Habits: More Important than Motivation?

 

The world is big on motivation nowadays. It is no surprise to see motivational quotes, articles, and tips all over the internet and social media, let alone the popularity of motivational speakers. While these are all good things, and have their place, one must never underestimate the importance of building better habits.

Why? Well, you may have already noticed that humans find it hard to make decisions. Even the smallest and unimportant of decisions can feel like a big burden at times.

While motivation from our surroundings is a great way to build determination, it only pushes us to make decisions. On the other hand, implementing a routine and building daily habits does not need willpower or decision-making on a daily basis.

Moreover, it is usually the small habits that help us achieve success rather than one huge event. This is undeniable because humans are definitely creatures of habit. Various studies prove this, suggesting that our habits drive 45% of our everyday behavior.

So eventually, good habits can very much be the way to go for achieving our goals and improving our life. All you need to do is take a step and then repeat it every single day.

 

BJ Fogg’s Behavior Model

To build good habits and follow them strictly, it is important to understand general human behavior. One way to do so is by studying the behavior model by Dr. BJ Fogg. The Fogg Behavior Model, or FBM, is an organized theory that combines the ideas of the cumulative conclusions of several behavioral studies.

This theory highlights three principal elements, with each having its own subcomponents. To put it simply, it outlines and focuses on Motivation, Ability, and types of Prompts.

Meanwhile, the subcomponents allow a broader view of these elements. For instance, Ability refers to the subcomponent of simple factors. These simple factors of Ability work together in accordance with the context of a certain type of prompt.

Theories developed around concepts of habits, behavioral changes, and persuasion are nothing new. In fact, they date back to the time of Aristotle and the ancient Greeks. That being said, the Fogg Behavioral Model is quite different from all of the previous work done in the field.

How? Well, this simple model shows how the three specific elements come together to produce a single result. Not only this, but it also precisely explains the importance of each subcomponent making up these elements.

You will also see that the FBM model reveals the possible trading off of motivation and ability. Simply put, it means you can develop successful habits in something you’re not very good at if your motivation is very high.

This seems counter intuitive to the “common knowledge” of mainstream culture. It also directs its focus on practical issues of designing routines to accommodate changes in behavior.

 

Why do Habits Matter More than Motivation?

While motivation is important to take the first step of any new journey, it is not what leads to success. In fact, building daily habits that push you towards your goal are what help you achieve them. Perhaps you are overeating and want to develop better habits around food, or maybe you’d like to become an early riser…

Here are a few reasons habits are more important than motivation.

 

Habits Can Motivate Us

When we think about habits, it is usually the negative side of them that comes to our minds first, that you will be destined to live some boring, structured life. On the contrary, habits can actually help to motivate us.

While some negative habits can drain or distract us from our goals, others can fill us up with encouragement. This is because routines and habits are so deeply rooted in our lives that they gain the power to encourage or discourage us.

So, it is important that you start taking control of your habits to stay motivated instead of looking for motivation in other places. This way, habits will act as a significant tool that helps you achieve your ultimate goal. After all, actions are more important than mere quotes to actually achieve something.

 

Habits Don’t Require Willpower

Willpower is incredibly important to do anything that requires an effort on your part. But the thing about willpower is that it is extremely hard to keep up with it for a good amount of time. Not to mention, it’s hard to conjure up willpower in the first place.

Of course, you can force yourself to complete a task in a certain amount of time, but you will eventually run out of willpower at some point. While motivation from friends and family and even motivational quotes can fire you up to start a task, it is not enough to achieve consistent outcomes.

Moreover, it can very quickly start feeling effortless once you get in the repeated habit of doing something.

 

Habits Improve Our Overall Quality of Life

You may see many motivational books, quotes and videos compelling you to get your life together. But, how is that even possible? It is impossible to use only motivation to improve your life.

While it can definitely give you a jumpstart, motivation alone is not enough to help you do something productive with your life. The only way of actually making a difference is to build a routine that can positively impact your life.

You can incorporate a new activity into your routine to enhance your overall quality of life. It can be anything from working out each day or reading a book for a few minutes. Taking up a small habit and practicing it daily can do much more than motivation alone.

 

Bottom Line

Building and maintaining good habits is much easier than it seems, and it can be much more beneficial than motivation. Following the right steps in Fogg’s Behavioral Model can help you more easily achieve your ultimate goal.