The difference between motivation and commitment

What is motivation?

In the simplest terms, motivation is the desire or enthusiasm to act in service of a goal. Whether you want to work out to tone up, have decided to cook more meals at home, or are saving up for that two-week vacation abroad, motivation is the critical factor in achieving those goals. It's your spark, your why, or your driving force.

There are two forms of motivation:

• Intrinsic motivation is your individual driving force. It arises from within based on your personal values and is integrated into your identity. It serves as a continuous source of motivation and is not affected or driven by external rewards or factors.

• Extrinsic motivation refers to external factors that drive your inspiration, such as expected rewards, like money or recognition, or avoiding punishment or consequences, such as a demotion at work or having to pay a fine for a violation. Extrinsic motivation usually increases motivation for the short term but is ineffective in the long term.

Both intrinsic and extrinsic motivation feed your desire to continue striving toward purpose, your goals, and well-lived life.

What is commitment?

Commitment is defined as making a pledge, promise, or obligation. It involves dedicating or binding yourself to a course of action or to accomplishing a goal. Whether you commit to making time for self-care, maintaining your wash day routine, or volunteering at your local food pantry, commitment is driven by an internal desire and intentional decision to perform specific tangible actions.

Two factors that affect commitment are the importance of or value you place on the goal and self-efficacy — whether you believe that you can achieve the goal.

Similarities of and differences between motivation and commitment

Image via Pixabay by lograstudio

While motivation and commitment are used interchangeably, and both affect goal achievement, there are clear differences between the two. The table below details the differences between the two:

How motivation and commitment affect goal achievement

Achieving a goal is a process that requires both motivation and commitment. While you can be motivated to accomplish a goal, it would be difficult to do so without commitment because they are interdependent. Commitment is the decision to act on what motivates you, while motivation is the drive that fuels the commitment. When your motivation wanes, commitment is there to support you.

When thinking of your wellness goals, motivation is what gets you started. It's what drives you to work out more consistently, eat healthier, and take time for yourself. Commitment ensures you meet those goals by giving you a purpose. Commitment is the why; it is you working out for improved energy, meal prepping for healthier eating, or scheduling a cleaning service monthly to help you maintain your home.

Six tips to help you get motivated and stay committed

Keeping yourself motivated and committed to your wellness and self-care goals can mean the difference between accomplishing your goals and not. Here are six tips to help you motivate yourself and stay committed to your wellness goals.

Three tips to get you motivated:

1. Reward yourself

Both internal and external rewards are shown to be instrumental in goal attainment. Commending and praising yourself after completing a task, such as decluttering your workspace or rewarding yourself with a spa treatment after meeting an important work deadline can keep you motivated.

2. Be flexible

There will be times when you don't have the energy or the time to work on your goals. Remember it is a marathon, not a sprint; take it easy on yourself. Adjust your plans to fit your schedule or your energy levels. Instead of rushing to wash your hair in the shower before work, dedicate an evening where you perform your hair care routine. Or reschedule that morning run in the afternoon, so that you finish work earlier. The important thing is to not give up but to take the time you need to regroup.

3. Do it anyway

Even if you don't have the motivation to do something, do it. Once you are actually performing the task or action, you begin feeling motivated to complete it. The feeling of accomplishment can help increase your motivation and drive you to move forward.

Three tips to help you stay committed:

1. Focus on your ‘why'

Focusing on why you want to achieve your goals is important in helping you stay committed even on days when you don't feel motivated. Knowing that your goal of eating healthier lies in your desire for better long-term health can help make choosing a salad instead of a slice of pizza easier.

2. Keep it simple

Managing long-term and complex goals requires a plan. Breaking your goals into smaller tasks or steps can help keep you on track. Instead of making a goal to work out three times a week, you can break that goal into smaller tasks such as getting in 30 minutes of moderate activity once a day. In this case, you aren't limited in the activities you partake in but are still able to get in your workout.

3. Be accountable

Holding yourself accountable for achieving your goals is a powerful tool in keeping you committed. You can write your goals down on paper and regularly review them. Get an accountability partner, where you check in and support each other as you work toward your goals. Having regular updates on your progress helps you stay committed by showing how far you've come and how close you are to goal attainment.

Moving forward

Achieving your wellness and self-care goals can be difficult when balancing work, family, and other obligations. However, motivation and commitment can help you balance your obligations and achieve your goals. We hope you found these tips useful and have a better understanding of what motivates you and how to remain committed to your wellness goals. Did we miss any useful tips? Contact us and we'll be sure to add it to our list.

We are Striking + Strong, and we are here to encourage you in our own special way. We believe there is strength beyond beauty. From workout to wash day, we've got you covered with hair care products dedicated to the active, wavy, curly, and kinky-coily haired woman.