These blogs ideally take 2 hours to write, and somehow I’ve consistently stretched this into an 8-hour endeavour.
Sure, there’s background research to accomplish. Editing. Paraphrasing. Fixing sentence flow. Spell-checking, grammar checking, sanity checking.
H O W E V E R .
My other browser tabs include looking up how to make the best toasties. Scrolling Instagram. Watching videos of people’s pets. Binging Netflix. Frequently checking on the COVID situation in Victoria. (You know how it is.)
We’ve all been there.
What’s the science behind this?
Maybe like me, you’re hoping for some sort of reassuring scientific explanation. Spoiler alert: they exist!
Your body is constantly receiving stimuli from the external environment. This could be the burning pain your fingertips feel when you carelessly fish out a slice of burnt raisin toast. For instance.
Once the neurons in your fingers have sensed this pain stimuli, they release neurotransmitters which carry chemical messages.
Photo by Zach Lucero on Unsplash
It’s somewhat like a lazy baton relay. The neurons are like the ‘runners’ except they don’t move. Instead, they toss ‘batons’ of neurotransmitters to other neurons nearby, causing them to toss their own neurotransmitters. This repeats until the message reaches the ‘finish line’ at the brain.
The brain processes the pain message and then sends out new chemical messages using the same process, ordering your hand to flick away from the cruel toaster. (I will neither confirm or deny the vague burn scar I may or may not acquired).
This is how your body reacts to the external world. This process can help build habits too.
Dopamine, famously known as the ‘feel-good’ neurotransmitter is a ‘baton’ that is passed around. It is found capable of positively reinforcing your actions.
A positive outcome tends to encourage you to repeat a behaviour next time.
Unlike the (hypothetical) toast disaster where a bad outcome of a burnt finger discourages you from poking a toaster again, receiving money for a good grade can prompt you to study just as hard for the next test.
Dopamine boosters
You can create ‘dopamine-boosting’ environments to help rewire your brain.
Celebrate the small wins: instant gratification from checking off a to-do list can help reinforce your achievements. When you feel like you’re making progress, the effects of dopamine can have a greater impact.
Share your results: talking about your results (positive or negative) will allow others to recognise or praise your work.
Micro-deadlines: breaking up a whole mission into small habits to be completed one-at-a-time can help you stay focused. As Dr Fiona Kumfor, a senior researcher at the University of Sydney's Brain and Mind Centre says “The brain finds it easier to cope with habit than to make decisions every day”.
Most importantly, a lack of motivation could stem from burn-out. This does not reflect laziness! Some fresh air or a break can massively help.
Dopamine is a complex chemical that’s not fully understood. Sometimes it also takes some grit and determination to surmount demotivation too.
Photo by Ahmed Zayan on Unsplash
The long game
People often study with one of two types of goals in mind.
Mastery goals: to understand the content and develop their skills.
Performance goals: to perform well in comparison to others.
A study suggests that performance goals are better suited for short-term learning and mastery goals are best suited for long-term learning.
Hence, it may help to put your goals and visions into perspective, thinking where you would like to be in the long game.
Contagious motivation
Competition is found to have a very minor effect on performance.
Meanwhile, you can be inspired by observing others. Surrounding yourself with people passionate about a subject that you initially find dry can inspire you to find it enjoyable. Maybe joining a study group or watching some inspiring TedTalks can help cure your demotivation.
the science of motivation is a complicated puzzle yet to be fulfilled.
Further reading
Sometimes getting some mental wellbeing support can help too. Here are some sites with resources and external contacts: