The Motivation Switch Wasn't Something You 'Press'!? — How the Brain Gets Restless on Its Own

The fact that I've never been able to successfully 'press' my motivation switch even when I thought, 'Alright, time to press it'.

I get fired up, thinking, 'Alright, today's the day!',
make some coffee, sit at my desk, open my documents, take a deep breath, and then 30 minutes pass while I'm on my phone.
...Well, I'm tired today, so I guess I'll just go to sleep.

It makes you want to retort, 'What even is a motivation switch!?'

But actually, the motivation switch isn'ta button you press yourselfat all.
It turns on by itself. And what's more,at times you wouldn't even expect.

Dopamine is a 'show-off' that loves the unexpected

The hormone that generates motivation isdopamine.

This dopamine comes out when you feel,

• I might get a reward!

• This looks fun!

• I'm feeling excited!

that kind of feeling.

What's more, it's a total 'jump-the-gun' kind of guy that is secreted not when you 'get' the reward, but
the moment you think, 'I might get it!'

For example, that restless feeling you get 'right before payday.'
That faint hope of, 'I haven't seen the statement yet, but maybe it's a bit higher this month...?'

That's all the work of dopamine.
The whole experience is a set, right up until the moment you see the actual amount and think, 'Wait? My travel expenses aren't in here!'

The truth behind the 'I thought I heard my name' phenomenon

Dopamine also has the effect of 'increasing concentration.'

For example, at work, when your boss and the president are talking at a desk a bit further away.
The moment you hear your name, like '...and regarding [Name]'s case'—

Your brain, which was struggling with Excel just a moment ago, suddenly goes into maximum information-gathering mode.

• Did I do something to get scolded for recently?

• Wait? A promotion? A demotion? A transfer? A suggestion to resign?

• To begin with, who were we talking about just now?

And just like that, your thought process goes Super Saiyan.

This is all the effect of dopamine.
It's that feeling where your brain suddenly gives you an order: 'This is what you need to focus on right now!'

Beware of the 'dopamine swamp'

However, dopamine also has a personality that tends to get a bit carried away.

If that 'anticipation' or 'excitement' from earlier is too strong,
you'll feel incredibly down once it's over.

Yes, it's the silence after the festival.

• The trip home after a fun vacation.

• The moment you hand in your answer sheet after an exam.

• The emptiness you feel when you return to your hotel after your favorite idol's concert.

This sadness is actually the backlash from dopamine suddenly stopping.

Tips for releasing motivation in 'small doses'

The trick to using dopamine effectively is a 'drip-feed' reward design.

• Try doing it for just 5 minutes

• Reading one page is enough

• Even just opening the book is a great job!

By preparing 'small rewards for small efforts' like this,
your dopamine starts to get restless, thinking, 'Oh, maybe this is something good?'

Conclusion: Don't press the motivation switch. Lure it out.

Instead of 'pressing the motivation switch,'
create an environment where motivation comes out on its own.

That is the best way to get along with dopamine.

📘 This article is a reconfiguration for Note of content scheduled to be included in a book currently under development.

Although this book is in an unfinished state, it is currently on sale on Kindle.
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