All articles tagged with #motivation
New study in monkeys identifies a ventral striatum–ventral pallidum circuit that suppresses action when a task promises discomfort, and shows that temporarily disrupting this pathway with a drug restores motivation, offering insight into procrastination and implications for mental health while underscoring the circuit's protective role against burnout.
Scientists have identified a neural pathway in the brain that acts as a 'motivation brake,' making it difficult to start unpleasant tasks. By suppressing this circuit in macaque monkeys, researchers significantly increased their willingness to initiate tasks despite potential punishment, offering insights into motivation deficits in psychiatric conditions like depression.
Researchers are exploring how vibrating tendons can reduce the perceived effort of exercise by altering brain signals, potentially making physical activity feel easier and encouraging more people to stay active, although the research is still in early stages and limited to short cycling sessions.
To overcome a fitness rut, the article suggests six strategies: strengthening your athletic identity, focusing on process goals rather than outcomes, habit stacking to integrate workouts into daily routines, creating dedicated high-performance environments, practicing mindful exercise, and maintaining flexibility in your training schedule. These approaches can help rekindle motivation and make exercise a more enjoyable and sustainable part of life.
A personal trainer emphasizes that returning to exercise in your 40s and 50s should be approached differently than in youth, focusing on enjoyable activities, gradual progress, and realistic expectations to rebuild strength and confidence after inactivity.
The article shares essential gear and tips for walking 10,000 steps daily, emphasizing comfort, motivation, and injury prevention, including recommended shoes, smartwatches, clothing, hydration, and indoor options for cold weather, all supported by expert insights.
Research suggests that mental fatigue is largely psychological and can be mitigated by setting specific, challenging goals, which enhance motivation and reduce feelings of mental drain during prolonged cognitive tasks.
The article offers advice on how to set and maintain effective New Year's resolutions by avoiding vague language like 'always' or 'never,' being realistic, planning for setbacks, stacking habits into existing routines, and focusing on positive goals to increase the likelihood of success.
Research suggests that applying vibration to tendons can alter sensory signals sent to the brain, making exercise feel easier and allowing individuals to exert more effort without perceiving increased difficulty, potentially encouraging more physical activity.
Gretchen Rubin suggests choosing a theme word for the year instead of traditional resolutions, to inspire and guide personal growth, with examples like 'neighbor' for connection and 'bounce' for resilience, emphasizing actionable goals for specific achievements.
Gloria Gaynor's iconic song 'I Will Survive' became a personal and motivational anthem during her recovery from a serious injury, and it has since become a cultural symbol with over 200 covers worldwide. Gaynor, originally from Newark, New Jersey, rose to fame in the disco era and continues to inspire, recently receiving the Kennedy Center Honor for her lifetime achievements.
The New England Patriots, despite preseason predictions of an 8.5 win total and doubts about their competitiveness, are currently 11-2 and leading the AFC East, fueled by motivation from external skepticism. Players and coach Mike Vrabel emphasize the importance of staying hungry and focused as they approach the playoffs, with the bye week serving as a chance to recover and prepare for the final stretch.
A parent seeks advice on co-parenting a highly intelligent 17-year-old who is enrolled in four AP classes but lacks motivation and struggles with completing schoolwork, leading to differing opinions on how to motivate him.
The article offers practical tips for fitting workouts into a busy schedule, emphasizing enjoyment, organization, starting small, finding optimal times, scheduling, habit stacking, redefining workouts, and prioritizing sleep and nutrition to maintain a healthy lifestyle despite time constraints.
The article offers motivation tips for sticking with an exercise routine, highlighting a personal story of a woman who regained her fitness after a break and successfully completed a 5K with her daughters, demonstrating that persistence and prioritizing health can lead to lasting fitness habits.