/Video/How to get motivated even when you don’t feel like it

How to get motivated even when you don’t feel like it

On the popular TED-Ed YouTube channel, with over 20 million followers, the video “How to Get Motivated Even When You Don’t Feel Like It” has garnered significant attention, with nearly 2 million views. The video addresses the core issue of how to stay motivated to accomplish tasks in life.

Below is a summary of this video:

You’ve always dreamed of becoming a professional artist. Finally, that dream could become a reality, and you’re building a portfolio to apply to art programs. But as the deadline approaches, you suddenly feel unmotivated and avoid painting.

Why does motivation seem so fleeting?

First, what exactly is motivation?

Psychologists define motivation as the desire or drive to initiate and maintain a specific behavior.

In other words, it’s the energy that pushes you to do something. And understanding where this drive comes from is key to maintaining it.

These drives are typically divided into two major categories: intrinsic and extrinsic.

  • Intrinsic motivation occurs when you view an activity as an end in itself, like a hobby, such as playing video games. This experience broadly illustrates the desire to engage in something you find enjoyable, meaningful, interesting, or satisfying. Intrinsic motivation drives you to do things that you find immediately engaging or fulfilling.
  • Extrinsic motivation refers to doing a task to achieve a result. While few people consider going to the dentist fun, you’re usually motivated by the outcome of having clean, healthy teeth. Other examples of extrinsic motivation include completing tasks to receive rewards, whether it’s praise, power, or money. Notably, these rewards tend to come later, like earning a bonus at the end of the quarter or winning a competition after months of training.

Although external rewards like money may seem appealing, their effects are surprisingly short-lived.

For example, a 2017 study found that people who were highly focused on the outcomes of their New Year’s resolutions or were driven by extrinsic motivation were less likely to stick to them.

However, what really leads to perseverance is how much a person enjoys pursuing their goal. In other words, you’re more likely to maintain an exercise habit if you attend a class you like, rather than just ones aimed at building muscle.

Years of psychological research have shown that high levels of intrinsic motivation in studying, working, or exercise classes are more likely to help you persist in the long term. However, day-to-day activities are rarely purely driven by intrinsic or extrinsic factors. For instance, studying for a history exam may be motivated by an intrinsic curiosity about ancient Egyptian culture. But extrinsic motivations might also kick in if you want to get a good grade or feel pressure to excel because of family expectations.

Having more motivation isn’t always better.

A study on military cadets showed that those driven by both intrinsic motivation, like self-improvement, and extrinsic motivation, like securing a good job, were generally less enthusiastic than those with just one type of motivation.

As a result, these cadets performed worse and were less likely to graduate. Psychologists call this the “overjustification effect,” the idea that additional extrinsic motivation can actually interfere when you already have intrinsic motivation to do something.

But when faced with an activity you find dull or uninteresting, adding external rewards can be helpful. In this way, extrinsic motivation can serve as a valuable tool.

Although you may never enjoy doing laundry, you might feel less discouraged if you receive praise from a loved one or promise yourself a reward, like watching your favorite TV show after folding the clothes.

Motivation is complex.
And sometimes, no matter how passionate you are about a goal or hobby, it can be hard to find the motivation to actually do it. But there are things you can do to boost your motivation, even when it feels impossible.

Focus on building intrinsic motivation by making the task more enjoyable. Inviting a friend to join you or simply putting on your favorite playlist can give you the drive to start and stick with your goal in the long run.

Watch the full video [HERE].

Received monthly

We will send you the latest information to help you proactively care for and manage your health.

Thank you for subscribing to the newsletter.

Oops. Something went wrong. Please try again later.

Biên Tập Viên

Biên Tập Viên

Comment

Hãy cho chúng tôi biết ý kiến của bạn

You May Be Interested