Wellbeing For Children: Motivation

This video explores the concept of motivation, distinguishing between internal and external motivation, and how emotions can impact our drive to achieve goals. It offers practical tips to enhance motivation, such as pairing tasks with enjoyable activities to make them more appealing.

Do you ever find yourself feeling lazy, with no drive to finish your homework? Or perhaps you just don't feel like doing things you've been talking about for ages. If this is the case, you might be experiencing a lack of motivation. Motivation is the feeling inside us that drives us to get things done or to take action to achieve our goals. Think about what you like to do. Do these things feel like a chore, or can you get started on them right away? If you get excited and driven to complete tasks, or are keen to try new activities, these are signs that you are motivated. Some people find motivation within themselves, based on feelings and emotions, like wanting to do really well at sports team tryouts because it makes them feel confident and happy. This is called internal motivation. Others find motivation from things happening around them, like getting a sticker or house points from a teacher for picking up rubbish. This is called external motivation. Everybody is different. Some people are motivated by themselves and their own desire to succeed, while others may feel most motivated when they receive rewards or praise from other people. But sometimes it can be difficult to get motivated to do something, regardless of where the motivation is coming from. Other times, emotions such as fear can get in the way of our motivation. Maybe when you've tried something and been hit with fear, you've found yourself thinking, "I want things to stay the same. If I succeed, what if I have more responsibility? I'm probably not going to be very good at it." Overcoming your fears can feel amazing and can also supercharge your motivation. When you stop worrying about what could go wrong, you open yourself up to some fun and exciting opportunities. Here are a few super easy tips you can use to develop your motivation: 1. **Pair it up.** Pair something you don't like doing with something you love doing. Do you hate folding your clothes or making your bed? Try listening to your favorite music or podcast while you do it. This way, you associate the task with something enjoyable, making it easier to get started and stay motivated.