Ever wait hours (maybe days) to find “inspiration” to start a task?

Maybe it’s a paper that needs to be written, a chore that needs to be done, a talk you need to prepare for, or even just dragging yourself out of bed…

We often waste hours and perhaps even days or weeks seeking “inspiration” or motivation. 

Waiting for motivation is just another term for procrastination.

Do you rely on motivation or discipline to get things done?

What is Motivation?

Fundamentally, motivation is an impulse or drive that causes an individual to act or change behavior.

For example, wanting to lose weight may motivate you to exercise and adopt healthy eating habits.

Desiring financial security may motivate you to save more money. 

Generally speaking, there are two types of motivation--intrinsic and extrinsic.

If I am intrinsically motivated, I’m driven by factors within myself (I want to do well on this exam because I want to succeed/set myself up for the future), whereas if I am extrinsically motivated, I’m driven largely by factors external to myself (I want to do well on this exam to please my parents, etc).

Motivation can wax and wane, depending on day, mood, circumstance, stress levels, and other factors within our daily lives. When available, it can be very inspirational/aspirational--it can be exciting, gives us a boost, gives us amplified focus and concentration, and encourages us to set goals and dream big. But at the same it has a tendency to be fickle and fleeting; not available when we need it most! (Or so it seems.)

Why Discipline >>Motivation

Discipline, on the other hand, is the ability to self regulate, hold oneself accountable, and stick to and execute a plan. It gives you control over your emotions, behavior, and choices. 

The truth is, our energy levels vary from day to day, and as a result our motivation does too. 

If we rely on motivation alone to execute tasks, we may simply not ever be productive!

In particular, when faced with setbacks and adversity, you may feel uninspired or unmotivated. But if you are a disciplined person you will be better able to stick to the plan and the long game in the face of ups and downs. 

If you look at some of the world’s most successful individuals (professionals, CEOs, thought experts, etc), they tend to be disciplined-wake up early, have an exercise regimen, a to-do-list, etc. This is likely part of their success formula!

While motivation is somewhat randomly occurring and somewhat emotional, discipline is more reliable.

And with repetition, discipline can be cultivated in our daily lives. A muscle that can be strengthened with repeated use. 

While the two can certainly work hand in hand and are synergistic, it is discipline that will carry you through even when inspiration, motivation, and willpower cease to exist; this is because discipline is intimately related to healthy habits and consistent actions. 

Ways to Cultivate Self-Discipline:

1. Develop healthy habits

   • Execute consistent action over time. 

2. Manage your Time

   • Time is our most precious commodity.

   • Plan out your days, weeks, and months to the best of your ability. 

3. Find just the Activation Energy to complete a given task

   • The activation energy is the minimum amount of energy needed to start a task. This is often the hardest part (for example, the first couple paragraphs of a paper seem most challenging to write)

Ultimately, motivation will ebb and flow, so aim to develop self-discipline!