Motivation. We love the idea of it. We think it’s the magical fuel for success. But honestly? I’m not a big fan of relying on motivation to make real, lasting changes in life.
Sure, those random bursts of motivation can feel amazing. You get a surge of energy, accomplish more than usual – it’s great when it happens. But that’s the problem: it’s random. It’s not something you can consistently count on.
Think About the Drag
Think about it: Some days you wake up ready to conquer the world. Other days? Dragging yourself out of bed feels like a monumental effort. When you start a new goal, motivation is sky-high. Then, as the initial excitement fades and routine sets in, motivation dips. You might get another boost when you hit a milestone, but those surges are unpredictable.
That’s why focusing solely on motivation is a trap. A far better approach? Build systems, not just rely on willpower. Create routines and habits so clear and structured that they practically run themselves, even when motivation is MIA. When you define the time, place, and action for each step towards your goal, you’re far more likely to follow through, regardless of how you feel on any given day.
Relying on motivation puts you at the mercy of willpower. And willpower is a finite resource. Constantly having to mentally wrestle yourself into action, especially when you’re not feeling it, is exhausting. It drains your mental energy.
Think Smarter, not Harder
The smarter move is to make progress easy. While you can’t automate everything, you can simplify things to reduce the mental friction when motivation is low.
Take the gym, for example. If your goal is early morning workouts, lay out your gym clothes the night before. One less decision to make when that alarm goes off, making it just a little bit easier to get out of bed and go.
Trying to ditch junk food? Identify your triggers. Is it that Starbucks drive-thru on your way home? Change your route. Suddenly, resisting that snack takes less willpower because you’ve removed the easy, automatic cue.
Make the big, Small
Big projects feel overwhelming when motivation is lacking. Cleaning your room can seem like a Herculean task when you’re just not feeling it. But break it down. Start ridiculously small. Tell yourself, “I’m just going to empty the trash can under my desk.” No pressure to do more. If you only empty that trash can? Great. You did something. Anything above zero is a win, especially in the long game.
And here’s the cool thing about starting small: momentum.
You set out to empty that one trash can – maybe 5% of the total room cleaning. But as you reach under your desk, you spot some clothes for the laundry. Trash bag in hand, clothes in the other, you head out… and notice those papers cluttering your desk. Suddenly, you’ve tackled 30% of the job, just from starting with that tiny, easy task.
This “kickstart” effect is powerful. As long as you don’t pressure yourself for more, starting small can often ignite the motivation to keep going. It’s a true win-win. Small task done? Win. Momentum kicks in and you do more? Double win.
So, always look for the smallest possible action you can take toward your goal. That 1-5% start is often all you need.
My Experience
For me, as a writer, my tiny action is simply checking my website backend. I log into WordPress, see if updates are needed. It’s a ridiculously small task, but it gets me in front of my laptop, in my writing space. And guess what? Often, that little action sparks the urge to write. “I’m already here… might as well jot down that idea.” And just like that, an article is born. Like this one!
Stop chasing motivation. Start building systems. Find the smallest, easiest step. And watch how consistent progress, not random bursts, becomes your new driving force.
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