Mastering Motivation with Small Steps and Rewards

Eve

Hi everyone, it's Eve here, and today we're diving into something that, well, affects all of us at some point—laziness. Or, as I like to say, feeling unmotivated or, you know, just really drained. But is it really laziness? Let's take a closer look at what might be behind those sluggish days.

Eve

First off, have you ever said to yourself, "I feel fatigued”? Maybe after a long day or, honestly, even just a stressful week? For many of us, what we think of as laziness might just be fatigue. Fatigue is that extreme tiredness you feel, not just in your body, but in your mind too. It's like you're running on empty, right?

Eve

Another word we can use is "motivation." When you have motivation, you feel like you can conquer the world! But when it's gone, well, things can feel pretty tough. For example, after a super stressful week at work, have you ever thought, "I just feel drained; I can’t keep up"?

Eve

Let me tell you a little story. When I moved abroad to teach English, everything was, honestly, really exciting at first. But soon, the cultural differences were harder than I expected. Simple things, like understanding how to navigate a grocery store or, you know, dealing with a language barrier, left me feeling stressed. And that stress? It stole my motivation to do the things I loved. I found myself sitting there thinking, "Why can’t I just get up and do this?" It wasn’t laziness. It was, honestly, my brain telling me to slow down.

Eve

And here's the thing—those feelings come from somewhere. Maybe it's being overworked or just not getting enough sleep. Or maybe it’s something deeper, like feeling overwhelmed. If you think about it, when we’re stressed, we’re like a battery that drains faster and faster until there's no charge left at all.

Eve

Alright, so now that we’ve talked about what can drain our motivation, let’s flip the script. Because, really, what’s the opposite of feeling stuck? It’s setting goals—small, achievable goals that make a big difference over time. And trust me, this works wonders in everything, including learning English.

Eve

One of my favorite phrases to use when I’m setting a goal is "I plan to..." or "I aim to...". Like, "I plan to finish my project this week," or, "I aim to read one chapter of a book every night." It feels kind of empowering, doesn’t it? Just saying it out loud makes it feel more real.

Eve

Now, have you heard of SMART goals? It sounds technical but, don’t worry, we’ll keep this simple. SMART just means your goal is Specific, like “I’m going to learn ten new words this week.” Measurable—so you can track it, like checking off tasks on a list. Achievable—don’t pick something too hard! Relevant—important to you, like improving your speaking skills. And Time-bound—which basically means setting a deadline, like "by Friday."

Eve

Here’s an example from my own life. When I started studying a new language, I didn’t think about, like, "Oh, I want to be fluent tomorrow." That’s overwhelming, right? Instead, I broke it down. First, learn to say five greetings—hello, goodbye, how are you, you know, easy stuff. Then, practice those every morning, every afternoon. And slowly, my vocabulary grew.

Eve

You can do the same in learning English. If your goal feels big, like mastering grammar or reading a full book, break it into tiny steps. Start with smaller chunks, like “I’m going to learn how to form three sentences using today's vocabulary.” Then, practice those sentences. Step by step, you’re building toward the big picture.

Eve

And here’s a little secret—it feels amazing when you hit those small wins. Like, "Oh, I just completed my task today!" That feeling keeps you going. I remember when I managed my first full conversation in Spanish with a local. It was just five minutes, but I thought, “Whoa, I did it. I really did it.” That’s the magic of these small steps. They don’t just build skills, they build confidence.

Eve

Now that we’ve talked about setting goals and tackling them step by step, let’s get into something I love to incorporate into my daily life—building habits and, of course, celebrating progress along the way. Trust me, this can be a game-changer for your motivation.

Eve

Let’s start with the simple things, like your daily routine. For example, when you wake up in the morning, what’s the first thing you do? Maybe you prepare breakfast or check your phone. But how about mixing in something that sets the tone for the day, like saying your English vocabulary aloud? It could be as simple as practicing, “Good morning, I’m ready for today!” while you make your coffee or brush your teeth.

Eve

Building habits starts with consistency. It’s not about doing something huge all at once; it’s about doing small things regularly. For instance, studying just five minutes every day is often more effective than cramming for an hour once a week. Create triggers for these habits—say, you finish lunch and immediately review some vocabulary. Over time, it becomes second nature.

Eve

Now here comes the fun part—rewards. I think rewards are underrated when it comes to staying motivated. Let me share an example from my own life. When I first moved abroad, adapting to a new environment was tough. But I set little milestones, like navigating public transport without getting lost. If I succeeded, I treated myself to something special. For me, it was discovering new local dishes. It felt like a double win—accomplishing a goal and enjoying something delicious!

Eve

You can do the same thing. Let’s say you successfully learn five new phrases this week. How about rewarding yourself with an episode of your favorite show—or, hey, even a slice of cake? Whatever makes you smile. The key is that the reward should remind you of your progress, and it should be something that, well, feels good.

Eve

So, I challenge you to think about this: What’s a small goal you can achieve today? And what’s something you can reward yourself with once you do? Trust me, getting into the habit of celebrating your wins will make even the smallest steps feel meaningful.

Eve

On that note, we’ve reached the end of today’s podcast, but this journey doesn’t stop here. Keep taking those small steps, reward yourself, and, most importantly, enjoy the process. You’ve got this. And as always, I’m cheering for you every step of the way. Thanks for joining me, and I’ll see you next time. Bye for now!