Motivation is a Trap—How I Got Out

Since the pandemic, many of us have found ourselves stuck in a rut, struggling to muster the motivation to get things done.

We wait for that magical spark to ignite our productivity, only to end up doing things halfheartedly—or not at all.

I used to believe that motivation was the key to success, but after years of this exhausting cycle, I’ve realized something crucial: Motivation isn’t the answer, and waiting for it is a fool’s errand.

Here’s why.

The Game is Rigged

When the pandemic hit and online classes became the norm, I, like many others, felt stuck in a state of perpetual ‘blah.’

Everything felt draining, and I kept waiting for motivation to kick in and save the day.

But here’s the harsh truth: waiting for motivation is like waiting for lightning to strike—it’s unlikely to happen, and even if it does, it’s fleeting.

I’ve come to accept a simple fact: There will always be a reason not to do something.

Whether it’s fatigue, distractions, or just plain laziness, excuses are endless. Relying on short bursts of motivation to get things done isn’t sustainable.

Willpower is finite, and inspiration is unpredictable. As Mark Manson aptly put it, “Willpower is finite. Motivation comes and goes. Inspiration can strike when you least expect it and leave you high and dry when you need it the most.”

Achieving Sustained Motivation

The Problem

For the longest time, I believed that motivation had to come before action.

I thought I needed to feel inspired or energized to start working. But after countless trials and errors, I realized I had it backward. Motivation doesn’t precede action—it follows it. 

We often fall into the trap of thinking:

Motivation → Committed Action. 

But the reality is: 

Committed Action → Motivation.

This misconception is what keeps us stuck. We wait for motivation to strike, but it never does because we’re not taking the first step.

This cycle is called the motivation trap, and it’s something we all face in our daily lives.

The Solution

There’s a Chinese proverb that says: “Studying is like sailing against the current: a boat must forge ahead or it will be swept downstream.” This idea applies to everything in life.

If you don’t take action, you’ll only drift further away from your goals.

The solution? Just start. Even five minutes of focused effort can generate more motivation than hours of waiting.

Once you begin, you’ll often find yourself immersed in the task, and motivation will naturally follow. As Woody Allen famously said, “Eighty percent of success is showing up.”

What I Do for Sustained Motivation (As a Student)

Control the Remote

Think of your work-life balance like watching a movie. You need to know when to press play and when to press pause.

Don’t mix work with leisure—it only leads to half-hearted effort and burnout. I’ve learned to separate work from play by reserving my desk strictly for studying and work.

Sitting down at my desk signals to my brain that it’s time to focus. Conversely, stepping away from my desk marks the end of my workday.

This boundary helps me stay productive during work hours and fully relax during downtime. Mixing the two only leads to inefficiency and stress.

The 5-Minute Rule

One of the most effective strategies I’ve adopted is the 5-Minute Rule, a concept from cognitive behavioral therapy.

The idea is simple: commit to working on a task for just five minutes. If, after five minutes, you’re still not feeling it, you can stop and try again later. The key is to break the task into tiny, manageable steps.

At first, it might seem impossible to make progress in just five minutes, but that’s the point.

The hardest part is starting. By giving myself permission to stop after five minutes, I remove the pressure of committing to a long, daunting session.

More often than not, those five minutes turn into an hour or two of focused work.

This approach has helped me build momentum and overcome procrastination. Over time, I’ve found that motivation naturally kicks in once I start working.

It’s not about waiting for inspiration—it’s about taking that first step.

Conclusion

In an ideal world, we’d all be effortlessly motivated and productive. But the reality is far messier. Motivation is elusive, and waiting for it only leads to frustration and wasted time.

The key is to focus on what you can control: your actions in the present moment.

Progress, no matter how small, is still progress.

By taking small, consistent steps—whether it’s sitting down at your desk or committing to just five minutes of work—you can break free from the motivation trap and build sustainable habits.

Motivation isn’t something you wait for—it’s something you create by taking action.

So, stop waiting and start doing. The results might surprise you.