At first glance, it might seem like super strong motivation equals awesome results. But, as those psychology studies found out, that’s not how it goes down.
Back in 1908, Robert Yerkes and John Dodson figured out that the sweet spot for the best results is when your motivation is just average.
So, motivation needs to be just right, you know? Like, not too much, not too little. They did some experiments and found out that for medium-level tasks, you want a motivation level around 5 out of 10. Easy tasks can handle a 7 or 8. But for the tough ones, don’t go overboard – keep it at 2 or 3. That’s when you rock the efficiency game. Why? Because if a task is super hard and you’re super motivated, it just messes with your head, causes stress, and makes you less effective.
Think about a job interview. If you go in thinking it’s the be-all and end-all, you’re gonna stress big time. Better to tell yourself, “Hey, if this gig doesn’t work out, there are other companies out there.” Prep for the interview, sure, but don’t act like your whole life is riding on it.
Now, if you’re dealing with a super complex pro task, like being a surgeon or a top-notch athlete, there’s another thing to consider. Let’s say you’re about to do a tricky surgery or compete in a big event. It’s not just about your mood in the moment; it’s also about all the training you’ve done before. Pros rely on habits they’ve built up over time.
Those habits are a big deal in being a pro, and you can trust them to handle a lot of the heavy lifting. If you try to consciously do every little thing, you’ll burn out fast. Most of the time, people do stuff automatically. And when you’re on autopilot, your mind has room to plan and think about what’s coming up next.
Oh, and by the way, there’s this cool career test from Skillbooms. It tells you what jobs suit you, and it gives you the lowdown on your personality and smarts.
