🏃 Momentum > Motivation

Motivation is overrated — here's why.

Author

Flocus
January 14, 2024

Hey there! Welcome back to The Flow by Flocus. And to the 8,061 new subscribers this week, hello and welcome 👋 If you’re new here, you can catch up on our previous editions right here.

This week: We're diving into why motivation is meh, why momentum is better — and of course, easy and actionable ways to build your own momentum. Let’s jump in.

🚫 Why Motivation is Overrated

Everybody talks about motivation. It feels great when it’s there, but it isn’t reliable and doesn’t truly move the needle. Here’s why:

  • Motivation is unpredictable. It can come strong one day, and be completely gone the next, making it an unreliable foundation for consistency and progress.

  • It encourages you to procrastinate. Waiting for motivation is often an excuse for not starting important things.

  • Motivation’s easily zapped by life’s daily stresses and demands.

⚡ Why Momentum is In

Momentum is where the magic happens. It's powerful because:

  • You're in a constant state of motion, making it easier to start tasks without the mental barrier of waiting for the “right moment”.

  • It takes less effort over time. Unlike motivation, momentum builds upon itself and compounds. Each step you take, no matter how small, moves you forward.

  • Momentum builds resilience and trains you to push through any challenges or setbacks — which are often barriers when relying just on motivation.

🛠 How to Create Momentum

Here’s how you can build momentum, starting today:

Start your day with easy wins

Quickly rack up small victories at the start of your day.

Before going to bed, try purposefully leaving a small chore for an easy start the next morning — like emptying the dishwasher, or throwing in a load of laundry.

Batch your tasks

This will reduce context switching and keep you in your flow state.

Pick strategic habits

Establish daily routines that naturally lead to productive behavior — like a healthy breakfast, or 5 minutes of mindfulness.

Put things in sight

Before you sign off for the day, put your to-do list for the next day on your desk (or open it up if it’s digital).

On your computer, open up the first task you need to tackle the next day — whether it's an email you need to respond to, or a file you need to work on. Doing this removes friction for getting started the next day.

Keep a visual track record

It can be using a simple habit tracker, reviewing your completed to-do list at the end of each day, or marking off dates on a printable calendar. Having a visual of your progress will keep momentum alive.

Like Nike, just do it

The hardest part about doing anything is getting started. If you’re struggling to get moving on a task, commit to just 5 minutes of work on it. Once you’re in it and have found your rhythm, it’ll be hard to stop!

Real quick: If you’re enjoying The Flow, check out merry makery’s self-improvement newsletter below.

Get a free mood booster every Monday morning!

Sponsored
merry makeryyour guide to the business of retail written by an apple & warby parker alum — new stor(i)es every monday.

Subscribing not only brings you great content, but also supports our tiny team at Flocus, allowing us to continue delivering value to your inbox!

🪅 Flocus Picks

A curated list of things worth sharing.

🖥️ Use Flocus to start your year off on the right foot! It’s our free, browser-based dashboard for focus and ambience, featuring aesthetic backgrounds, a custom Pomodoro timer, and lots more.

We’ve got some juicy new features dropping soon, so keep an eye out 👀

🤳 Btw, we’re on TikTok and Instagram now! Follow us for setup and productivity inspo:

Psst: How did you find this week’s edition?

Login or Subscribe to participate in polls.

That's it for this week — let's hit the ground running tomorrow and keep that momentum going right through the week ⚡️

Until next Sunday,
Flocus Team