The Psychology of Motivation: How to Stay on Track

Staying motivated is an art and science.

It’s an art because it requires creativity, imagination, and the ability to see things from different perspectives.

It’s a science because you can apply certain principles to increase motivation.

And many of us strive to master the art and science of motivation.

Especially on:

• Pushing towards your career goals
• Sticking to a new fitness regimen
• Staying focused on daily tasks

Knowing what drives motivation can transform your perspective.

Let's Talk About Motivation

Motivation is what starts your journey and sustains your progress. It's like the engine inside you that drives you to do things, big and small.

An article in the Harvard Business Review sheds light on two predominant forms of motivation: intrinsic and extrinsic [1].

• Intrinsic motivation is doing something because you love it, find it fun (like playing a game or reading a favorite book) or it is for you.
• Extrinsic motivation is when you do things to get a reward, avoid trouble (like studying for good grades or doing chores to earn an allowance) or for someone else.

Different things motivate different people…and what motivates us can change over time.

Have you noticed what makes you want to get up and go?

How to Set Goals that Will Keep You Motivated?

Did you know vague goals can kill your motivation? Vague goals are motivation’s greatest enemy.

They’re like a fog that keeps you from seeing where you’re going.

So when you have goals, make sure they're SMART.

That means they should be:

• Specific
• Measurable
• Achievable
• Relevant
• Time-bound

It's like having a roadmap.

Knowing your destination makes you feel less anxious and more accomplished each time you hit a milestone.

And you know what's cool? Each success makes you want to push even harder for the next success.

How do you apply the SMART acronym to your goals? Check out this post: How SMART Goals Can Help You Change Your Life by 2024

Stay motivated,?

Alexa