Don't underestimate the impact of motivation

Motivation is often treated as a nice bonus. Something that makes work more enjoyable, but isn't really necessary. After all, we all have responsibilities, and we can't expect everything to be exciting.

But I think we underestimate just how much motivation affects our energy, wellbeing, and ability to function. And sometimes we only realise its importance when we lose it.

Not everything will be motivating

It's really not realistic to expect that everything we do will always be super motivating. And if you think that you only have motivating things to do, consider yourself lucky and enjoy it!

Some tasks give us energy, while others consume it. And sometimes the very same task can do both, depending on the situation.

Motivation doesn't necessarily mean enjoying every moment of what we do. Sometimes it's about the purpose behind the task, the results we want to achieve, or the satisfaction of creating something meaningful.

The goal shouldn't be to eliminate every unmotivating task. That's simply not realistic. Instead, we should aim for a balance where we have enough things that motivate us to make the less enjoyable responsibilities manageable.

What happens when motivation is missing?

When nothing feels motivating, even ordinary responsibilities can start requiring more effort. And since we only have so much energy available each day, that effort can eventually leave us exhausted.

You might manage to get through your workday or studies, but have nothing left for the things that matter to you personally. Hobbies become another task you don't have the energy for. Even taking care of yourself can start feeling overwhelming.

And when this continues for a long time, it can become difficult to recover.

A prolonged lack of motivation can also be a warning sign that something isn't right. It can coexist with chronic stress and exhaustion, and sometimes be part of a larger problem such as burnout.

Some people argue that we don't need to be motivated at work. We get paid to do our jobs, whether we enjoy them or not. And sure, we can complete tasks without feeling particularly motivated. But that doesn't mean motivation is irrelevant.

Motivation can affect how we approach challenges, how willing we are to learn, and how much energy we have for problem-solving and collaboration. When people care about what they're doing, they are often more engaged in the outcome.

Sometimes motivation isn't even about the tasks themselves. It's about having opportunities to influence how we work, make decisions, and use our strengths. The same task can feel completely different depending on whether we have ownership over it or are simply following instructions.

From an organisational perspective, supporting motivation isn't just about making employees happy. It can also contribute to better quality, productivity, and retention.

Yet I'm often surprised by how little attention organisations pay to understanding what actually motivates their people.

And while understanding our own motivators is important, we shouldn't have to carry the entire responsibility for maintaining motivation ourselves. Organisations and leadership also have a role in creating environments where people have opportunities to use their strengths and feel that their work is meaningful.

Understand what motivates you

It's important to understand what drives you. When you know what you enjoy and what you don't, it's easier to try to find a good balance. And remember that this can change; the same tasks won't likely always bring you the most joy. And don't limit yourself to the things you already know you enjoy. Sometimes we discover new motivators by trying something completely different.

And remember that motivation isn't constant. Even things we love can feel exhausting sometimes. A temporary lack of motivation doesn't necessarily mean you've lost your passion. Sometimes you simply need rest, a different challenge, or a change of pace.

For some people, work is primarily a way to support the things they love doing outside it. And that's perfectly fine. But if getting through the workday consistently leaves you too exhausted to enjoy your personal life, the balance probably isn't working.

Of course, recognising what motivates you doesn't mean you can immediately change your circumstances. We don't always get to choose our tasks, and sometimes the opportunities to do what we enjoy simply aren't available. But understanding what we're missing can help us identify why we're struggling and what changes might make a difference.

When you have a moment, start thinking about which tasks you enjoy and which ones drain you. And if you work with other people, remember that your motivators aren't necessarily theirs. Something you find incredibly boring might be exactly the type of task someone else enjoys. By understanding each other's strengths and interests, we might find opportunities to create a better balance for everyone.

Of course, we can't always distribute tasks according to personal preferences. But even small adjustments can make a difference.

What motivates me

I've been doing quite a bit of this reflection myself, and I've discovered that my motivators aren't necessarily what I originally thought. Of course, there are the specific topics I'm passionate about, such as accessibility. It's easy to know that those are some of my motivators. But digging deeper allowed me to find new ones and also to better understand why exactly the things are motivating to me.

I enjoy developing and improving things. And I mean I REALLY enjoy doing that. Being able to create or improve processes, or collaborate on such a project together with colleagues at work, is one of my biggest motivators.

For a long time, I knew I enjoyed these things. I always seemed to find myself improving something, even when it wasn't officially part of my responsibilities. But I hadn't really stopped to consider just how important this type of work was to my well-being.

I only started to understand its importance when I no longer had the same opportunities to do it. Suddenly, the balance was gone. I wasn't just missing tasks I enjoyed. I was missing something that had helped me manage my energy, stay engaged, and feel fulfilled in my work.

I've also noticed that I really enjoy teaching and speaking about my passion topics. I've always struggled with performance anxiety, but I've discovered that my motivation to share knowledge and connect with people can be stronger than my fear of speaking. I would have never thought I'd be going abroad to speak at a conference, but here I am! And this is why I recommend you try to step out of your comfort zone; you might find some unexpected passions.

When thinking about work tasks, I also know I'm better motivated when I do something that I can see the results of. That is one of the reasons I really enjoy working on the frontend side of web development. And technical planning is also something that I find very motivating. I get to see the impact of the planning when I start doing the actual work.

I've also noticed that I really need some kind of creativity. I'm terrible at drawing, but things like editing videos and writing content are things that really allow me to tap into the creative side.

Motivation is more than a nice bonus

What I've learned is that motivation isn't just about enjoying what I do. It's about having opportunities to use my strengths, challenge myself, create something meaningful, and feel that I'm making a difference.

And when those opportunities disappear, the impact can reach much further than we might expect.

We can't always choose what we do, and not every task needs to be exciting. But I think we should stop treating motivation as something insignificant, especially when it can have such a big impact on our well-being.

So, what motivates you? And perhaps more importantly, do you currently have enough opportunities to do those things?