“Motivation can be a powerful driver, but it is also fleeting and unreliable. Just consider the last time you felt motivated and how long it lasted. The truth is that it is more useful to have daily routines in place to help us achieve our goals. Imagine a heart surgeon who told you, ‘I can operate well–when I feel motivated.’ You would not risk your health on the hope that the doctor felt motivated on the day of your procedure. Better to have your surgery done by someone who has routines in place that ensure her success regardless of how she feels.”

-Steve Alexander Jr., M.A., Ed.M., AR, LMHC, writing in Psychology Today (March/April 2022, p. 18)