The Myth of Motivation and How to Get Rid of It

Most of us believe we need motivation to start or finish a task, but unfortunately, that's not always the case.

I've certainly faced situations when I wanted to get something done, But I’ve had a hard time getting myself to work. Most of us procrastinate until we stop thinking about the task or unconsciously find something else to occupy our mind.

American essayist Ralph Waldo Emerson is quoted as saying, “Start doing the job, and you'll get the energy to do it.” That is, even if you don't feel like writing or working out right now, once you open your laptop and start typing or put your running shoes on and head out the door, you'll have the energy you've been looking for as soon as you get going and start working.

Although this quote dates back to the nineteenth century, science today has corroborated what Emerson noticed many years ago.

The relationship between dopamine and happiness

Scientific research has long linked the neurotransmitter dopamine to happiness. But new research confirms that it is also responsible for motivation.

Most of us wait until we feel inspired or motivated to start working on a new task or habit. We anxiously await the release of dopamine in our brain, hoping it will give us the drive to act. But we all know that this rarely happens, and the reason is that motivation is generated after starting work on the task and not before that. So if you want to start writing a book, hitting the gym, or whatever, try focusing on what author David Allen calls the "two-minute rule."

The rule states that “When you start a new habit, it should take you less than two minutes to do it.” This means that when you want to develop a new habit, focus only on the first two minutes of the task, and once you do that, motivation will build.

For example, if you want to read more, focus only on opening the book and reading one page, and if you want to run after work, just focus on putting on your shoes and getting out of the house. In both examples, you will find that once you start, you will complete the rest of the task quite easily.

Get started and leave the rest to your brain

The idea behind this strategy is to just get started. After that, your brain will take care of the rest, giving you the motivation you craved before starting the task. As James Clear, author of Atomic Habits, says, the hardest part of working on any kind of task is: It's a new task at first, but when you set a goal as simple as just putting on your shoes and getting out of the house or just opening up your laptop and starting to write, you make it so easy to do and so hard to undo.

"Don't let the fears in your mind lead you; follow the dreams in your heart." Author: Roy T. Bennett

Define clearly what you must accomplish

Another way to generate motivation to work on a task you want to complete is to set a date to complete it and add it to your daily schedule. This is perhaps one of the best tricks for working at a steady pace.

With so many busy lives, distractions, and things that require your attention, this is a great way to ensure you get things done. Instead of waiting and hoping you'll have time to complete a certain task, add the task to your calendar. This is how you tell your brain that you won't do anything else but this task.

The truth you must understand about motivation is

You'll find that most people never start working on a task or goal because they haven't made time for it, but if you add daily tasks to your schedule, you won't have to wait for willpower or motivation to get them done.

For example, if you want to hit the gym every other day after work between 5 and 6 p.m., start creating a routine that makes it easier for you. Since we are creatures of habit, the more you do this, the easier it becomes to follow this new behavior, and it seems as if your body itself will want to work on the new habit.

In conclusion

Most of us allow circumstances and emotions to subconsciously influence the tasks we hope to accomplish, but if you have a consistent routine, your body will naturally follow it, making it easier for you. So in the context of human change, motivation is not about having enough energy to do a task; Rather, by understanding how your body develops its behaviors and actions, you can direct your actions to achieve the goals you seek.