All too often, we are advised to keep motivated in order to excel in our studies, but what does being motivated even mean? Why are we still struggling to find it, maintain it and identify its significance for our future careers? In this free one-hour webinar, join USQ research expert Dr Fein as he delves into the theory behind keeping motivated, and then discover how a USQ alumnus used it to pursue her dreams as a world record-breaking athlete and entrepreneur.

2. Welcome to Country

4. Academic presenter
Dr Erich C. Fein,
USQ School of Psychology
and Counselling
Motivation publications:
USQ e-prints https://eprints.usq.edu.au/
Google Scholar
https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=aHZO8gIAAAAJ&hl=en

5. What is motivation?
• Motivation is a psychological force inside you.
• This force makes you do things.
• Technically, motivation does the following:
• Provides a direction for what you do.
• Provides the mental or psychological tension that
pushes you to do something and keep doing it.
• Provides a sense of meaning – helps define who you are.

6. Where does motivation come from?
The world around you…
• Motivation changes based on the state or environment
you are in.
• Why? We have needs and desires.
• Environments are not all the same!
Who you are…
• However, there are parts of you that also create your
motivation.
• What parts of you are always “switched on” and help
create your motivation?

7. Poll
What parts of you are always “switched on” and help
create your motivation?

8. Why do you need motivation?
The world around you…
• You cannot consciously make things happen without
motivation.
• Basic need fulfilment requires motivation.
• Maintaining relationships requires motivation.
Who you are…
• Changing yourself requires motivation.
• Even maintaining all the good things about who you
are requires motivation.

9. How do we organise our motivation?
1. Goals
• Goals are images inside you that represent things you want
to see happen – sometimes conceived as “targets” or “ends”.
• Can be in the world or inside/part of you.
• Intrinsic (an end in itself – as you see it)
• Extrinsic (a means to another end)

10. How do we organise our motivation?
2. Life domains: Different parts / areas of life
• Have you ever heard the phrase “Get a Life”?
• This signals there is something missing.
• Do most people tend to have goals across
all areas of life?
• In what ways do people neglect their life?

11. Poll
In what ways do people neglect their life?

12. How do we get motivation?
3. Tips or Principles to boost motivation
• Figure out what outcomes you value and are committed to – what good
things could happen that really matter:
• Inside you (Intrinsic)
• Outside you (Extrinsic)
• Make them goals: Write down and reflect regularly on these outcomes –
how are your progressing? What do you need to change to make better
progress?
• Consider what you are missing? Do you need something in your life –
across all life domains - that is lacking?

13. Jade Edmistone
USQ alumna, Australian
swimmer, entrepreneur and
author. Passionate about
empowering and motivating
others to be pro-active in
managing their wellness in
order to thrive.

19. Do you feel like you’ve given
everything your best?
Do you feel satisfied with what
you have achieved to date?
Do you feel you have reached
your potential?
Are your goals still important to
you?

20. Poll
Are you currently pursuing any goals that:

21. How do you maintain motivation?
How do you keep it
directed to your goals?

22. 2000 Olympics
2001 World Championships
2002 Commonwealth Games
2003 World Championships

24. Because you WANT to
Not because you HAVE to

28. Poll
In thinking about your goals, are there little
achievements that you are not acknowledging
or giving yourself credit for because you feel
they are not big enough steps to be making?