently working for a small software development company. I don't love it, but I don't hate it either, and up until this point I've gotten far in the company by working very hard.
I've recently been accepted into a couple PhD programs, and depending on which one I go to I'll either be leaving my job in 3 months or 5. The rest of my career will be in academia or research - this job was and continues to be little more than a way to pay my bills and put away money for when I go back to school.
The problem is, I've hit a brick wall. Since I got my first acceptance letter, all motivation has been sucked out of me and I haven't been able to focus or care since.
I won't be telling my boss that I'm leaving until I give 2 weeks notice. I know the situation at my work well enough to know that would be a big mistake.
I realize that there may be no answer and this may be off topic, but I don't suppose it can hurt to ask. What do I do in this situation? Is there any good way to motivate myself to perform better? Is there anything worth doing in a 5-month lame duck period?
I'm not worried about losing my job, but I feel bad because when I sit at my desk for 8 hours doing 3 hours of actual work, I'm wasting client and company money.