One of the biggest challenges in meeting any goal, whether it be related to productivity, waking early, changing a habit, exercising, or just becoming happier, is finding the motivation to stick with it.
Whether it's for money, marbles or chalk, the brains of reward-driven people keep their game faces on, helping them win at every step of the way. Surprisingly, they win most often when there is no reward.
There are a number of factors that influence how well we do in school, including the amount of time we study and our interest in a subject.
So many acts in our daily lives -- refusing that second slice of cake, walking past the store with the latest gadgets, working on your tax forms when you'd rather watch TV -- seem to boil down to one essential ingredient: self-control.
Pride in success can prevent us from taking further action toward our goals. We should not allow our brains to convince us that a failure is a success just so that we can stop trying.
Procrastination, the habit of putting tasks off to the last possible minute, can be a major problem in both your career and your personal life. Side effects include missed opportunities, frenzied work hours, stress, feeling overwhelmed, resentment and guilt.
We have all had them as we set and go after our goals, no matter where we are or what our goals may be: naysayers, detractors, people who poke fun or get angry, or who simply tell us we can’t do it.
Research suggests that it is pro athlete's ability to manage his goals, as well as his skill, determination and motivation that makes him successful.
We all procrastinate. I put off writing this article by doing a bunch of smaller tasks, for example. They were less important and I knew it, but they were quick tasks and so easier than writing an article on a tough topic.
Even the most motivated of us can feel unmotivated at times. In fact, sometimes we get into such a slump that even thinking about making positive changes seems too difficult.
But when a task is presented as fun, researchers report in a new study, the same individuals often do worse than those who are less motivated to achieve.
Sometimes immersing yourself in the creative world of people doing amazing things can bring unexpected results.
It seems contradictory to those who are used to sacrificing living for pursuing their goals … but cultivating mindfulness will help you achieve your goals and enjoy life more.
What truly inspires individuals to perform at their very best?
When we're waiting in line or sitting in a boring meeting, time seems to slow down to a trickle. And when we get caught up in something completely engrossing - a gripping thriller, for example - we may lose sense of time altogether.
Members of a group or team will work harder when they're competing against a group with lower status than when pitted against a more highly ranked group.
Impulse and determination: Those two are probably the most important keywords of my life.
The color red can affect how people function: Red means danger and commands us to stop in traffic.
It’s the lack of starting that kills most tasks and projects.
Many of us are good at starting things — it’s the finishing that we need help with.
People are better able to exercise self-control when they choose goal-pursuit strategies that fit with their promotion or prevention focus.
You might think that a loving partner helps keep you on track -- say, when you want to stick to your jogging or concentrate on your studies.
Worried you won't meet your goal? According to research, you'll be more likely to succeed if you make specific plans to implement it.
"Over the course of five years, I've managed to pay off over $35,000 in debt, quit my day job, and go from having nothing saved to fully funding my retirement accounts every year. In the process, I've developed a 14-point philosophy."
Whether it's sports, poker or the high-stakes world of business, there are those who always find a way to win when there's money on the table.
Just being in the same room as greatness can inspire you to new levels of the possible.
When dreaming is believing: Dreams affect people's judgment, behavior
Whether bloggers are writing to change the world, or just discussing a bad break-up, they may get an extra boost of motivation from traffic-measuring and interactive tools that help them feel more connected to and more influential in their communities.
Too often we get stuck in inaction -- the quagmire of doubt and perfectionism and distractions and planning that stops us from moving forward.
It's hard to keep yourself going when you don’t feel the same excitement as you did in the beginning.