The Harmoniser
More than willpower alone
Ah, willpower. It’s the thing we often wish we had more of in order to achieve our goals. But research suggests that kicking goals takes much more than willpower alone.
So instead of trying to strengthen yours, it’s better to work on your desire to move – think more pleasure than punishment. And that’s where motivation comes in.
Here’s 3 ways to keep yours topped up, as a Harmoniser.
1. Remember your ‘why’
Keep reminding yourself of the reason you decided to sign up to this action plan in the first place. Behavioural scientists say keeping that front and centre in your mind will help you stay motivated to continue working towards your goal.
There’s no such thing as a right or wrong ‘why’, but people who are motivated to move for reasons that resonate with them on a deeply personal level tend to be more successful.
So even though you’re often happy to follow another’s lead, a more effective way to help you maintain your motivation might be, “I’m doing this to feel healthier and have more energy,” rather than, “I’m doing this because my friend is on a health kick, and I’ll feel bad if I don’t join in.”
2. Share what you know
You’ll naturally get a kick out of doing this – particularly if it means bringing a group of people together. But it turns out sharing your journey is an effective way to give your motivation a pep talk, too.
The majority of people involved in a US study said they felt more motivated to work towards their own goals after giving relevant advice to someone rather than receiving it.
3. Plant a few carrots
In other words, reward yourself for remaining focused and achieving those weekly goals.
As a Harmoniser, you’re already naturally inclined to enjoy the journey, but studies on ‘rewards as motivation’ show they work – and dishing them out frequently is more important than the size of the reward.
So, instead of waiting to reward yourself when you reach your end goal, organise some small, but enjoyable-to-you rewards to treat yourself with weekly.