How can we identify motivation ? We always hear stories and watch videos on social media that try to motivate people and get them off their feet. But is that what it really does ? Can we say that also social media is a motivational innovation and that without it no one can be motivated ? Let’s get this point by point and start with the scientifical meaning.

 

The Science of Motivation

For many of us, motivation feels like a mystery. One day you’re full of it, and the next day a lack of motivation makes you struggle to focus on the same tasks. Have you ever felt that big hit of energy and motivation to run the world and get to the shape of your best self, and the next day you just go down to the dark side of yourself ? After a period of focus and success, it’s natural to wonder, “Where does motivation come from, and how can I channel mine more often?” 

Actually, your brain is in a big interplay between your body’s hormones, your ability to set goals, and its different regions. This play has an impact on your well being and the level of your energy. 

Motivation is the force that causes us to act on our desires or fears. It’s what inspires and energizes our behavior to advance toward our goals, even when internal or external influences get in the way. There are two types of motivation Intrinsic motivation  which is the self motivation, and Extrinsic motivation which is the moment you complete your tasks to get to a certain goal and you get reward for the hard work you made. Both of them complete a system of reward that affects your motivation for things that influence the levels of dopamine in your body — a hormone and neurotransmitter that drives motivation.  

 

Social media and motivation

We all agree that social media and the motivational videos there are based on the neuroscience of motivation which is Dopamine.It is the happy hormone that controls the brain’s reward system and drives us to do things that feel good. It’s produced in the brain and communicates messages throughout the nervous system. It actually plays a central role in your emotional state and bodily functions including memory, pleasure, Attention, mood, learning and sleep.

So far so good right ? But let’s dive more into this source of motivation. People are using social media so often now of course it varies depending on the age and other aspects but around 3-4 a day, a person spends on social media. Can you imagine the amount of Dopamine released for the person everyday ? excessive or dysregulated dopamine levels can lead to negative consequences and become detrimental to a person’s well-being. Talking about Addiction, where Dopamine leads to addictive patterns. Impulsive Behavior, It can lead to impulsivity, making it challenging for individuals to control their actions and make rational decisions. Mental Health Disorders, Imbalances in dopamine levels have been associated with various mental health conditions such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD), Mood Disorders, Hyperactivity and Restlessness, Disrupted Sleep Patterns

We can not deny that social media would be an amazing gateway for motivation but certainly not a controllable one. At that moment, the speed of Dopamine is super fast to a point where you feel you can do everything and actually you start thinking that you should do it now but when you realize the reality it can turn to depression, let me give you an exemple. You watched a video talking about working out and its importance and you realized that you actually need to prepare for a summer body and be that healthy human being and decided to start, you opened your wallet and understood that you actually don’t have money to go to Gym or to buy some equipment, and Boom!! you lose every interest and every single motivation.

 

• This shows that even happiness has a side effect if we use it a lot or we get it a lot. so everyone should find that balance.

 

Hadil Ben Boubaker