The Science Of Motivation!

Maintaining your goal is difficult, whether it's to stop smoking, gain that promotion at work, or shed twenty pounds. After all, 45% of individuals give up on their New Year's plans after only one month.

So why is it so hard to stay motivated, and how can science support us in achieving our goals?

Two different kinds of assignments were assigned to students in one MIT study.

In the first, participants had to press two keys on a keyboard as many times as they could in four minutes. The fastest players would win money.

While the payoff for some was $300, it was just $30 for others.

It's interesting to note that the high $300 group performed 95% better, demonstrating how money may serve as an incentive.

However, when the same students were given a more difficult arithmetic issue to complete in the second exercise, they performed 32% slower than the group that received a little incentive.

The "distraction effect" refers to the tendency for economic or emotional pressure to drive emphasis to move to the motivator when faced with a task that involves problem-solving, ultimately splitting concentration and decreasing performance.

fMRI scans, which provide an inside look at an individual's brain, demonstrate that brain activity is similar in the brains of those who finish challenges for enjoyment and those who do so in order to receive a reward.

Interestingly, though, brain scans reveal less activity in the prefrontal and anterior striatum—areas connected to self-motivation—in participants who were initially provided a reward and were asked to participate again without one.

It appears that prizes might negate our innate desire to play.

How does this relate to you, then?

It appears that the best incentive for long-term behavioral improvements is "play."

While it seems logical that we stick to fun activities, it appears that most of us are choosing the incorrect activities to reach our goals, as seen by the 67% of gym subscriptions that remain unused.

On a treadmill, you could burn the most calories, but only if you stick with it for two weeks.

Select an activity you truly enjoy!

Your motivation for exercising is also important. According to a research on the subject, those who stated they were exercising to lose weight exercised 32% less frequently than those who said they were exercising to feel better about themselves on a daily basis.

Furthermore, although maintaining a positive outlook is always a good idea, optimism isn't always the wisest course of action.

In a research with 210 female smokers attempting to stop, those who only saw significant success with few challenges had a lower likelihood of cutting back on cigarettes.

Good ideas frequently deceive your brain into believing that the objective has already been met, which increases your sense of reward and lowers your drive.

However, this does not mean that thinking negative thoughts is a desirable thing. The ideal balanced strategy is to visualize your objective and then consider the challenges that stand in your way.

We call this "mental contrasting."

Lastly, make an effort to prevent the "what the hell" reaction.

Researchers initially looked at this behavior by giving dieters milkshakes in different proportions, ranging from little to large, and then providing them with ice cream afterward.

It turns out that those who ordered large milkshakes also ate extra ice cream because they thought, "What the hell, I might as well go all out—I've already ruined my diet."

Whether your aim is to lose weight, stop smoking, or advance in your career, being prepared for setbacks can help you go closer to realizing your objectives.