What makes you get out of bed in the morning? Do you roll over, hit the alarm, smear the sleep out of your eyes and slog onward to your day? Or do you spring out of bed with your purpose and intentions clear in your mind? Whatever your style is currently, whether you are a morning person or a night owl, we can all use a little help with launching a successful Monday, otherwise known as your #mondaymotivation.
Every time you question your abilities, you are reducing your potential. You all have endless potential in whatever you set out to achieve. If you plant seeds of doubt in your mind, you place a limit on that potential. Remove any doubt and self deprecation, and watch yourself far exceed expectations.
What is motivation?
- the reason or reasons one has for acting or behaving in a particular way.
- the general desire or willingness of someone to do something
By looking at this definition, we can get closer to the root of the meaning of motivation. The key ideas really boil down to reasons, desire, and willingness towards certain behaviors. How does this apply to your own personal Monday motivation? Let’s hone in on this a bit further.
You are the master of your destiny.
Monday Motivation: Reasons, Desire, and Willingness
First, let’s take a look at the two different types of motivation that affect people; extrinsic and intrinsic. Intrinsic motivation is the inner drive towards completing a task–you do something because you derive enjoyment from it, or find it interesting. Extrinsic motivation is when you perform a task for external rewards, or because you are trying to avoid negative consequences. So which one is better when it comes to finding your own personal Monday motivation? Both have their benefits, although people who have intrinsic motivation tend to stick with their task long-term.
If at first you don’t succeed, try try again.
Let’s use a professional athlete as an example to distinguish between the two types of motivation. Athlete A genuinely enjoys working out. They love the feeling of sweating, feeling their muscles flexing and extending, and they genuinely enjoy the discipline of their daily practice. This athlete would be intrinsically motivated because their workout gives them personal satisfaction. Athlete B doesn’t really enjoy working out, but they are motivated to do so because they love being famous, and the lifestyle their large paycheck affords them. This would be an example of extrinsic motivation–they get the task done because of the reward they receive.
As you may have guessed, the above definition of motivation primarily deals with intrinsic motivation. Your desire and willingness come from within. And while both types of motivation are important, your drive tends to be stronger when you are inspired from within. But if it were not for extrinsic motivation, we may never go to work. After all, a paycheck is a pretty motivating factor.
What are your reasons for being motivated? If you don’t have any reasons, it’s time to get specific. Think about the task you want to accomplish. Maybe you want to work out more during the week, or perhaps you want a promotion at work. Whatever your goal, make sure you write it down.
Write it down on real paper with a real pencil. And watch shit get real
–Erykah Badu
Keep Your Motivation Momentum Up
One of the best ways to get and stay motivated is to tap into your intrinsic motivation. As Mark Twain famously said, “Find a job you enjoy doing, and you will never have to work a day in your life.” Of course, this is often easier said than done. But there are certain ways to hack your natural psychology. Want to work out more but hate lifting weights? Then don’t exercise in a way that you hate–make it fun. Get in touch with your inner child and take a trampoline class. Remember how much fun trampolining was when you were a kid? Or build value along with your muscles–learn a skill such as a martial art. Maybe you can coax your brain into seeing the value of working out more if there is an actual discipline you are learning.
Get creative and free your mind–the rest will follow
The key is to think outside the box. Try to find new ways to shake up your daily routine. You are only limited by your own creativity when it comes to finding inspiration. In the words of En Vogue “Free your mind and the rest will follow.”
What motivates you to conquer Monday? Maybe it’s something as simple as trying a new recipe, rearranging your living space, or a daily habit you’ve adopted. Whatever personally motivates you, let us know. Tag us on Instagram @effective.coverage and use #mondaymotivation to share what works for you.