Never lose it

Motivation: getting under the skin

Motivation is a condition inside us that desires a change, either in the self or in the environment. It is an energized and persistent goal-directed behavior that compels us to move and take action.It is the driving force behind human behaviour.

 

Why do we get demotivated

It is an outcome of our effort to over justify situations that tires us, disabling us to concentrate on the task. A chain of thoughts surrounds our mind which distracts and demotivates us. This premise is supported by the Optimal Arousal Theory, which explains how each person’s unique level of arousal becomes a key factor behind the demotivation. In fact, when we are struggling to get motivated, we are likely to come up with several reasons justifying our inaction, such as “It will be too hard ,”or, “I will never get it done anyway.” One should rather think of all the reasons why we might succeed; or when you think you can’t finish a task, we can list out all the evidence that suggests we can complete the task.

 

Identifying effective motivation

Motivation is generally classified into two broad types- intrinsic and extrinsic. One is said to be intrinsically motivated when the incentive lies in the interest or enjoyment derived in being able to complete the task. Any hobby or sport we pursue is an outcome of intrinsic motivation as the experience itself is the reward for the action. Conversely when we feel motivated to perform a task for an award or avoid a punishment, it is a case of extrinsic motivation. Studying for good grades or completing a task in expectation of praise, power or money are examples of extrinsic motivation.
Though it seems one is more likely to be motivated by external rewards, it is not a long term sustainable solution. It is true a horse runs faster and with more enthusiasm if we hold a carrot before it. However, since this is not permitted during the race, the horse has to do without it. External factors can easily be taken away; these are transient and fleeting in nature. These can be effective, however, when pursuing a short-term goal.

In certain situations, however, we are both intrinsically and extrinsically motivated. During Board Examinations, for instance, our results are important to ourselves and we also wish to make our parents proud. In the process of learning, our journey is more important than the outcome.

 

Staying motivated

We can adopt some practical strategies to overcome our inertia and get moving, even when we don’t feel like it. To begin with, start small, breaking down the goal into bite-sized tasks. Next, set a timer, taking a 5 minute break after working for every 25 minutes. This is recommended by the Pomodoro Technique. The task feels more manageable and less daunting. We need to understand the deeper reasons behind our tasks, constantly asking oneself why the task is important and how it would impact the lives of others. When we connect with the purpose, even mundane tasks can transform into meaningful opportunities. Ensuring a motivating environment, by decluttering the workspace helps to create a motivated mindset. Sharing our goals with a friend or joining a group with similar aspirations also triggers motivation. At all events, self-compassion should be at the back of our mind. Evidence suggests that students have reported greater motivation to change their weaknesses when they practise self-acceptance rather than being overly self critical. Self-compassion increases the motivation to recover from failure and is also known to improve mental health.

 

About the authors

The article has been contributed by the following students from Auxilium Convent School, Bandel: Sambita De, Madhusha Mukherjee, Rishika Jajodia, Priyani Das  Aishani Acharya.