I have to do a piece on motivation, using an example; Does this work or is it pathetic?
Problem identification and description
Struggling to manage my Open University Course; always finding other jobs/activities to do. Very few activities have been done, the TMA was completely mis-understood because I hadn?t got to that part of the course yet. I ?never have time? and there is always something ?that needs to be done right now?
Analysis
There are always other things to do:
? spend time with my husband,
? do activities with my daughter who had major health issues last year,
? tidying the house which is a cause of arguments between my husband and myself,
? starting the new OU course which is very exciting,
? work tasks,
? lie in bed doing nothing, not even displacement activities.
I am not entirely sure why I am so de-motivated, procrastination does seem to be some of the issue but I also think I haven?t ?engaged? with the course in the way I normally do. Part of this may be due to the health issues I had last year with my daughter and husband and may be the choice of the course was wrong. In addition I have many bugs & viruses during the term of the course and now I have put my back out.
Some of the displacement activities are about other people?s needs which always come before mine. So Maslow?s hierarchy (from Managing & Managing People p167)
Is relevant in several ways, although I am working on my self-actualisation, I need as a mother to constantly consider the needs of my daughter which ?bumps? my needs much lower on the scale.
Conclusion
The course needs to be completed, giving up is not an option financially so some solution needs to be found. The activities on-line are obvious ?point scorers? for the TMA so need to be done, the units need to be worked through, and the TMA completed.
It seems that some sort of incentivisation may be needed perhaps at each stage.
Solution
It seems that there needs to be some sort of reward system in place, this could be in the form of:
Effort > Reward
However, it might be better to expect some level of achievement:
Effort > Performance> Reward
Fig 7.1 from Managing & Managing People p165
So for every activity posted on the website I can do ?some? (a measured amount ? say half an hour) of a displacement activity. Then for each Unit finished I can do again ?some? (maybe an hour) of the new course. When I complete the TMA then we as a family can participate in a group activity (cinema, meal out).
Explaining the system to the family so they can see how they will benefit.
Strengths, weaknesses and implications
The strengths are that:
? I am rewarding myself with things I want to do (or that need doing)
? The point of reward is clearly defined
? The family can see that disturbing me will delay any activities they want to happen
The weaknesses are that:
? The systems is self regulating and can be abused
? There are still interruptions which need doing ?right now? (pay the milkman, answer the phone, sort out money for dance class) so planning for non-OU tasks need to be effective.
(still working on this bit)