Dr. Benjamin Todd Eller of California has spent many decades of his career working in academia. In the following article, Dr. Benjamin Todd Eller explains how in the pursuit of academic and career excellence, one’s inner drive becomes the compass that charts the course to success. Below, Dr. Eller remarks on the insights and strategies to unlocking this inner drive and utilizing it in the pursuit of success.
Long before reaching the levels of academia or professional career-building, those seeking success in modern society frequently hear of the need to set goals and pursue them with inner motivation. This, however, ignores how difficult it can truly be for some to harness such motivation.
A person must first understand the psychology of motivation itself. By understanding the brain’s tendency to perform a cost-benefit analysis when approaching goals, academics and professionals can maintain focus and drive by tailoring their environment to better suit the brain’s perception.
Dr. Benjamin Todd Eller of California says that although this may sound like a highly scientific and difficult concept to incorporate into daily life, it actually becomes much simpler when breaking it down.
Dr. Benjamin Todd Eller Explains the Psychology of Motivation
Human beings could not survive without motivation. Without neurological systems in place motivating them to eat, procreate, and secure their own safety, the race might easily die out. Although this may sound like a very different brand of motivation compared to personal or professional goal setting, the secret to success lies in realizing that the brain governs these pursuits in precisely the same manner.
Dr. Benjamin Todd Eller of California says that when a person sets an academic or professional goal, the brain processes the resulting motivation in much the same way as it processes motivations for food, and security. It does this by performing a
cost-benefit analysis based on:
- Internal factors. Whether a person is healthy, stressed, sleep-deprived, etc. can all impact their motivation. The body factors these concerns into whether a pursuit will meet their physiological and psychological needs or merely worsen their distress by causing them to exert effort for little payoff.
- Environmental factors. In the case of academic and professional pursuits, this essentially pertains to the achievability of the goal. Can it be achieved without losing out on potentially better opportunities? If not, motivation will not come easily.
- Past experiences. Rather than merely assessing the above factors in the moment, the brain also draws from similar combinations of internal and external factors to determine whether it will fare well under like circumstances.
Dr. Benjamin Todd Eller of California says in short, the brain automatically shuts off motivation if the body is stressed, the environment is unsupportive, and previous attempts at meeting goals under similar conditions have all failed. This seems problematic, as some falsely equate academic and professional pursuits with automatic stress. Realistically, however, the brain’s processes are precisely the roadmap to harnessing inner drive.
Practical Strategies for Driving Toward Success
After gaining a basic understanding of the brain’s processes and how those lead to increased motivation, it becomes easier to “hack” these processes in favor of certain goals. According to the National Center for Biotechnology Information, academic success goes
hand in hand with work-life balance. The same naturally applies to professional success as well.
Dr. Benjamin Todd Eller of California says that while any number of methods might curry favor depending upon the personal habits and experiences of a particular person, a few methods of achieving work-life balance and harnessing motivation include:
- Know the difference between hard work and effective work. As evidenced by the internal factors assessed by the brain, burnout often proves demotivating. Overcommitting and spreading oneself too thin will not prove effective in the long run, nor will working long hours when already past the point of exhaustion.
- Prioritize boundaries to set reasonable deadlines. Many tire themselves out because they stress over arbitrary, self-imposed deadlines. Begin with boundaries over when to work and how long to work, then set goals around those. This will improve time management while reducing decision fatigue.
- Use all tools available for greater flexibility. When overly stressed, some people forget about the many tools modern technology has put in their toolbox. While conceptual tasks should always receive some human oversight, using AI or other technology to get started can shave off time and reduce burnout.
- Collaborate with others whenever possible. This goes with using all available resources. Asking for advice can provide fresh perspective, even when asking someone currently working on a different project. It also provides a sense of moral support and understanding that can bolster waning motivation.
- Make room for personal downtime. Part of the brain’s assessment of past history involves quality of life. If pursuit of a goal is taking time away from hobbies, friends, family, or even volunteering, motivation will begin to suffer as a result.
- Personalize effective strategies. Whether a person operates better at a particular time of day, or whether they do better through improvisation as opposed to a strict routine, can be highly individual. Success is easier to achieve when a person knows their own individual formula for effectiveness.
- Be open about vulnerabilities. Some workers and students can follow all of the above advice and still find themselves too stressed out to stay motivated. Opening up to an employer or professor can make all the difference and may even lead to a systemic change that benefits everybody.
Maintaining Academic and Professional Focus
Even when following all advice above, stressful distractions can still derail focus and kill motivation. Dr. Benjamin Todd Eller of California notes that unfortunately, avoiding distractions and stressors can be difficult when even something as simple as
receiving a text message can activate the brain’s stress response. A few additional tips will help prevent such distractions, such as:
- Maintain focus on a single task. Success may be a long-term goal, but future tripping only leads to further distraction and demotivation as the brain seeks reasons not to bother trying. It’s best to focus on daily goals first, then review progress toward long-term goals on a regular basis.
- Learn to time breaks effectively. This is one area in which understanding one’s personal success formula comes in handy. Some do well using the Pomodoro technique, which means performing tasks for only 25 minutes at a time. Others succeed by performing 90 minutes of work followed by 20-minute breaks.
- Use breaks wisely. Dr. Benjamin Todd Eller of California explains that going online and getting too involved in another task can make it more difficult to get back into an efficient pattern when returning to work. By contrast, spending a few minutes on a walk during each break can help improve both memory and attention span, meaning the break itself becomes another means of achieving productivity.
- Practice short intervals of meditation. Even if it isn’t quite yet time for a scheduled break, the mind is sometimes too stressed or clouded to function. Trying to work under these circumstances only proves even more demotivating. Meditating for as little as a minute can help bring the mind back to focus.
Conclusion
Dr. Benjamin Todd Eller of California notes that motivation reigns essential when pursuing academic or professional success. By understanding the psychology behind it and devising strategies to accommodate that psychology, anyone can harness the inner drive necessary to achieve their goals. They must simply remember that it’s not a linear journey, and they may still struggle with motivation from time to time. As long as they keep on the path, however, they’ll get where they’re going in time.
