Are you struggling to stay productive and achieve your goals? Discover the two powerful ways to stay on track and crush your tasks, even when motivation is low.
There are two ways to get to work. The first is through motivation, your drive or a desire to take action on a task, project, or goal. The second way to get started is with your self-discipline. Either of these two ways can compel you to do what you need to do, when you need to do it.
Understanding Motivation and Its Impact on Productivity
Most of the time, if you are motivated, it is because you are inspired or want something. Motivation will compel you to start working without anyone telling you to. In fact, you may find that others are not motivated in the same way you are. You may also find that people who are not driven to engage in the work that you do are motivated to some other type of work.
You will find that many people suggest that they lack motivation. This is often not true because people are motivated to seek comfort or entertainment, states in which one avoids the work that they should be doing. There are a dozen distractions available to anyone, anytime, or anywhere: email, the internet, X, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, TikTok, and your smartphone allow you to scroll infinitely. These scattered distractions can render your energies unfocused and unproductive.
To recapture your motivation, you can sit down and make a list of the things you want badly enough to do the work that will deliver them. Wanting is a core component of motivation. Those who believe that they lack motivation are incorrect; they are likely to avoid work because they don’t want much, or they want to tune out and scroll endlessly. Others want everything under the sun. The challenge for those who want everything is to prioritize their desires so they know what to work on first.
If you want to do this work now, get a pen and paper and make a list of what you want in the future. By writing down what you want and why, you can activate your motivation. Clarifying your desires can help you focus and direct your energies toward your goals.
How to Cultivate Self-Discipline to Achieve Long-Term Goals
There is another way to do your work when it must be done, even though you are not motivated. This method will require you to activate your self-discipline. Self-discipline is the most reliable way to succeed in any endeavor. When you are self-disciplined, your lack of motivation will not prevent you from doing what you need to do because you will be able to focus and do the work you need when and how it must be done. Self-discipline can carry you through your work when you can’t find the motivation to do it.
Take a look around and you will see people who lack the self-discipline they need to get to work. Instead, these people will choose to do nothing, or do something they find less boring or and more entertaining than their work. In doing this, they can lose sight of the reasons for doing the work, and instead seek immediate gratification.
To build your self-discipline, you may start by going to sleep and waking up at the same times every day. Going to sleep instead of watching television, including Game of Thrones or reruns of The Sopranos can be difficult. In the morning, you will want to stay in your warm bed when your alarm insists you wake up and get moving. Overcoming this short-term enjoyment takes self-discipline.
The Importance of Habit Formation for Self-Discipline and Success
Over time, your disciplines become habits. This is how you maintain a set of disciplines for life. You no longer need self-discipline or motivation to do a task, a project, or some important goal when it needs to be done. Your mind will automatically take the necessary action and redirect your focus to what matters most.
To build self-discipline through habit formation:
- Start with one habit and continue doing it until you no longer need self-discipline or motivation to do it.
- Focus on consistency. Pursuing one thing at a time will speed you to develop that habit. Once you have established the first habit, move on to the next.
- Use routines and triggers to help you act immediately instead of procrastinating.
- Track your habits by noting what you completed, what was helpful, and how it brought you closer to what you want. As you stack up your daily habits, you will no longer need to find motivation to get that work done.
- Remember that habit formation takes time, typically 21 to 66 days.
As these habits become ingrained, they form the foundation of your self-discipline, making it easier to tackle larger goals and resist temptations. Once you have embarked on the path of habit formation, your energies become better directed, and your productivity improves significantly.
Creating a Productivity-Enhancing Environment for Motivation and Focus
Your environment plays a role in your motivation, disciplines, and habits. This includes the room or the people that surround you while you are working. An environment with a lot of stimuli or distractions may prevent you from doing your work.
To create a motivation-boosting environment:
- Declutter your workspace: I used to believe that people who took time to clean their desks were not focusing on more important tasks., but I have changed my mind. Being organized and having a clean environment makes it easier to focus.
- Eliminate distractions: Distractions are a form of clutter. You may have to develop boundaries when you are working to prevent people and temptations from pulling your attention away from what is important.
- Use visual motivation cues: You may want to use pictures or inspirational quotes that motivate you to do what you need to do. These can be powerful reminders of what your work is supporting.
- Surround yourself with supportive people: If you work with others, spend time with people who support and encourage your aspirations. Being around people who have high levels of motivation and self-discipline can also be contagious, helping you stay on track.
By shaping your environment, you can create external cues that consistently reinforce your internal motivation. This renders you more capable of staying on track with your goals and aspirations.
