At our jobs, we will inevitably face activities that don’t naturally interest us or that we perceive as boring, irrelevant, uncomfortable, or too difficult. This is rooted in how our brains are ...

In your everyday life, you may have different reasons for engaging in various activities. While doing some things may give you genuine joy and satisfaction, you may do others because of benefits you ...

When something doesn't naturally interest you, you may perceive it as boring, irrelevant, or uncomfortable. This is because of your intrinsic motivation—motivation based on the inherent satisfaction ...

Motivation is often viewed as a driving force that pushes individuals to take action, both in personal and professional settings. However, I've learned that when it comes down to it, no one can ...

Exercise is of course good for our mental and physical health; but we need to think about the specific reasons that matter ...

When we are motivated to work due to enjoyment or our values, we perform better on the job and experience more well-being, as I have previously written. Now, a new meta-analysis I collaborated on can ...

Psychologist Edward L. Deci died on Feb. 14, 2026. He was 83. His loss is humanity’s loss. His life was humanity’s great gain. If you ever felt your motivation drain away under a micromanaging boss, ...