Finding Motivation When Projects Drag On

On staying motivated after many rounds of revision. Multiple rounds of major revision can be draining, especially when it feels like you're rebuilding the plane mid-flight. Here’s are a few tips on how to motivated and grounded through it all: 1. Reframe It as a Collaboration, Not a Judgment See reviewers as (sometimes grumpy) collaborators helping to shape the best version of your work. Their feedback—however frustrating—is usually a signal that your ideas matter and are worth refining. 2. Track Progress, Not Just Completion Create a checklist of reviewer comments or revision goals and tick them off one by one. That visible progress (even if the paper’s not “done”) can be energizing. 3. Reconnect with Your "Why" When motivation dips, return to your core question: Why did this research matter in the first place? Re-engaging with your intellectual curiosity and purpose helps push through the mechanical grind of revision. 4. Build in Breaks and Boundaries Revision fatigue is real. Give yourself permission to step back when needed—rest protects your clarity and sharpness. It's a marathon, not a sprint. 5. Celebrate Micro-Wins Finished rewriting a tough section? Responded to Reviewer 2’s five-point rant? That’s a win. Treat it like one. Little celebrations create momentum. And bonus: Keep a “Praise Folder” — any positive feedback, encouraging comments, or earlier wins—when imposter syndrome hits (and it will), that folder can remind you: you’ve got this.

Self-motivation and coming to work wanting to do more, even in the face of adversity, is a skill I bring to work quite often. Recently, I've been reflecting on where I learned to do this, and I believe it was during my PhD years. Like many PhD students, I spent years with seemingly little to show for it. Few publications. No real breakthroughs. Just endless experiments, failed attempts, and the occasional glimmer of progress. It wasn't until my fourth year that I finally published the core idea for my PhD thesis. Looking back, I realize something profound about motivation: We often think we need to feel motivated to make progress, but the reality is exactly opposite. As it turns out, motivation isn't what drives achievement – achievement, even tiny wins, drives motivation. During those challenging early years of my PhD, I learned that waiting for motivation was a trap. The key was creating small, achievable goals each day: running one more experiment, debugging one more idea, writing one more section. Each small completion created a tiny spark of accomplishment that fueled the next step. Here's what I wish I'd known from the start: Don't wait for motivation to strike. Start with small, concrete actions. Celebrate the minor wins. Let each step forward, no matter how tiny, fuel your momentum. This same principle now drives my approach to building new ideas for users. I don't look for big ideas (those are way harder to find!). Instead, I look for small ideas, find ways to validate and prove they have merit, then push for more validation, more results, and eventually, perhaps breakthrough. Achievements breed motivation. Success in long-term endeavors – whether a PhD, building a new product, or mastering a new skill – isn't about maintaining constant motivation. It's about building a cycle of small achievements that gradually compound into significant progress! Think about how you can take the small steps to compound into material changes. For more on this philosophy of incremental progress and how it's really an effective way to execute and have significant impact, check out the roofshot manifesto by Luiz André Barroso (RIP): https://lnkd.in/g3Nh7GEf What small wins are you celebrating today?

Procrastination isn't about time. It's about emotions. You're not lazy. Your brain is protecting you from difficult feelings. Fear. Anxiety. Self-doubt. I've seen it steal dreams. Maybe you have too. Here are 8 powerful ways to break free: 1. Create Space Between Trigger and Response 💬 "The moment I face a big task, I grab my phone." ➟ Pause for 30 seconds when avoidance hits ➟ Take three deep breaths ➟ Ask: "What tiny step can I take now?" 💡 Viktor Frankl: Our power lies in the space between trigger and response. Try: Set a 30-second timer next time you feel the urge to avoid. 2. Face Your Fears Head-On 💬 "I keep delaying because what if everything goes wrong?" ➟ Write down your worst-case scenarios ➟ Rate how likely each one is ➟ List one action to prevent each fear 💡 Named fears lose their emotional grip. Try: Write down your biggest fear about your delayed project. 3. Build Instant Rewards 💬 "Important tasks feel painful. Netflix feels good." ➟ Pair tough tasks with immediate pleasures ➟ Create small celebrations for completion ➟ Track your wins visually 💡 Your brain craves instant gratification. Use it to your advantage. Try: Choose one small reward for your next completed task. 4. Design Your Environment 💬 "My workspace doesn't inspire action." ➟ Place visual reminders of your goals ➟ Set out tools needed for tomorrow ➟ Remove distracting triggers 💡 Your environment shapes your behavior more than willpower. Try: Put one inspiring image where you'll see it tomorrow. 5. Use Social Power 💬 "I keep my goals private so I can't fail publicly." ➟ Tell someone your deadline ➟ Share progress updates ➟ Set public consequences 💡 Social pressure creates positive emotional urgency. Try: Text one friend about your next deadline. 6. Reset Your State 💬 "Bad moods make me avoid everything." ➟ Take a 2-minute meditation break ➟ Step outside briefly ➟ Do 5 jumping jacks 💡 Physical state changes create emotional shifts. Try: Stand up and stretch right now for 30 seconds. 7. Create When-Then Plans 💬 "I have good intentions but never follow through." ➟ Write specific action triggers ➟ Link habits to existing routines ➟ Remove decision points 💡 Clear plans bypass emotional resistance. Try: Write one "When X happens, I will do Y" statement. 8. Track Visible Progress 💬 "It feels like I'm getting nowhere." ➟ Use a progress calendar ➟ Mark daily wins ➟ Share your journey 💡 Seeing progress builds emotional momentum. Try: Draw a simple progress bar for your current project. Your dreams are waiting. Your emotions shouldn't stop you. Pick one strategy. Start now. Which one will you try first? ♻️ Repost if this resonated with you! 🔖 Follow me Suren Samarchyan for more.

Despite the half smile on the picture, I was not motivated this morning. - I was tired (pre workout didn’t seem to be hitting this morning) - I ate like crap yesterday and was paying for it this morning - I committed the ultimate sin and hit snooze (5 mins turned into 30) - to make matters worse it was leg day SMH Hard truth: You’re not always going to feel like doing what you know needs to be done. I don’t care how happy or motivated people seem on social media—we all have those days. - You’ll wake up late. - You won’t feel like hitting the gym. - That project you’ve been meaning to tackle will fall by the wayside. - And sometimes, you just won’t want to put on that professional mask for work. But here’s the thing: success doesn’t come from feeling motivated all the time. It comes from finding ways to push through when motivation isn’t there. Here are a few practical tips that have helped me keep going when the motivation just isn’t there: 1. Break it Down: When something feels overwhelming, break it into smaller, manageable tasks. Focus on one piece at a time instead of the whole mountain. Progress in small steps is still progress. 1. Commit to 5 Minutes: Struggling to start? Tell yourself you’ll just work on the task for five minutes. Once you get going, you’ll often find it easier to keep moving forward. 3. Create a Routine: Motivation comes and goes, but routines build consistency. Set up daily habits that align with your goals, and stick to them—whether you feel like it or not. 4. Remove the Guilt: Lack of motivation happens to all of us. Don’t waste energy beating yourself up. Instead, acknowledge the slump, refocus, and move forward when you’re ready. 5. Find Your ‘Why’: When motivation fades, remind yourself of your bigger purpose. Why did you start this journey? Reconnecting with your why can reignite that spark when you’re running on fumes. 6. Lean on Accountability: Share your goals with someone who can hold you accountable. Sometimes, knowing someone else is checking in can be the nudge you need to push through. Motivation is fickle, but your commitment to your goals doesn’t have to be. How do you push through when the motivation isn’t there? Let me know in the comments.