When faced with a difficult logic puzzle (or Sudoku, or similar), I like to solve it by building an integer programming (IP) model. Like doing an easy jigsaw, progress can be seen to be made, the whole picture can be seen once the outline (or model structure) has been built, and it gets easier the end is neared. In contrast, doing such puzzles by hand can often lead down blind alleys and dead ends - even if over half completed. I will frequently just give up on a puzzle in this situation.
If work is viewed as a series of puzzles to be resolved, then this could explain a lot: puzzles that just keep on hitting one insurmountable blockage after another are demotivating for me.
The actionable takeaway from this is a behaviour for when becoming demotivated: brainstorm on how to make the task seem less like a grid with dead ends and more like an easy jigsaw.
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