Why consistency beats motivation?

Motivation is the driver of my daily routine. It excites me when I start a project and gets me locked in for hours. However, I find that this habit is a great power to possess but comes at a cost, and that is endless half-baked projects without ever getting to the end. The alternative, which is starting projects like a chore, is worse for me, as this not only takes the fun out of the project but makes me quickly lose interest and increases the odds of procrastination.

Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life - Confucius (or Mark Twain)

The balance I found is to keep the motivational drive—using it as a tool to kick off your project and keep you excited and on the edge of your seat for the next day. With this, you create a breakdown of what you need to do, like a simple Kanban board or to-do list. This keeps track of what you need to do next (for when you lose the drive).

Next, you start the project embracing the euphoric essence of motivation. Keep going at it until you no longer feel that excitement. Make sure to keep updating your Kanban board or to-do list as you go along to track your progress. Once the spark goes out is when you switch back into chore mode. It’s not a pleasant experience and totally feels like some crappy chore, but this is the mode you need to keep going. Grind out task by task from your Kanban board or to-do list.

Eventually, it becomes a consistent flow, with some tasks triggering that euphoric motivation you’ve been craving, which makes you enjoy every moment. And when these tasks don’t have that spark, you can always embrace the solace that you’re getting closer with each task to the end of your project—like chipping away at a massive stone boulder until it reveals a beautiful statue inside.

This technique allows you to build discipline and consistency into your workflow. It’s that slow-burning feeling that lets you cook the perfect steak after the high-heat sear, and it’s much better than having motivation drive you all the way—which is good for small projects, but eventually all candles burn out. Having the ability to keep going when the lights go out is what sets you apart from everyone else.

Good luck, and keep calm and carry on!