4 ms·

Motivation follows action. I don't know if this is strictly true in the absolute sense, but we're very programmed to think "ok I need to get motivated so I can

Motivation follows action. I don't know if this is strictly true in the absolute sense, but we're very programmed to think "ok I need to get motivated so I can get something done", when what seems to work far better is thinking "ok I need to get some things done so that I can get motivated". This follows the "take small steps, any steps" idea.

JimboOmega 16y ago
I disagree with you. Why should you do things you're not motivated to do? A lot of procrastination and not making progress on tasks has to do with really not wanting to do the task, or really not seeing the value in it. If it's studying for a course, it's a course you don't care about. If it's working on a project, it's a project you don't care about. Maybe you don't care about cleaning up your room, etc. You really need to think about the whys of doing something, and not just assume that work is good. You can trick yourself and push yourself but you need to have a solid sense of the goal before you will really become involved. That's the goal, isn't it? To really commit to a task.
- komlenic 16y ago
  The implication in my comment is that you do want to do the thing (or that there is some expectation, either personal or external, that you have to do it ex: studying for a course that you need to graduate). Wanting to do something, or realizing you need to do it does not remove your personal barriers that lead to procrastination: maybe it seems too difficult, you don't know where to start, you're afraid of failure, or maybe you're suffering analysis/paralysis. You're still "motivated" in the "I want/expect to do this thing" sense, but you lack the motivation in the "wow I can do this, get to work" sense that you need to push through and get moving. This is where "motivation follows action": you start small, identify some easy steps that will begin moving you towards the goal, and do them -- and through this action, motivation often follows.

JimboOmega 16y ago

I disagree with you. Why should you do things you're not motivated to do? A lot of procrastination and not making progress on tasks has to do with really not wanting to do the task, or really not seeing the value in it. If it's studying for a course, it's a course you don't care about. If it's working on a project, it's a project you don't care about. Maybe you don't care about cleaning up your room, etc. You really need to think about the whys of doing something, and not just assume that work is good. You can trick yourself and push yourself but you need to have a solid sense of the goal before you will really become involved. That's the goal, isn't it? To really commit to a task.

komlenic 16y ago
The implication in my comment is that you do want to do the thing (or that there is some expectation, either personal or external, that you have to do it ex: studying for a course that you need to graduate). Wanting to do something, or realizing you need to do it does not remove your personal barriers that lead to procrastination: maybe it seems too difficult, you don't know where to start, you're afraid of failure, or maybe you're suffering analysis/paralysis. You're still "motivated" in the "I want/expect to do this thing" sense, but you lack the motivation in the "wow I can do this, get to work" sense that you need to push through and get moving. This is where "motivation follows action": you start small, identify some easy steps that will begin moving you towards the goal, and do them -- and through this action, motivation often follows.