The Importance of writing down the motivation before starting anything

As a student, Lectures were always really boring to me — part of the reason being a lack of understanding of how what I was about to learn is going to help me in the future. Getting into my first year Calculus at University of Toronto with one of the best professors (Kathleen Smith) changed me in a profound manner.

Photo by Shubham Sharan on Unsplash

All the problem statements when introducing new concepts started with a motivation statement that well-defined the benefit of the technique. All of a sudden, I was instantly interested and my focus level was at its highest in the class because I knew what we were trying to solve with the newly introduced technique.

This is something I have taken up and use it before starting any work in University or right now at work as a Software Engineer — a well-defined motivation statement signifies a well-defined problem and provides clarity to people interacting with the work.

Writing down your motivation can be a powerful way to stay focused and on track towards achieving your goals. Here are a few reasons why writing down motivation can be important:

1. It helps you clarify your goals: When you write down your motivation, it can help you more clearly define what you want to achieve. This can make it easier to set specific, measurable goals and create a plan to achieve them.
2. It serves as a reminder: It’s easy to get sidetracked or lose motivation, especially when you’re working towards a long-term goal. Writing down your motivation can serve as a constant reminder of what you’re working towards and why it’s important to you.
3. It can help boost your confidence: Seeing your motivation written down can help you feel more confident and capable of achieving your goals. It can also help you feel more motivated to take action and make progress.
4. It can provide accountability: Sharing your written motivation with others can provide a sense of accountability and help you stay on track. You may feel more motivated to take action if you know that someone else is aware of your goals and is rooting for you to succeed.

Overall, writing down your motivation can be a helpful tool for staying focused, motivated, and on track towards achieving your goals.