Last Updated on April 13, 2021 by Andrew Blakey
What do olympic athletes, extreme endurance athletes, and those who have successfully lost weight have in common? They have all discovered the motivation they need in order to make positive progressive steps towards their goals. For those of you who are looking for the magic pill to find the cure for your lack of motivation, this post is not for you. What this post is about is helping you learn about the different types of motivation and what you can do in order to begin to make positive strides towards what you are trying to achieve. Whether you want to be able to lift more, feel more confident while at the beach, or become more motivated to complete everyday tasks , I hope you are able to use some of the advice and tips in this article in order to benefit your life.
Motivation is something that can be separated into two different types: Intrinsic and extrinsic. Great, so what are those? It’s important to first understand what extrinsic motivation is in order to better understand the meaning and importance of intrinsic. Think of extrinsic motivation as anything that motivates you from outside yourself. This can range from things such as the hope for money and awards, to the need for verification through people saying ‘great job’ (which isn’t always a bad thing, it turns negative when your NEED to hear these things in order to continue with your current level of performance).
Intrinsic motivation is something that comes from within (think In-trinsic… in meaning inside). Intrinsic motivation is what must be present in order to overcome the big obstacles, the adversity, the struggles. It is what helps someone push on when things feel dark. Intrinsic motivation includes things such as: losing weight for your family so you can play with your kids, or your desire and need to win based off of your competitive fire, or even just your need to be the best. I’m not saying that you can’t have both intrinsic and extrinsic, but if you can develop and find your sources of intrinsic motivation, you will be able to better handle your struggles, your temptations, and the times where you feel like ‘maybe you can’t do it’ (which is simply your imagination playing tricks on you!).
So what can you do to help increase your motivation in the right ways?
1. Find your WHY
If you can find your why; that is, the reason you are doing what you are doing in the first place, you will be able to always come back to that and think about this when you are having doubts. Examples of some WHYS include: doing what you’re doing for your family, wanting to feel better or look better, or to prove the doubters that you can do whatever you set your mind to. Consider writing down on a blank piece of paper, all the things that motivate you to be better at whatever it is you’re wanting to do.
2. Develop a support group
By finding other like minded individuals you will begin to hold each other accountable. If your goal is to go to the gym 3x a week, find a friend to be your gym partner, that way if you tempted by different excuses for why you don’t want to do something, you not only will be hindering your own progress, but also your friends. This may be enough to keep you from saying the age old phrase “i’ll do it tomorrow” and instead, do what you need to do anyhow!
3. Set Goals
Goals should include what you want to accomplish (attainable), when you want to accomplish it, how you’re going to do it, and why you’re going to do it. You should be setting both short term, medium term, and long term goals in order to be successful.
4. Set a schedule
By setting aside time ahead of when you’re supposed to do a task, you are much more likely to do it. You don’t have the excuse “I don’t have time”… you set aside time specifically to do it! So get out their can get things done!
Improving your drive and motivation to do different tasks is something that needs to be worked on daily. If your goal is to get up earlier in order to become more productive during the day, initially it will be difficult but as you continue to do it and develop the habit, your willpower and motivation to get up earlier will become stronger and stronger. This goes with any task you are looking to get better at!
Thanks again everyone for continually reading my blogs! I appreciate how a lot of you continue to read each and every week. I’m glad you guys find this blog useful and relevant to your own lives! Continue to let us know on our social media channels @YourFutureFitnessTraining for topic you would like covered next!
Written by Andrew Blakey | Owner of Your Future Fitness located in Toronto, ON
CONSISTENCY IS KEY!
