University of Virginia professor Thomas Bateman reveals the keys to long term motivation that his research has discovered. Hint: Making a decision is the real key.
Four Categories of Motivation To Spur You On

Bateman found the scientists’ motivations could be slotted into four broad categories: possible futures, possible selves, near-term gratifications and task interest.

Six Self-Regulation Strategies To Keep You Accountable

In addition to the four categories of motivation, Bateman defined six self-regulation strategies key to the scientists’ success and satisfaction in their work. Each can be broadly applied to any personal or professional goal. They include:

•  Goal portfolio: Have a clearly defined set of goals that includes a mix of short-and long-term goals.
• Feedback: Receive feedback over time and evaluate progress toward your goals.
• Attention control: Maintain focus on how actions will impact your goals and do not attend to distractions.
• Motivation control: Elevate the attractiveness of your goal by thinking about how risks and work will pay off.
• Emotion control: Diminish negative emotions and focus on what you find interesting and amusing in your work.
• Coping with failure: Use failure as a basis for improvement rather than allowing it to leave you feeling discouraged – or worse, devastated.