Articles about Motivation
13 free articles, newest first. Every one is a few minutes long, written in plain language, and open to everyone with no account.
When Nothing Structures Your Day
Nobody expects you anywhere and the day keeps disappearing. Why structure is not the same as discipline, the three anchors that hold up a day, and how to tell when it…
Taking a Break From Drinking
You are not asking whether to quit forever, only what a few weeks without it would be like. How to give a break a fair chance, and what the first two weeks usually tell…
The Check-Up You Have Been Avoiding
The letter came months ago and the appointment still has not been made. Why avoidance grows the longer it goes on, and how to get the call made without a lecture from…
Doing Something When Nobody Is Holding You to It
With no boss, deadline or class to answer to, the days blur and the thing you care about never starts.
The Mail You Have Not Opened
A pile of envelopes on the side, some of them official, one of them from the hospital. Why unopened mail gets harder the longer it sits, and how to clear it in one…
Deciding You Already Know How It Will Go
The interview will go badly, they will say no, it will not work out. How a confident prediction about the future quietly stops you trying, and how to test one instead of…
The Last Ten Percent
The thing is nearly done and has been for weeks. Why finishing is its own distinct problem, separate from starting, and how to get something over the line.
Starting Something You Will Be Bad At
Learning anything new as an adult means being visibly incompetent for a while. Why that is so much harder now, and how to get through the beginner stretch.
Starting Again After a Long Gap
You stopped six months ago and have not been back. Why returning is harder than beginning, and how to come back to something without having to explain yourself first.
How to Start When the Task Feels Too Big
When a task feels enormous, the problem is usually the first move, not your willpower. Here is how to shrink the entry point until starting is almost boring, and keep…
Moving Your Body When You Hate Exercise
The gym feels like punishment, the running app is a source of guilt, and every attempt fizzles. You may not hate moving.
Why You Procrastinate on What Matters Most
The dishes get done. The email gets sent. The thing you actually care about sits untouched for months.
Why Waiting to Feel Motivated Keeps You Stuck
Most of us assume motivation comes first and action follows. Usually it is the other way around. How to start when you do not feel like it, and why that gets easier.