We've all had that feeling, the feeling of being motivated. Maybe you came out of the cinema punching the air having just watched Rocky (younger readers, ask your parents), or maybe each year after watching Wimbledon you pick up a tennis racket and vow to stick with it this time round.
If you're lucky, it lasts for a couple of weeks. And then it wears off, you don't feel motivated and Rocky becomes just a film you watched at the cinema a few weeks back. This is how it works for everyone more or less, because motivation is a feeling, like being happy and like being sad. Feelings come and go, you simply cannot stay motivated all the time. How then can you continue to pursue your goal even when you don't feel motivated to do so?
While I have already discussed that you should 'connect with your why,' the other key strategy here is to make what you're doing a habit.
Think about cleaning your teeth. You do it (probably), and you probably do it in the same way at the same time every day. You probably can't remember when you first started cleaning your teeth, and you rarely if ever miss doing so. But think about this also: do you enjoy cleaning your teeth? You might never have asked yourself that question before. You're probably indifferent about it. Do you have to feel motivated to clean your teeth? No, you simply do it, almost on autopilot.
And that's the answer. To push ahead and do what you need to do when trying to achieve your goal, create what you have to do as a habit. In fact, what you are trying to change is most likely a bad habit, so think that you're not trying to give something up, rather, you're trying to replace a bad habit with a good habit.
That might sound easier said than done, but again, there are all sorts of tips and tricks that can help here. We will discuss some of those in future articles, but for now, keeping it short, we note that psychologists point to the three 'R's: Reminder, Routine, Reward.
R1, Reminder: In brushing your teeth, the reminder is the morning trip to the bathroom that most people need to take to use the other porcelain basin, but now you're in the bathroom, it's a big old reminder of what else you need to do while there.
R2, Routine: In this example, clearly here, it is the very act of brushing your teeth.
R3, Reward: This is truly excellent in brushing your teeth because the real reward of course of the long term health for your teeth by preventing tooth decay. But the short term reward is minty fresh breath which feels good to you and is always appreciated by others. The reward is instant. Toothpaste doesn't need to be mint flavoured, but toothpaste companies aren't dumb.
In the following articles, we'll look at other aspects which can help you in developing good habits. But next time you feel motivated, realise, it wont last. Instead, think how you can harness that motivation to set up the basis for creating a habit. When your motivation goes, your habit will still be there.
While I have already discussed that you should 'connect with your why,' the other key strategy here is to make what you're doing a habit.
Think about cleaning your teeth. You do it (probably), and you probably do it in the same way at the same time every day. You probably can't remember when you first started cleaning your teeth, and you rarely if ever miss doing so. But think about this also: do you enjoy cleaning your teeth? You might never have asked yourself that question before. You're probably indifferent about it. Do you have to feel motivated to clean your teeth? No, you simply do it, almost on autopilot.
And that's the answer. To push ahead and do what you need to do when trying to achieve your goal, create what you have to do as a habit. In fact, what you are trying to change is most likely a bad habit, so think that you're not trying to give something up, rather, you're trying to replace a bad habit with a good habit.
That might sound easier said than done, but again, there are all sorts of tips and tricks that can help here. We will discuss some of those in future articles, but for now, keeping it short, we note that psychologists point to the three 'R's: Reminder, Routine, Reward.
R1, Reminder: In brushing your teeth, the reminder is the morning trip to the bathroom that most people need to take to use the other porcelain basin, but now you're in the bathroom, it's a big old reminder of what else you need to do while there.
R2, Routine: In this example, clearly here, it is the very act of brushing your teeth.
R3, Reward: This is truly excellent in brushing your teeth because the real reward of course of the long term health for your teeth by preventing tooth decay. But the short term reward is minty fresh breath which feels good to you and is always appreciated by others. The reward is instant. Toothpaste doesn't need to be mint flavoured, but toothpaste companies aren't dumb.
In the following articles, we'll look at other aspects which can help you in developing good habits. But next time you feel motivated, realise, it wont last. Instead, think how you can harness that motivation to set up the basis for creating a habit. When your motivation goes, your habit will still be there.
Author's note: I am a professional life and executive coach with a special interest in success and goal achievement. I work with individuals and groups to help them achieve their goals. I also undertake events and public speaking engagements. If you are interested in how I can help you or your organisation achieve your/its goals, without obligation, please get in touch via email (david at thecriticalcouple dot com) or via the contact tab on this website.