DISCLAIMER: THERE ISN'T ANYTHING MUCH WRITTEN IN THIS THAT YOU DON'T ALREADY KNOW. INSTEAD OF WASTING THE NEXT 15 MINS OF YOUR LIFE, JUST GO ON WITH IT. WELL IN CASE YOU WANT TO WASTE IT ANYWAY, DO NOT READ ANYTHING IN BRACKETS OR IN RED TEXT, THAT'S A BIT OUT OF CONTEXT USUALLY MY MIND OFF RAMPING. IT WILL SAVE YOU SOME TIME TO DO MORE IMPORTANT THINGS. (SOMETIMES IT'S GENUINE LINKS TO ARTICLES WITH MORE INFO SO READ AND CLICK IT).
In 1968, a psychologist named Walter Mischel conducted what would become one of the most famous experiments in behavioral science, the Marshmallow Test. A bunch of kids were presented with a single, glorious marshmallow. The deal was simple: eat it now, or wait 15 minutes and get two. Think of it as the original "buy one, get one free" deal, but with more sugary goodness and less screaming toddlers (hopefully). Some kids dove in face-first (marshmallow-first?), while others squirmed, sweated, and probably contemplated the existential meaning of delayed gratification. They were basically tiny philosophers wrestling with the fundamental question: "Is this marshmallow worth the wait?"
Decades later, researchers followed up on these kids and found something shocking: the ones who waited weren’t just good at delaying gratification; they were more successful in almost every area of life. Higher test scores, better jobs, healthier relationships. So, basically, the marshmallow test was a predictor of future success. Which, let's be honest, makes me question all my life choices. I'm pretty sure I would have inhaled that marshmallow in 0.2 seconds flat. And that, my friends, is the problem with motivation.
We wake up every morning motivated to do or achieve a certain goal. We think we'll instantly see the results after lifting 20kg of weights a couple of times or dieting for a couple of days, but as soon as we don't see the results we give up and quit. It's like we expect instant karma, but without the whole "good deeds" part. We want the six-pack without the crunches, the novel without the writing, the perfect relationship without the, well, relationship-ing.
That’s the problem with motivation. It’s like the kid who wants two marshmallows but still grabs the first one because the desire to wait isn’t strong enough. Motivation is unreliable, inconsistent, and completely emotion-driven. Some days you wake up feeling inspired, like you can conquer the world (or at least your to-do list), and other days you just want to stay in bed and binge-watch cat videos. And if your entire system for getting things done relies on how you feel, you’ll always be at the mercy of your moods. You’ll be a puppet dancing to the tune of your ever-changing emotions. Which, let’s face it, is a terrible way to live.
The real game-changer? Systems. Habits. Routines. The people who win in life aren’t the ones who feel the most motivated, they’re the ones who show up even when they don’t feel like it. They're the ones who've built their own personal marshmallow-waiting machine. Today, I don't really feel like writing this blog thing, I'm doing it anyway. Because, systems, people, systems!
Think about it, how many times have you started a new year, a new month, or even a new day with a surge of motivation, ready to conquer your goals, only to find yourself backsliding faster than a politician caught in a scandal? We've all been there. We set ambitious resolutions (lose weight, write a novel, learn to play the ukulele – the usual suspects), we create vision boards (which usually end up gathering dust), we pump ourselves up with motivational speeches (which sound great in the moment, but then life happens), but eventually, the initial spark fades away faster than a cheap spray tan, leaving us wondering why we couldn't stick to our plans.
This is because motivation is an emotion, and emotions are fleeting. They come and go like that weird smell in your fridge that you can never quite identify. You can't rely on them to fuel your long-term goals. Imagine trying to drive a car with a gas tank that only fills up when you feel like it. You'd probably end up stranded on the side of the road more often than not, questioning your life choices and wishing you'd taken that marshmallow.
So, if motivation is a scam (and let's be honest, it kind of is), what actually works? The answer lies in the power of habits and systems. These are the unsung heroes of success, the quiet forces that propel us forward even when we lack the initial drive. They're like the reliable friend who drags you to the gym even when you'd rather be on the couch.
A habit is a routine or behavior that we perform regularly, often automatically. Think about brushing your teeth, taking a shower, or checking your phone first thing in the morning (guilty!). These are all habits that we do without much conscious effort. They're so ingrained in our lives that we don't even have to think about them. Which is great, because thinking is hard.
A system, on the other hand, is a set of interconnected habits that work together to achieve a specific goal. For example, a system for writing a book might include habits like writing 500 words a day, brainstorming ideas for 30 minutes (or until your brain hurts), or editing for an hour (or until your eyes cross).
The beauty of habits and systems is that they don't rely on motivation. They are ingrained in our daily lives, so we do them even when we don't feel like it. It's like muscle memory for your brain. This is why the most successful people in the world have mastered the art of building effective habits and systems. They're not necessarily more motivated than the rest of us; they're just better at building systems that keep them going.
In his book "Atomic Habits," James Clear talks about the importance of focusing on systems rather than goals. He argues that goals are only useful for setting a direction, but it's the systems that actually drive progress. He writes, "You do not rise to the level of your goals. You fall to the level of your systems." Boom. Mic drop. That's some truth right there.
This is a profound statement. It means that if you want to achieve something, you need to create a system that will support you along the way, regardless of how you feel on any given day. It's like building a self-driving car for your goals. You set the destination, and the system takes care of the rest.
The Bible also emphasizes the importance of consistent effort and perseverance. In Galatians 6:9, it says, "Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give
The ancient Greek philosopher Aristotle had a similar idea. He believed that excellence is not an act, but a habit. "We are what we repeatedly do," he said. "Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit." So, if you want to be excellent at something, you need to make it a habit. You need to consistently show up and put in the work, even when you don't feel like it. Because, let's face it, nobody feels like doing the hard stuff all the time.
Building habits and systems is not easy. It takes time, effort, and discipline. But the rewards are well worth it. Once you have a solid system in place, you'll be able to achieve your goals even when your motivation wanes. You'll be like a well-oiled machine, churning out results even when you'd rather be eating marshmallows.
Here are a few tips for building effective habits and systems:
- Start small. Don't try to change everything at once. Focus on one or two habits that you want to develop. Baby steps, people.
- Be consistent. The key is to do your habits consistently, even when you don't feel like it. Even when you'd rather binge-watch cat videos.
- Make it easy. The easier it is to do your habits, the more likely you are to stick to them. Like, put your running shoes by the door so you have no excuse.
- Track your progress. This will help you stay motivated and see how far you've come. Because, let's face it, we all love seeing progress.
- Be patient. It takes time to build habits and systems. Don't get discouraged if you don't see results immediately. Rome wasn't built in a day, and neither were your amazing habits.
Remember, motivation is a fickle friend. It will come and go as it pleases. But habits and systems are your loyal companions. They will be there for you even when you're feeling down or uninspired. So, ditch the motivation scam and focus on building solid habits and systems. Because, This is what we do now!
Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm going to go back to sleep now.
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