A study reveals that individuals frequently accomplishing their objectives exhibit a common characteristic, and it is not about willpower.
A writer with a bachelor's degree in English and Journalism, Mary-Faith Martinez, covers news, psychology, lifestyle, and human interest topics. In a recent study published in the journal Psychological Science and reported by StudyFinds, researchers suggest that enhancing intrinsic motivation can lead to increased long-term achievement of personal goals.
The study, which involved four different studies including a year-long study on Americans setting New Year's resolutions and a study on people setting goals at Chinese New Year, found that intrinsic motivation, linked to enjoyment, is more effective in achieving goals than strong willpower. Even if a goal comes with an external reward, doing it for the pure enjoyment of it means you are intrinsically motivated.
One example given by StudyFinds is that goal-setters are less likely to achieve their goals if they choose the most efficient workout rather than the most fun one. Successful resolution-keepers, on the other hand, discover ways to make the process of reaching their goals genuinely enjoyable.
So, how can one make personal goals more enjoyable for increased achievement? Recent psychological research offers key insights:
1. **Make goals self-concordant:** Align goals with your core values and interests. When goals feel personally meaningful, they boost motivation and satisfaction, increasing persistence.
2. **Break goals into manageable steps:** Smaller milestones create frequent opportunities for success, triggering dopamine release in the brain’s reward system. This positive feedback loop makes progress enjoyable and encourages continued effort.
3. **Focus on the journey, not just the outcome:** Research from Cornell University found that people who enjoy the process itself—such as taking daily steps or learning through an app game—stick with goals longer than those motivated by external rewards or the importance of the goal alone.
4. **Use gamification or fun framing:** Introducing game-like elements, curiosity, or social aspects can increase engagement and intrinsic motivation, making the pursuit more pleasurable.
5. **Reduce pressure and discipline-only mindset:** Instead of relying on willpower and gritting teeth, emphasize creating positive experiences around goal-related activities to sustain motivation without burnout.
In essence, recent psychological science suggests the best way to increase achievement is to create goals and goal-related activities that you truly enjoy, making the pursuit itself rewarding and intrinsically motivating. This approach engages your brain’s reward centers, improves mental health, and leads to greater persistence and success over time.
However, it's important to note that the study did not discuss how the results might apply to specific types of goals or individuals. Moreover, the study does not specify what specific methods can be used to make goal-setting enjoyable. Nonetheless, the consistent conclusion across all studies is that intrinsic motivation is the most effective in achieving goals.
- If Mary-Faith Martinez were to incorporate the findings from the recent study on personal goal-setting, she could incorporate education-and-self-development articles that emphasize the importance of love for one's goals in boosting motivation and achieving success.
- Personal-growth enthusiasts seeking to apply the study's insights might consider goal-setting strategies that promote enjoyment, such as aligning their goals with their core values, breaking them into manageable steps, focusing on the journey, using gamification, reducing pressure, and emphasizing positive experiences.
