The Motivation Switch

Want to be more motivated to stick to your goals?
Here’s the secret: Don’t focus on your goals.

The way we motivate ourselves is totally WRONG. 🤯

Researchers Fishbach & Choi discovered that setting a goal gives us a BRIEF initial motivation boost, but it doesn’t last for long. For longer lasting, more powerful motivation, here’s what they found…

People who are most successful SWITCH their focus away from long-term goals and INSTEAD FOCUS ON ✨IMMEDIATE BENEFITS.✨

EXAMPLES:
– Exercisers naturally do about 10 minutes more on a treadmill & feel more energized after a workout if they focus on how good they feel RIGHT AWAY rather than a long-term goal of weight loss.
– Flossers are more likely to floss when they focus on how fresh & clean their teeth feel RIGHT AWAY instead of focusing on a long-term goal of preventing gum disease.

Most of us focus on how great the OUTCOME is going to be like weight loss, the marathon finish line, or the big promotion… and, true, it gives us an INITIAL motivation boost.

HOWEVER, if all we do is focus on that long-term goal, motivation burns out.
Humans aren’t hard wired to care so much about the future.

INSTEAD, focus on what IMMEDIATELY FEELS GOOD like how energized you feel from a nourishing food choice or how strong & confident you feel after a workout.

We can activate more long-lasting, powerful, and natural motivation if we switch our focus to the immediate pleasure we feel.

BOTTOM LINE: For any habit you are struggling with, find the IMMEDIATE benefit, pleasure, or joy from doing it. Then keep focused on that to activate your natural motivation system!

BONUS! LISTEN BY THE POOL: 
I share my perspective on JOY-FUELED GOALS on the aSweatLife podcast. Click HERE to listen. xoxo