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Fran Zucolota
Fran Zucolota

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Motivation = Motive + Action

⚠️ ALERT ⚠️

  • This publication does not contain scientific references.
  • It is purely my opinion based on day-to-day experiences and therapy.
  • Here I make no promises.
  • I am just sharing a reflection.
  • If this publication makes you think: great, discuss it with anyone. 👽🌌

Hello, I am Fran.
I would like to share a summary of the reflection on the word motivation.

I grew up learning that motivation was related to being excited about doing something.

And fortunately 🙏, they have no relation at all. ❌


The well of procrastination

Procrastination means postponing or avoiding an activity by doing other activities in its place.

And it becomes a big problem when you fall into the well of procrastination.

This well appears when procrastination becomes:
-> a habit
or
-> is truly a psychological problem that requires the assistance of a psychology professional.

.
.
- "But how does procrastination become a habit?"

Generally, we lack:

  • understanding the reason that makes us procrastinate.
  • finding out what helps us reduce fatigue from day to day. It is not realistic to expect to be completely 100% rested to do something.
  • remembering what the motivation is for doing that activity that is being procrastinated.
  • understanding that along with practice, there is a long path of failures, big or small.
  • understanding that failure is part of the learning process. having self-compassion.

.
.

🕵️‍♀️ - Do a self-debug

# Meaning of Debug: Its goal is to find errors that can prevent codes from functioning properly. With it, it is possible to determine what is happening within the source code and get suggestions for improvement actions.

.
📝 Ask yourself and write, for example:
▶️ What makes you procrastinate?
A:
I feel that I am very tired.
I feel that I am in a hurry to learn and that I am "taking too long" or "falling behind."
My expectation to study "that way," "with that feeling" of excitement makes me procrastinate;
Etc...

▶️ What helps you reduce mental fatigue?

# Help yourself to rest a bit to be able to perform the activity.

A:
> When tired:
Watch a series - then watch an episode in your available time. Set a goal for yourself for at least 20 minutes or 1 hour.
Play a game - then set a goal for yourself for X minutes or 1 hour, within your available time.

> When anxious:
Try practicing self-compassion. Always remember that everyone has their own pace. Look more at yourself.
Pay attention to others only to be inspired or admired.
Don't compare yourself, don't put yourself in an invisible race.
Remember the plants.🌻
Each plant has its growth rhythm based on what it feeds on and its environment. But it is always paying attention to itself and not to the "neighbor plant" competing to grow more. The clarity of the plant is to grow as much as it can and be healthy.

▶️ What is your motivation for doing that activity?
This is the million-dollar question.
The answer is very important. Humans function well with good arguments.
You always need to remember why you are doing or will do that activity.


Motive + action

Because of such a reason, you do or will do an action.
This is the true meaning of motivation. It has no relation to the feeling of being excited about doing something.

Clarity. Write to make it clear to yourself, especially to observe changes in requirements and redo the self-debug. 😜


How to practice?

  • Ask yourself the questions and write the answers.
  • In about 2 days or 1 week:
    • reread the tips I left. (optional)
    • reread your answers.
      • Does any answer need to be changed?
        • If yes, keep the current answer and add a new answer - for you to analyze over time what you have changed.
        • If not, reread your answers and continue practicing them.
  • Whenever you feel the need, repeat the process.

📝Remember that it is normal to fail. Failure is part of learning.
Do not create expectations to "win" always or to feel good always before doing an activity.
Sometimes you can do it that way, other times not so much (laughs), but the most important thing is to rest a bit and remember the reasons you chose to do that activity.

Practice self-compassion.
Practicing makes you improve more and more.

Practice has a long path of failures, but also of successes.
🍞 Practice.


Bye, thank you.

Top comments (1)

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adithyasudhan

self-debug makes me think self-log would also be useful. Youve already touched on the role of writing for motivation, but it's also relevant in terms of tracking stress inducers on the day to day. There've been times i had been working at something for a bit and yet unable to get anywhere with it, and then wondering what to report the next day to the team. logging (writing up developments, hurdles, diversions) could help reduce anxiety, especially if the work's timeline is questioned later on, I imagine.