Even the most fulfilling job on earth brings with it some tedious, pain-in-the-neck, demotivating activities. Behind glamorous job titles are annoying little things like unending paperwork, countless emails, too much travel, difficult client calls or managing pesky interns.
These unavoidable tasks can suck the motivation out of you.
But what if I told you that a simple word swap can help transform your mindset from feeling unmotivated to feeling pumped… even with these brain-numbing tasks?
One of the core beliefs of the Word Cortex community is that the words we tell ourselves matter. They can make (or break) our confidence, and ultimately, influence our actions.
Today, I share with you a linguistic trick that you can use every time you complain about the little things.
Tedious tasks: Chore versus Gift
We typically tend to view our bigger goals as a gift. For example, becoming a doctor is a gift; working in the Fortune 500 company is a gift.
But we tend to view the little, everyday tasks as a chore. “There’s too much reading!” “I have such a long commute!”
While we’re suuuuper motivated to achieve the BIG goals, we’re annoyed at the small steps that get us there. (It’s OK. We’re only human.)
Here’s a thought: What if we began looking at these tedious tasks as a gift instead of a chore? (I know, it’s easier said than done! But stay with me.)
It’s the small things.
Let’s take another example that we can all relate to: going to the gym. Yes, we all have the big goals of losing weight and looking fabulous, but we tend to fall off the wagon in just a couple of months. (Or at least I do.) Very soon, each gym visit seems like a chore.
While studying what motivates people to exercise consistently for a long period of time, Dr. Michelle Segar of the University of Michigan discovered astonishing findings.
The big dreams – losing weight, looking good, better health – were not the motivators in the long run. Instead, a simple short-term goal – ‘feeling good after today’s workout’ – was more responsible for motivating people on a daily basis.
This is because, those few people, who stuck with working out regularly, over many years, viewed each gym visit as a gift, not a chore.
From a chore to a gift: The trick you can use
When you see a task as a chore, you’re likely to say something like, “I have to…send these emails today.” (“I have to go to the gym in the evening.” “I have to drive two hours for a meeting.””I have to deliver this presentation.”)
“I have to.” = It’s a chore.
Instead, try saying, “I get to.” “I get to send these emails today.” “I get to go to the gym in the evening.” “I get to drive two hours for a meeting.” “I get to deliver this presentation.”
“I get to.” = It’s a gift.
This simple word swap triggers your brain into motivation. It changes the way you perceive an otherwise time-consuming or tedious task, even adding in a few perks along the way! For example:
“I get to go to the gym… it makes me feel so good afterwards!”
“I get to drive two hours… maybe I’ll listen to an audiobook.”
“I get to deliver this presentation… it’s my chance to show them I’m capable.”
Wouldn’t you look forward to doing these things, now? It’s magical how simply swapping words can change our mindset.
Extrinsic versus intrinsic motivators
Every time you say, “I have to,” you’re signalling at a non-existent external motivator. As if outside factors are somehow responsible for your actions. They aren’t.
However, swapping it to say, “I get to,” instead switches it to become an intrinsic motivator. You’ve now taken responsibility of the tasks that lie ahead of you and start seeing them as a gift. The same tasks that are little steps along the way to achieving the big goals.
So here we go: I get to create amazing content every week for Word Cortex.
What is something you get to do today?
– Fortier, Michelle, et al. “Words Matter: Reframing Exercise Is Medicine for the General Population to Optimize Motivation and Create Sustainable Behaviour Change.” Applied Physiology, Nutrition, and Metabolism, vol. 41, no. 11, 2016, pp. 1212–1215., doi:10.1139/apnm-2016-0125
– Read more of Dr. Michelle Segar’s motivation philosophy here.
– Seth Godin wrote about this exact topic. What are the odds! Read his blog entry here.
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