Science-backed methods to boost motivation and productivity

Relying on motivation to start?
 
Time to flip the switch.
 
Do you want to be a person who:

• Waits for energy to exercise?

• Waits for patience to meditate?

• Waits for money to start investing?

Or become someone who realizes that what you're seeking comes AFTER the action you're delaying.
 
Now, you'll start to:

• Exercise to generate energy.

• Meditate to build patience.

• Invest to make money.

Motivation too comes in motion.
 
Sometimes, all you need to start is to start. Motivation will follow.

Other times, there are things you can do to tap into motivation.

So, here’s our 3-course meal for today:

1. Simple hacks to make motivation part of your workflow (the how)

2. Ways to make tasks enjoyable — even the ones you’ve been avoiding (the what)

3. A factor that influences your motivation and results by up to 95% (the who)

Sounds delicious?

Bon appétit!

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Before we begin: Here’s what you might have missed last week…

Big idea #1: The HOW - 2 ways to hack your drive

“Val, how do you get so much done so fast?”

(You’re going to love this)

These two hacks, grounded in neuroscience:

• reduce perceived exertion,

• boost energy,

• and make even daunting tasks feel lighter.

1. Design a workspace for flexibility

Working ≠ Sitting

Yes, you can sit, but it’s not a rule, and it’s definitely not the best way to work.

What is the best way?

• To stand

• To sit

• To walk

The answer is to incorporate all three throughout the day.

Here’s why it matters:

• It reduces mental effort by making tasks feel lighter on the mind

• Lowers perceived exertion, helping you work longer with less fatigue

• Boosts alertness and helps avoid the energy dips common with prolonged sitting

Switching postures tricks the brain into seeing tasks as easier while helping you stay focused longer.

Think about it, standing meetings became popular for a reason. The brain knows the body won’t be standing forever, so:

• attention sharpens,

• decisions speed up,

• and productivity improves.

Give it a shot!

And yes, my office looks exactly as you’ve pictured it:

2. Rotate between 3 “work zones”

No, you don’t need to turn 3 rooms into a fully equipped office, like in the photo above.

Rather:

• Options A: Working remotely? Consider joining a co-working space to gain an option to easily switch workplaces every 1.5-2 hours.

• Option B: If you work at home, like me, try rotate between your office, living room space, backyard, or where else you can have a quiet space to focus.

• Option C: If you work at the office, there are often extra rooms available for private conversations. If your office has that, consider adding at least one of such spaces into your rotation.

Moving between different workspaces throughout the day isn’t just a change of scenery, it’s a dopamine hack that helps you get more done with less mental strain.

Here’s why it works:

• Each change in environment releases a small dopamine boost, which increases focus and motivation.

• Frequent shifts prevent mental fatigue, keeping your mind fresh and alert.

• It’s an effective way to break your day’s agenda into a few 1.5-hour focus blocks with short rests in between which aids your focus and productivity.

The best part?

This approach keeps each work session engaging, allowing you to maximize productivity during focused time blocks without feeling worn out.

Big idea #2: The WHAT - 5 ways to turn dread into drive

You don’t need motivation tips for projects you love doing…

But what about the tasks that feel daunting, overwhelming, or just plain boring?

That’s when intrinsic motivation can make all the difference.

Here are 5 powerful ways to turn dread into drive:

1. Turn it into a learning opportunity

For challenging tasks, curiosity shifts your focus from dread to discovery.

• Ask yourself: What new thing could I learn from this?

• Dig in to uncover any aspect of the task that could add to your knowledge base.

• When you tap into curiosity, even a mundane task can become more engaging.

2. Find a bigger WHY

Purpose creates meaning, even in tedious work.

• Identify how this task ties into your larger goals or values.

• Write down or visualize the ways it benefits you and others (your family, your clients, your team) in the long run.

• Finding even a small connection to a greater purpose can make the task feel less like a chore.

3. Use it as practice to mastery

Mastery makes the journey more fulfilling than the destination.

• Break the task into skill-building mini-steps: is it a chance to refine something like communication, organization, or analysis?

• Track your improvements to see how each step adds to your skillset.

• Embracing mastery helps you see a challenge as something that builds you up, not breaks you down.

4. Make it enjoyable

When you focus on enjoying the task itself, the process becomes its own reward.

• Set a timer and create mini-challenges: How much can you finish in 20 minutes?

• Use a playlist or setting that enhances the experience, so you feel in flow.

• Enjoying small wins helps you stay engaged and present, even with boring tasks.

5. Make it your own

A sense of autonomy — your style, your timing, you strategy — makes a big difference.

• What does your style look like? How do you prefer to work?

• With each task, find a way of doing it that feels natural to you, rather than following someone else’s steps.

• When you approach it your way, motivation becomes about doing a great job for yourself — not just to meet others’ expectations.

Big idea #3: The WHO - Optimize your environment

You may blame lack of motivation for your unfavourable results.

But there's an even bigger factor at play.

This is a topic that often comes up in my coaching sessions with clients.

Here’s an example I sometimes share with them:

If I take 10 people who want to start eating healthy, I can predict with 95% certainty who will succeed — by looking at one factor.

• It’s not their motivation.

• It’s not their discipline.

• It’s not their resources.

Don’t get me wrong — those all matter.

But not as much as this:

Are the people closest to them also committed to eating healthy?

• If the answer is yes, there’s a 95% chance they’ll succeed.

• If the answer is no, I’m 95% certain they’ll fall short.

Our environment has the biggest influence on us.

• If you’re surrounded by entrepreneurs, you’re more likely to give your business idea a shot.

• If everyone around you believes corporate life is the only path, stepping out on your own feels impossible.

• If those around you value growth, you’re likely to level up in all areas.

But if they don’t, even the strongest motivation can feel like an uphill battle.

Do not blame anyone.

Take control of your environment — and set yourself up for success.

• With whom do you need to spend more time?

• Who may be slowing you down?

The Productivist Question:

What's one way you'll take charge of your motivation this week?

Wish you a focused week ahead,

Valeriya

PS: What’s the biggest takeaway for today’s issue? Let me know by hitting reply or DMing me on LinkedIn!

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