Moving towards better mental health: the role of Motivation
The mental health of working adults faces unprecedented challenges, with a staggering 1 in 7 UK adults now claiming their mental health is “the worst it’s ever been” (Forthwithlife). This is a clear signal that traditional support mechanisms might need revisiting. This Mental Health Awareness Week (13-19 May), with its theme of ‘Movement: Moving more for our mental health’, is a great opportunity for us to consider innovative approaches to improve our well-being.
One often overlooked aspect of mental health is the alignment of our intrinsic motivators with our daily activities. In my coaching work, I’ve found that motivation is a critical component of our mental and emotional well-being. When our actions and goals are in sync with what genuinely drives us, we find ourselves in a state of flow more often. This flow state is a deeply satisfying and mentally beneficial state where time flies, and satisfaction along with productivity soars.
In my years of coaching and training, I’ve only ever encountered good mental health in people whose motivators were fully aligned, testament to the profound impact motivation can have on our mental health.
The connection between physical movement and mental health is well-documented, and this year’s theme highlights the importance of incorporating movement into our daily routine for mental health benefits. However, it’s equally important to move towards aligning our deeper motivators with our life and work. This alignment can act as a powerful antidote to the stresses and challenges of life and work.
But how do we achieve this alignment? It starts with self-awareness. Identifying our core motivators can illuminate why certain tasks feel fulfilling while others drain us. For organisations, it means creating environments where employees’ roles and tasks resonate with their intrinsic motivations, building a culture of mental wellness and high performance.
Mental Health Awareness Week is a reminder of our collective responsibility to support mental health, by advocating for traditional methods and also by exploring how motivation and mental health are intertwined. Individuals and organisations can take time to reflect on how they manage their and others mental health. We can all reassess and realign our approach to mental health, ensuring that our daily lives enrich rather than deplete our mental health.
