DR. KATHERINE S. CHO

  • Home
  • About
  • The Work
    • Research & Projects
    • Pedagogy & Teaching
    • Designs
  • Resources
    • "Me"-Sourced
    • "Out"-Sourced
    • Opportunities & Due Dates
    • Templates, Layouts
  • Entries
  • Home
  • About
  • The Work
    • Research & Projects
    • Pedagogy & Teaching
    • Designs
  • Resources
    • "Me"-Sourced
    • "Out"-Sourced
    • Opportunities & Due Dates
    • Templates, Layouts
  • Entries

PROCESSING

ENTRIES OF Things I am learning. Things I have learned.
Reflections. IdeaS. DREAMS.

Goals, Reality, and the Myth of Motivation

3/8/2020

 
In thinking through this blog, one of the things I really want to be able to do, is post on a more regular schedule. But despite making these plans, I always wind up getting stuck. I don't want to post until I have something to say, because the opposite (posting just to post), seems like a waste of everyone's time. In order to have something to say, I have to be motivated to write, which I am rarely... not just for this blog, but for everything now a days. I could easily chalk this up to writer's block (or more accurately, the journey of trying to finish my dissertation and transition to faculty). But to take a pause, I think it really speaks to the concept of motivation. Last week, I came across an Instagram post about motivation and working out. I don't quite remember the exact phrase nor the person whom I can properly credit (and googling "motivation" "working out" was not at all helpful), but the gist of it was:
​We get trapped into this idea that we have to be motivated to work out because that makes working out more "fun." But motivation shouldn't be the driving force because we lose it. Instead, we should work (out) regardless and let the motivation come and go, but not let it detract from doing the work. 
Or something like that. Again, it was a quick read and I have pretty terrible memory. If you came across it, please let me know so I can do it better justice.  But this idea of motivation and the reframe of it not being my driving force, is definitely a huge shift for me. For writing, I like to have myself and my students to reflect on when we write best. And for me, I have to want it; I have to be motivated. It might be a spark, a new inspiration, but if I am not motivated, the juices aren't flowing, the writing is stilted, and I'll usually stop after a couple of (excruciating) minutes. The problem that I have right now, is that I am unmotivated to write. And so I won't. And I don't. I don't write. But I need to write. 

Joan Bolker wrote a book called, "Writing Your Dissertation in Fifteen Minutes a Day: A Guide to Starting, Revising, and Finishing Your Doctoral Thesis." Obviously, you cannot write a dissertation in just 15 minutes per day, but the general gist is a similar critique on motivation: you just need to write. And so I've been. And so I have. And it's been painful. I look at the sentences I wrote the day before and cringe, but also know that in waiting for that lightning moment, I won't actually be getting closer to doing the work. So instead, I'm trying to push through my writer's block, find joy in being consistent, and (re)writing my relationship with motivation. And hopefully this will also translate to me writing more regularly on this blog as well... but no promises made~ 

Comments are closed.
    What's On My
    ​Bookshelf
    In a year, I read somewhere around 100-200 books. I don't have a TV and I use reading as a form of escape, and I especially like reading outside of academia. It also helps with improving my writing :)

    WHAT'S ON MY
    SPOTIFY
    When I'm trying to concentrate, I like having background music that's super dramatic. For some reason, instrumental music is instrumental (pun!) in helping me concentrate. Most of the songs are Korean-drama OSTs (original sound tracks), w/ a few classical music scores in the mix! 

    Categories

    All
    Random Round Up

    I don't categorize anything other than my "random round-ups" because it takes too much work (insert laughing emoji).

    Archives

    October 2022
    May 2022
    March 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    December 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    April 2019
    February 2019
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    March 2017
    September 2016
    June 2014
    March 2012

Home

About

linktr.Ee

Photos used under Creative Commons from homegets.com, shixart1985, wuestenigel, wuestenigel, topten5, urbanbotanist, shixart1985, _dChris, John Beans, Rosmarie Voegtli, iloveroger3, Tony Webster