Motivation is an abstract term that refers to the underlying reasons for an individual’s actions. Understanding those reasons can help people motivate themselves to learn and do things they might otherwise be reluctant to do. There are many different ways to achieve that motivation, either by appealing to one’s intrinsic goals or by rewarding one’s extrinsic goals.
There are two common forms of motivation: extrinsic and intrinsic. Motivation driven by extrinsic factors includes a desire for rewards (such as money) or recognition (such as employee of the month). Other extrinsic motivators could include a deadline (which forces compliance) or social pressure from peers (which can create a feeling of obligation). Intrinsic motivation, on the other hand, comes from personal desire. For example, an innate curiosity for what outcomes stem from actions, or a desire for the work to have meaning behind it, which could lend some purpose to it. Someone can also feel motivated by personal pride, wanting to have done their best in the task.
The first step for someone attempting to motivate themselves is to understand their personal “why”—the core reason for the action they are about to take. The “why” might be something external, such as wanting to achieve a promotion—and often times it will be both intrinsic and extrinsic.
The next thing to realize is that motivation isn’t a stand-alone factor; when someone decides that they’re going to do a certain task, they probably already established some vague goals in the back of their mind. In a way, some implicit understanding of the “why” leads them to take the action. For example, if someone is offered a raise in exchange for working on Saturdays, and they’re motivated by the extrinsic reward of more money, the “why” is clear and they understand their motivation. But if someone has a vague goal such as “I want to be fit,” as they start to work toward that goal a feeling of being fit may not lend any clarity to their understanding of the “why.” And since the “why” is the path which they will need to travel down to get to the “what,” their understanding of their motivation is limbo.
If they enjoy running, the “why” is clear, but if not, they need to arrive at that clarity another way. Understanding the purpose is key to staying motivated. Getting up early to jog is not pleasant for most people, but if the person understands that it leads him or her to another step toward being fit, not just out of some vague sense of the goal, they’re more likely to stay motivated.
Another thing to consider, however, is that motivation doesn’t drive most people. Rather, it’s the other way around; people are motivated to take action by some inner, driving instinct.
Take Action Before Motivation
If you think waiting for motivation to strike is your best bet, think again. Neuroscience supports that when you take action on something, no matter how small, it causes the brain to release dopamine. Dopamine is a neurotransmitter that is associated with euphoria and reward, and it’s what gives you that boost you feel when you make progress on a task. So look for ways to take even tiny actions to get started and get that dopamine flooding your brain. You’ll be motivated in no time.
Sometimes you just need to trick yourself into working harder. It’s not all just mental. Sometimes it snores and stumbles and can’t get out of bed. Have you ever noticed that the environment around you can have a huge impact on your mood? Take a moment to think about where you work best. For a lot of people, that’s at a coffee shop or a coworking space where other people are working on their own projects and it makes you feel inspired to work too. But if you love to work at home, think about where in your house do you feel the most inspired?
If you want to feel inspired and focused, a busy coffee shop sounds totally motivating. If you work at home and you don’t love to be around people when you work, you’re going to want a totally different environment than that. Work to your own strengths and understand your weaknesses. Figure out how to limit your distractions. If you find that every time you turn your computer on there’s a temptation to check Facebook, minimize that temptation and take away that distraction.
If you’ve been thinking about redesigning your office or personal workspace, think of it as an investment in your mental health and motivation. You don’t have to spend a ton of money. Buy a few plants or a piece of art. Hang a mood board. If your office is comfortable, clean, and inspiring, it’s going to motivate you to get things done.
Motivation is required by every individual to accomplish any task. It leads to initiative, inducing people to purchase a product. The motivation level in an individual is influenced by multiple factors. Researchers state that certain strategies can augment personal motivation levels. Certain motivating strategies are old but have been proven effective. Here are a handful of these lesser-known motivational strategies.
Self-compassion is an important tool in interpersonal relationships as well as leading a happy life. Positive thinking is a great way to overcome self-doubt. Exercise compassion towards yourself. In a real sense, you have to be your own best friend. Self-compassion allows you to reduce the anxiety created by harsh, negative self-criticism. Be gentle and forgiving to yourself in times of failure and acknowledge the reality that failure is part of success.
Without motivation, we do not feel like working. Small wins are the major building blocks for developing self-confidence and enhancing motivation. According to the famous business author, Seth Godin, small wins are the great way to build the momentum for the future. It provides the encouragement to reach all the milestones in the journey to reach the goals. Set smart and achievable goals and revel in the small wins to boost confidence as confidence is the paragon of sustained motivation.
Another major motivational strategy is focused towards emphasizing on the daily tasks rather than larger or distant future goals. It is good to be aware of the distant goal and to focus on the final steps, however one should have clarity about the path to be followed. It is an effective method to keep the motivation level high.
Motivation is beyond the logical aspect. The emotional side plays a vital role in contemplation, which makes having self-compassion essential to help sustain motivation. Often, after struggling to achieve a goal, we experience a setback. Motivation is felt when the earthenware is heated before the pottery wheel, however to make the pot there is sudden pressure applied creating an impact on the mindset. The impact creates a sense of shame or purpose. A sense of purpose helps to stimulate motivation while shame restricts motivation.
In conclusion,
Motivation is vital for human accomplishment, but some strategies remain elusive. Using self-compassion, creating small wins, focusing on daily tasks, and having clarity of purpose can all be used to augment motivation levels. Lately I have been mulling over motivation. I think vastly different things now, at my age, than I used to. Here are some of my thought.
Motivation is social. Motivation is contagious. When you are with people who are moving forward, you want to move forward. If motivation is gone, it can be hard to breathe fresh air into. Surround yourself with driven, positive associates that create ambition in your life.
Motivation is intentional. We have the power to manage our motivation through our energy. You can find motivation through various exchanges that create energy and drive. Determine what will give you energy or motivation: jump rope, run, yoga…whatever you need to do to get the pep back in your step.
Motivation has seasons. Sometimes you just don’t feel up to it. That is okay. Admitting it allows you the grace to get back in the game when you are ready. You will have those ebb and flow times in your life. There is no need to be ashamed or embarrassed. Just own the season you are in and work with it.
Motivation is fickle. If you rely solely on motivation to do certain tasks or responsibilities, you will often find yourself doing nothing. However, if you direct daily small wins that accumulate into big wins over weeks and months you will find yourself looking forward to, and being excited about, the big reward. But getting up every morning to get moving is hard to do. We must be more committed to doing the things that will yield the desired results, over how we feel that day. We need to be daily charting our course, over our arbitrary feelings for the day.
Writeic.com is a creative platform dedicated to writers, interview, storytellers, and digital creators who want to inspire the world through words. The authors at Writeic share insights on writing, creativity, storytelling, motivation, success story, and content creation to help readers grow their voice and unlock their creative potential.
