Motivation is overrated. Here’s what works instead

In this episode of The Resilient Vet: Mind and Body Strategies for Success, the focus shifts from motivation to what actually sustains healthy habits. Hosts Aaron Shaw, OTR/L, CHT, CSCS, and Jennifer Edwards, DVM, ACC, CPC, ELI-MP, discuss why relying on motivation often falls short and how small, consistent changes, supportive environments, and realistic expectations can help veterinary professionals build lasting physical and emotional resilience.

Partial transcript

Shaw: Motivation is overrated. Today, we're going to talk about what actually helps vet professionals stick with healthy habits like exercise, nutrition, and emotional well-being strategies—and motivation is not the answer. The good news is that that elusive sense of motivation isn't needed to succeed.

Welcome to The Resilient Vet Podcast: Mind Body Strategies for Success…. My name is Aaron Shaw. I'm an occupational therapist and strength coach, and I work with vets and vet teams on installing durability systems into their practice. These systems are made to reduce burnout, improve performance, and ultimately extend the careers of veterinary professionals. In this podcast, I am lucky enough to have a kick-butt cohost, Dr Jennifer Edwards. Welcome.

Edwards: Thank you, Aaron. Hi, everybody. I am Dr Jennifer Edwards. I'm a leadership and executive coach and a former veterinary practice owner. I'm also the founder of the Core Element leadership framework. After more than 25 years in this wonderful profession, I help professionals and leaders with the inner side of leadership—the stress, the overwhelm, the communication, culture, and all of those fun parts of being a leader. I help people to achieve all of that without sacrificing their own well-being. So, welcome.

Today, we are talking about a great topic, and that is motivation—something that we all love and maybe love to hate, as well. Aaron, you were mentioning that sometimes motivation can, ironically, be one of the biggest things that people get wrong when they're trying to get healthier. Now, I was always under the impression that I need motivation to work out and eat well, so my question for you is: Why are you saying that people should not depend on motivation?

Transcript has been lightly edited for clarity.