Intrinsic v Extrinsic motivation

Intrinsic vs Extrinsic motivation, what are they and where do you see yourself in the battle towards achieving your goals?

When we think about goals and how we ultimately aim to achieve them, it helps to understand why we are doing what we are doing, what is your motivation?

When we talk about Extrinsic motivation and its relationship to exercise, we are focussing on goals such as winning a race, looking good at the beach, recognition from others or tangible rewards.

Intrinsic motivation focusses more on how exercise makes you feel inside, health benefits for example. You exercise so that your joints stay strong and because you want to stay flexible. Your mental health is so much better when you exercise on a regular basis and you have so much more energy.

Both forms of motivation are excellent to have, all that I would say is that if you exercise with only an extrinsic goal in mind, once that goal is achieved, like winning a race or looking good for the summer, your motivation ends. There’s no constant when it comes to extrinsic motivation.

That’s why thinking about and setting intrinsic goals will contribute to you maintaining physical activity and exercise, in the long term.

Stay motivated by thinking about the intrinsic benefits in order to continue to Know Motion. Set your extrinsic goals too, both intrinsic and extrinsic goals are the perfect compliment to a healthier lifestyle.