Staying motivated when the battle feels won

Today Dr Ashley Bloomfield announced zero new COVID-19 cases. This may feel like music to your ears. We’ve reached our goal and life can go back to normal now, right?

It is psychologically important we acknowledge and celebrate this win, for positive reinforcement encourages the continuation of desired behaviour. However, it is imperative we all understand that we are not at the finish line. A singular day of zero reported cases does not mean the same result will be produced tomorrow. For the hordes of people who attended weekend house parties or stood shoulder to shoulder in a take away queue, this is an important message.

Alternatively, some people may have been surprised that they felt less elated than expected by today’s news. There is a neuro-scientific explanation for this. When we are actively working to achieve a goal, the reward hormone dopamine is released in anticipation of goal completion. Each milestone you reach along the journey activates another dopamine release, motivating you to continue on. However when you reach your goal, that release of dopamine drops and is therefore biochemically harder to feel joy. This is known as the arrival fallacy.

So how as a nation can we maintain our motivation to follow the rules, especially if the battle already feels won? 

1. Change your mindset Research has shown that until the mid-point of a challenge focusing on what you have achieved spurs motivation, whereas it is more motivating to focus on what’s left to achieve when you are nearing the end. So instead of your bubble purely congratulating yourselves on 5.5 weeks of compliance, reset the focus to ensuring your behaviour enables the Government to announce level 2.
2. Understand your power There is a deeply rooted psychological principle called social proof, whereby humans have a well engrained mental shortcut which says “if I see other people acting in a certain way it must be right”. Next time you are tempted to hug a friend, shake a hand or rush past someone in the supermarket aisle, remember you are influencing the behaviour of everyone surrounding you. 
3. Think of what we have to lose Research has shown that people have a preference for avoiding losses rather than acquiring equivalent gains. Aka, it is more desirable to avoid returning to level 4 than reaching level 2. If you have thoroughly enjoyed national lockdown, think of the business owners and potential job losses if we were to return to level 4. Altruism is an extremely powerful motivator.

This is a long tramp through the wilderness, not a sprint. We’ve had a cracking start, and now we need to set our sights on the horizon and keep walking.