So, what exactly is self-motivation?
Well it’s the internal state that allows us to begin, continue, or stop a behaviour.
For example, when we are hungry, we might be self-motivated to eat something.
We may be motivated to continue working at a job in order to pay our bills, or we may be motivated to end a relationship when it no longer fulfils us.
In fact more or less any conceivable behaviour you can think of can be initiated through some form of self-motivation.
4 Basic Examples of Self Motivation
● Starting your tasks promptly and getting them done when you say you will
● Making sure you clean the house when you notice it’s in a mess
● Doing the washing up soon after eating a meal
● Going out of your way to say kind things to your family or friends
Building Your Self-Motivation Skills
If you are looking to build self-motivation, you are going to need to develop some additional skills.
Here are 8 you can choose from to get you started.
● A drive to achieve. The drive to get something done instead of working for outside benefits like money or status.
● Initiative. The tendencies to do something, lead, or move ahead before other people do.
● Commitment to goals. The determination and persistence to reach your goals.
● A Passion for work. The enjoyment gained from doing the work itself.
● Eagerness. The desire to try new things and face new problems.
● The desire to get better. The need to keep on improving (Goleman, 2018).
● Self-efficacy. The belief that your specific actions will lead to their desired outcomes (Stajkovic & Luthans, 2003).
● Resilience. Developing the ability to keep going regardless of difficulties.
5 Tips to Boost Self-Motivation
Make pursuing your goal a bit more social
Previous studies involving workers revealed something crucial for staying committed – they saw it as a form of motivation, and the key contributor was a desire to bond or connect with others (Nohria, Groysberg, & Lee, 2008).
When we talk about motivating ourselves, it’s easy to picture exhausting routines and our never-ending to-do lists.
However, the reality is that we can make motivation more accessible by adding a social element to the pursuit of our goal.
So, if you are finding one of your tasks too challenging, consider making it a social activity.
Discovering your strengths
The same research study that we mentioned above found that when we understand and feel competent in our work, we tend to be more committed (Nohria, Groysberg, & Lee, 2008).
That makes sense, right?
When we’re good at something, it’s less likely to frustrate us, and we usually find it more enjoyable.
Other research indicates that we’re most engaged and motivated when the task is just right in terms of difficulty—not too hard to make us feel bad about ourselves, and not too easy to become boring.
Harness your desires to gain and protect
Researchers who study workplaces have found that two more things can push us to stay motivated: the urge to acquire things that make us feel good (like food, money, experiences, or entertainment).
And the urge to protect what matters to us (our possessions, achievements, beliefs, and so on; Nohria, Groysberg, & Lee, 2008).
So it could be useful to remember these desires and think about how our actions can satisfy them.
Create habits
Once we make something a habit, it becomes much simpler to stick with it.
This means that mastering the art of forming habits can greatly boost your self-motivation.
According to BJ Fogg, the author of “Tiny Habits,” the best way to start is with an incredibly small, almost trivial habit.
Then gradually build it up from there.
For instance, if your goal is to walk a mile daily, begin with just stepping outside your door, then a few more steps, and continue adding a tiny bit at a time.
Establish backup plans
You can do this by setting implementation intentions.
Think of implementation intentions as your safety net, they’re your pre-made strategies for just in-case your initial plan doesn’t quite work out (Gollwitzer, 1999).
To create one, simply decide that IF X is going to happen, THEN you’re going to do Y.
For instance, if you have a dentist appointment suddenly crop up, then you’ll change your plan and complete your work later in the evening.
In Short
Boosting our motivation is something we all need to do from time to time.
I hope, this article provided you with some valuable ideas for how to boost your motivation and helps you towards the pursuit of your goals..
References
● Goleman, D. (2018). What makes a leader? (pp. 39-52). Routledge.
● Gollwitzer, P. M. (1999). Implementation intentions: strong effects of simple plans. American psychologist, 54(7), 493.
● Nohria, N., Groysberg, B., & Lee, L. (2008). Employee motivation: A powerful new model. Harvard business review, 86(7/8), 78.
● Stajkovic, A. D., & Luthans, F. (2003). Social cognitive theory and self-efficacy: Implications for motivation theory and practice. Motivation and work behavior, 126, 140.
