There is a Reason for Efforts That Can Be Sustained

I have always had a tendency to be able to continue certain types of study and habits for a surprisingly long time.

When I was in elementary school, it was arithmetic and kanji drills (which I would cycle through repeatedly). Currently, it is writing on note. For unique reasons, cooking is also becoming a regular habit.

On the other hand, it is not the case that I can easily continue everything.

Activities where my situation is complex and I am required to make different judgments each time tend to be personally exhausting. I used to think this was because I lacked perseverance.

However, by encountering psychology and brain science, a new perspective was born. Whether or not you can continue is not determined solely by the strength of your will. That is the point.

Continuity is related to cognitive load

As a general theory in educational psychology, it is considered that there is a limit to the amount of information a human can handle. This is closely related to a concept called cognitive load, and the more tasks (information) processed in the brain, the more easily a person becomes exhausted.

Looking back at myself, there are commonalities in the things that have continued for a long time.

• The purpose and procedures are clear

• There is little room for individual judgment

The drills, certification studies, and cooking (where I completely standardized the content) mentioned at the beginning had clear procedures. Also, because they are tasks completed individually, I can control the scope of judgment myself.

Writing on note was the same. I use ChatGPT to create a draft of the article, and I make the detailed revisions myself.

Conversely, in situations where the situation is complex and the outlook is difficult, there is a very strong tendency to become unilaterally distressed. The multifaceted nature of things and the element of human relationships are added, and the amount of information that must be processed in the brain increases all at once.

My personality of worrying too much to begin with works against me in such situations. It might be a bit harsh to explain this solely as a weakness of will.

The foundation of continuation is self-understanding

Based on this background, what are the necessary elements (perspectives) for continuous effort? Personally, I believe that "self-understanding" is important.

Every human being has different characteristics and values. In other words, the conditions for being able to continue are different for each person.

• Being able to work on monotonous tasks over the long term

• Being able to enjoy daily environmental changes

• I can concentrate better when working individually than in a group

• I can work harder when I am in a group

However, before we know it, we start pursuing methods that ignore our own characteristics and values. This also includes external factors (background).

• I am actually good at routine tasks, yet I aim for a work style with intense environmental changes.

• I actually feel more secure when procedures are clear, yet I try to adapt within ambiguous instructions or structures.

Forcing yourself to do something leads to increased self-blame. Therefore, for continuous effort, self-understanding is essential.

We often hear about self-understanding in the context of job hunting, but the self-understanding I am referring to here is the fundamental question of 'How do I want to be in the first place?' and does not fixate on goals like getting a job (a job offer).

Studying psychology is a means to know oneself

If I unravel self-understanding from my own experience, it includes the continuation of learning about psychology and mental health. I plan to continue studying for the Mental Health Management Examination toward this winter as well.

It is not just about obtaining a qualification. I want to learn it as a means to understand my own feelings and characteristics.

• The reasons why I tend to get exhausted

• The difference between things I can continue and things I cannot

• Variations in human psychological reactions

There is not just one way to continue making an effort. There must be situations where mental fortitude is useful, and I am no exception to that.

On the other hand, there are aspects that cannot be explained by mental fortitude alone. At such times, I believe the aforementioned self-understanding becomes the foundation that supports continuous effort.

Psychologically, there is a way of thinking that focuses on resilience. I think it is effective as a means to achieve continuous effort without forcing oneself.

Conclusion

When I felt depressed, I tended to think the reason I couldn't keep going was because I lacked 'guts.' Such old wounds still remain...

For efforts that can be sustained, there are conditions unique to each person. To know those conditions, self-understanding is indispensable. This is something I should tell myself more than anyone else.

Consistency is not just about enduring. It is about finding methods that suit your characteristics and values, and creating an environment where you can continue without strain.

The form of effort that allows one to keep going is different for everyone.

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Thank you for reading until the end. I hope this article can serve as a catalyst to change your future in some way.
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