Motivation + How It Works
Scientists define motivation as your general willingness to do something. Motivation is also defined as the reason (or reasons) one has for acting or behaving in a particular way (dictionary.com, 2021). One of the most surprising things about motivation is that it often comes after starting a new behavior, not before. Many people think of motivation as a feeling that happens in order to take action, when in reality, motivation is often the result of action, and happens after you take simple first-steps.
Motivation is the result of action, not the cause of it. This means that taking action inspires the feeling of motivation, therefore, in order to gain the feeling of motivation, you must take action first. Getting started in very small ways is a form of active inspiration which naturally produces momentum and motivation. The key is to make the action so small and simple, that you have to say yes to it. Once you say yes to the simple action, the feeling of motivation is inspired which drives you to continue with the actions leading you to your goals. Read on for a few quick tips that will help you take action to inspire the feeling of motivation.
Many people struggle to continuously feel the motivation
needed to achieve goals. Read on for a few quick tips that are so easy,
you have to say yes to them.
Take action to inspire motivation:
Schedule your motivation - setting a schedule for yourself seems simple enough, but doing this puts your decision-making on autopilot and gives your goals a place to live. Be intentional in honoring your goals by setting a regular schedule and being consistent.
Have a good pre-game routine - your routine should be so simple you have to say yes to getting it done. For example, on mornings like today, I start the gps on my watch before I even get out of bed. That alone, is enough to bring active inspiration for me to get out the door. The MOST IMPORTANT part of any task is starting, usually the feeling of motivation comes after.
Your routine should get you moving toward the end goal - when you are physically moving and engaged you are far more likely to feel mentally engaged and energized. While your routine should be super easy to start, it should gradually transition into more physical movement.
Follow the same pattern every single time - the purpose of your pre-game routine is to create a series of events that you always perform before doing a specific task. Eventually the routine becomes tied to your performance and simply starting the routine pulls you into a mental state of getting it done.
The three R's of habit formation include:
REMINDER, ROUTINE and REWARD.
Reminder is the cue that starts the habit (aka your pre-game routine).
Routine is the action (habit) itself.
The Reward is the benefit you gain and the motivation that you feel.
REMEMBER: the feeling of MOTIVATION often comes after you take action.
***You do not need to know how to find motivation - you just need to start your routine and take simple action.***
Natalie Baerwaldt is a certified running coach, Pure Barre instructor, and college professor. She works and resides in Richardson, TX with her husband and two daughters. Natalie teaches at the University of Texas at Dallas and coaches a weekly running program for elementary aged children. You can follow Natalie on FaceBook and Instagram @momonatangent - also known as Mom On A Tangent. Natalie is known for "going off on a tangent" when she finds passion on a topic, and she also "runs the tangent lines" when she races marathons. Natalie is an avid runner and promotes essential health to bring out the best in others. Thanks for reading!