Take Advantage of Motivation

Karanveer Mohan kvmohan@stanford.edu

To accomplish physical health goals

WHAT IS MOTIVATION? The theory of the “motivation wave”

The Motivation Wave

Source: Dr. BJ Fogg (bjfogg.com)

Motivation isn’t constant It’s has ups and downs, like a wave

Can we do hard things?

If motivation is high, then yes

Source: Dr. BJ Fogg (bjfogg.com)

Why do hard things?

These hard things will even make other behaviors easier in the future

Source: Dr. BJ Fogg (bjfogg.com)

Finding peaks

Source: Dr. BJ Fogg (bjfogg.com)

We want to grow our ability to do things and find the peaks! How?

DETECTING PEAKS How to know a breakthrough in physical activity is imminent

Positive Feedback

When you feel successful e.g. “I did it!” e.g. feeling happy e.g. someone’s compliment

Positive Feedback

Negative Feedback

When you are close to a goal and know how to get there Or area for improvement in life

e.g. when clothes are fitting too snug!

Current Behavior

i.e. a manifestation of unspoken goals

Source: http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CQnqW_Ycbco/TrpMrXIXC_I/AAAAAAAAA3I/jqYfm0mfjrE/s1600/thought-bubble.jpg

Online Behavior

Web searches e.g. “how to get fit,” “how to start walking”

Passive trails e.g. “Liking” Facebook pages, sharing links, browser history

Apps

Offline Behavior

Generally spending more time offline Physical surroundings

e.g. spending more time in parks

Shopping e.g. new walking shoes

Environment

Social Motivation and/or behavior of peers increasing e.g. friends joined a hiking club “I must do it too”

Environment

Related themes e.g. inspirational films: Rocky, Karate Kid, etc.

Thanks for viewing!

Questions? Complains? Suggestions? kvmohan@stanford.edu