#364 How Environment Impacts Motivation

Why does motivation seem to flow effortlessly in certain spaces while completely abandoning us in others? This question sits at the heart of our exploration into how physical environments shape our drive, focus, and productivity.

Most of us have experienced the frustration of trying to work in counterproductive spaces—where flickering lights, uncomfortable temperatures, or distracting noises sabotage our best intentions. Yet we rarely connect these environmental factors to our motivation levels, instead blaming ourselves for lacking discipline or willpower. This misplaced responsibility creates unnecessary frustration when the solution might be far simpler than developing stronger mental fortitude.

Through personal examples, I share how discovering the perfect coffee shop environment increased my productivity tenfold compared to working from home. This revelation led me to create multiple distinct workspaces that I alternate between throughout the day, each supporting different types of thinking and energy levels. Drawing insights from Steven Pressfield's "The War of Art," we explore how our surroundings directly influence what we focus on, how long we maintain that focus, and whether we feel energized to return to that work again tomorrow.

The most powerful takeaway is that environment-based motivation is largely within our control. Small, intentional adjustments to our workspaces can dramatically reduce the willpower needed to stay productive. Whether you're struggling with personal motivation or leading a team that seems perpetually stuck in low gear, examining the physical and cultural environment might reveal the missing piece in your productivity puzzle. What single change could you make to your environment today that would help you stay motivated and focused? Share your thoughts after the beep—I'm genuinely curious to hear what works for you.

Chapters

• 0:00 The Impact of Environment on Motivation
• 0:58 Personal Experience with Motivating Spaces
• 1:14 How Environment Reinforces Habits
• 2:03 Call to Action and Growth Opportunity

Transcript

Speaker 0: 0:03

Ever try to work in a room where the lights are flickering, the temperature's off and a baby is screaming down the hall? Yeah, good luck staying motivated there. Welcome to message 364 of the Growth Instigators Hotline, where we ignite your personal and professional development. I'm Aaron Havens, your host and growth coach. Thrive and Grow Thursday how environment impacts motivation. Okay, here's the one big idea I want to land today. If motivation feels low, don't just check your mindset, Check your surroundings.

Speaker 0: 0:40

It's wild how often we blame ourselves for a lack of motivation when the real issue is what we're standing in. Toxic environments can kill even the most passionate pursuits and, on the flip side, motivating environments don't just inspire action, they sustain it. Let me give you a quick picture. I once worked in a coffee shop where everything just clicked. The lighting was energizing, people around me were in the zone and my output was 10 times higher than at home. It wasn't about the caffeine, it was about the atmosphere.

Speaker 0: 1:14

Now I pay way more attention to my environment. Why? Because it matters. In fact, I have two separate offices that I meander between throughout the day. Why fact I have two separate offices that I meander between throughout the day? Why Read the War of Art by Steven Pressfield, and you'll probably consider your routines and places and spaces even more.

Speaker 0: 1:34

Your surrounding affects what you're focusing on, how long you stay at it and whether or not you want to return to that work again tomorrow. The right environment reinforces the habits you want. The wrong ones drain your willpower until you're convincing yourself that checking emails counts as productivity. So here's the question what small change could you make to your environment today that would help you stay motivated and focused? Hey, I'm here for you If your team is dragging and can't seem to get momentum. I help organizations reset their space physically and culturally for motivation and growth. Visit growthinstigatorscom or shoot me a text and let's chat about how I can help. Thank you for calling Growth Instigators Hotline. I'd love to hear from you after the beep. What's one change you could make to your environment that might boost your motivation and, as always, keep instigating growth in all you do.