How do you get yourself to work effectively/focused when the motivation isn't there or you don't feel like it? originally appeared on Quora - the knowledge sharing network where compelling questions are answered by people with unique insights.
Answer by Charles Duhigg, Staff Writer, New York Times and Author of, Smarter Faster Better, on Quora.
Ahh, motivation. So sweet and elusive! (At least, when you are trying to force yourself to do something you don't want to do.)
The first chapter of Smarter Faster Better is all about the neurology and psychology of motivation. It explores how the Marine Corps redesigned boot camp to teach recruits how to cultivate self-motivation, and why subversive nursing home residents live longer by trying to undermine a home's rules. (You might like the book!)
So I'll keep this short, except to say that two key aspects of motivation are:
(1) Finding a choice within a chore. Our brains crave being in charge. They crave being able to assert ourselves. The parts of our neurology associated with motivation become more active when we feel like we get to make a decision and determine what's going to occur. So the more you can find choices within tasks ("I think I'll start with question 2 on this homework assignment" "I'm going to reply to this email, and will start by insisting that we eat Indian food when we meet for lunch tomorrow") the easier it is to generate motivation to start.
(2) We also very often need to see how a task fits into our larger goals and aspirations in order to become motivated. Even smart people forget why they are doing things. It's really easy to loose track of what matters. By reminding ourselves of how a small action fits into a bigger objective ("I'm grading these papers because that way the University get tuition dollars and that way they can pay for my cancer research and that way I can save lives"), we make it easier to link our small efforts to more meaningful aspirations. (That's a real quote from a cancer researcher, by the way. It's a mantra he repeats to himself every time he sits down to grade, because it helps him get started on the most boring aspect of his job.)
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