Erika Jones, CFO, CCTAProfit First Professionals · Certified Fractional CFO and Profit First Professional

Motivation vs Habits - The one clear winner

24 Feb 2026 · 0 min

Watch on YouTube

0:29

In this brief monologue, the speaker reflects on why motivation feels difficult, attributing it to a high mental "caloric" cost required to initiate effortful actions. In contrast, habits are described as routinized behaviors that require minimal conscious energy. The speaker proposes that by turning desired outcomes into habits—using environmental cues—one can achieve goals more easily. A concrete example is given: placing sneakers on the toilet seat each morning, leveraging the routine of going to the bathroom to prompt the habit of exercising. The overall message is that habit cues can replace reliance on fleeting motivation.

We have a sign here for some new colleagues who are joining us at the office. And got me thinking about motivation versus habits. Why is motivation so hard? Well, the reason is there's a big caloric burn. I have to do this. I'm committed to do it. We have to process it. Where habits are routinized, its routine. So if you want to achieve an outcome, is there a way to leverage habits? Because if you can, it's easier for me with exercise. I put my sneakers on my toilet seat because my habit is to go to the bathroom in the morning and now my sneakers are in my hand.