5 Science Backed Ways to Stay Motivated
The thing about motivation is that it doesn’t have to be hard. The good news is, you can always get it back. The goal is to develop the right outlook and mindset that can help you long-term. Check out these 5 Science Backed Ways to Stay Motivated that can help reach the big shot you’ve always wanted.
5 Science Backed Ways to Stay Motivated
Enlist an Accountability Partner
A study conducted by Dr. Gail Matthews ( reference https://scholar.dominican.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi ), a psychology professor at Dominican University in California found that participants were 33% more likely to actually accomplish their goals when they wrote them down, shared them with another person, and then checked in with regular progress updates. We all need a little help every now and then. So, don’t hesitate to lean on other people when you require some added accountability. The right accountability partner will keep you motivated when you lose sight of your goal, help you move past setbacks and cheer you on when you make strides towards the goal.
Set Scary Deadlines
All too often, lack of motivation and procrastination go hand in hand. Without a deadline breathing down our necks, we have almost no reason to get to work. According to the research ( reference https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177 ), setting some crazy deadlines better connects your future self to your present self, which inspires you to start working , even in those moments when you feel totally unmotivated.
Reward Immediately
We all know the drill. Do something and get something in return. The more the effort, energy, time spent, the better the reward. It is the most famous strategy to get things done for one simple reason. If you put in a simple personal reward system, you find the reason to keep going. The magnitude of the reward is not directly proportional to motivation. Even the smallest of rewards can get you all pumped up to do more. Every time you do a good job or accomplish a significant task, reward yourself in small proportions. A good place to start is rewarding yourself for meeting goals that are of reasonable size. Refer the study here https://scholarworks.gvsu.edu/cgi for detailed grasp on the topic.
5 Science Backed Ways to Stay Motivated …
Set Specific, Not Vague, Goals
Let’s say your dream is to run your own business. If you’re starting from scratch, it sounds pretty daunting. So in order to make it happen, it’s all about baby steps, like creating a business plan and finding an accountant. According to the American Psychological Association, people who set out to achieve a few small, specific tasks are 90 percent more likely to achieve them than those who aim for a large, broader goal. So when you’re feeling overwhelmed, break down your goals into mini tasks. Just send that email and you’re one step closer.
Build up your willpower muscle
When faced with something tempting, the two parts of your prefrontal cortex are in competition. The right part of the PFC (the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex) is to do with analyzing thoughts and self-control and the left (the orbitofrontal cortex) is associated with making decisions based on emotional information. Your Willpower is like a muscle, you can train it to help you make choices that come from the right part, and get you closer to your goals more often. The more you use your willpower, the more your brain will follow healthy cues. Study ( https://www.forbes.com/sites/womensmedia/2022/04/22 ) says with willpower, it’s urging yourself to make the smarter choice, even when you may not feel like it.
Final Takeaway | 5 Science Backed Ways to Stay Motivated
Whether it’s hitting the gym three days a week or finally finishing your novel, sometimes the biggest obstacle standing in the way of achieving your goals is, well, you. And we’ve all gone through phases where we’re just not in the mood to act. But science has just got you ! The above 5 Science-Backed Ways to Stay Motivated gives you major findings on motivation from science. And how we can translate those into practical actions to help us get more done with less friction.
Read also : 5 Harsh Realities that Help You Grow ! ( https://thebrightdelights.com/5-harsh-realities-that-help-you-grow/