Does mindfulness make you lazy?

Thousands of studies present the countless benefits of meditation, and for good reason: it works. But, as is the case with everything wonderful, it most certainly has some unexpected effects, which might even be considered disadvantageous. One 2018 study found an interesting inverse correlation between meditation and motivation. Specifically, mindfulness meditation seemed to decrease motivation. At first glance, that doesn’t seem ideal. Let’s explore this.

Mindfulness is a type of meditation that emphasizes a focused awareness of the present moment, without judgment. The past 10 years have seen a huge uptick in mindfulness research, with the vast majority reporting benefits of this practice. With its increased application in work and athletic settings, mindfulness can sometimes be viewed as a panacea. But, just like with everything in life, it can’t be alllllll good. 

Researchers sought to investigate the relationship between meditation, motivation, and performance. Solid theme to explore, in my opinion. They asked two questions, the first being:

Could mindfulness reduce task motivation? Hypothesizing “yes” actually makes sense, since there’s an obvious tension between accepting the present moment as it is and wishing to achieve or create something new. To investigate this, participants were divided into two groups: one group listened to a 15-minute guided mindfulness meditation designed to help them focus on their breath and sensations in their body. The control group listened to another recording inviting them to let their mind wander. Both groups then reported how motivated they felt to work on a word puzzle, described as an “extremely difficult task that requires a lot of effort and persistence.” 

The result? The mindfulness meditation group did indeed report feeling less motivated than the control group. Fascinating. Next question . . . 

Could mindfulness impair task performance? Motivation is nice, but ultimately, performance is more important. In this part of the experiment, participants were divided into the same groups (mindfulness vs control), then asked to edit a cover letter. The instructions varied, with one version stating that “some people have reported that this is a pleasant and enjoyable task” and the other stating that “some people have reported that this is an unpleasant and unenjoyable task.” 

The result? There was no difference in performance between the two groups, nor did the re-framing as “unpleasant” or “pleasant” affect performance. Oooh interesting!

Of course, it’s important to note that there are many different styles of meditation as well as variations in types of motivation. An alternate meditation practice may yield different results. Also, what effect on motivation does meditation have over time versus a single, 15-minute mindfulness session? 

There are numerous directions in which the research can go from here, but for now the take home message is this: A single mindfulness session reduces motivation, but has no effect on performance. 

If the bottom line is performance, then keep doing what you’re doing and get your meditation on! Motivation is overrated anyway - another topic for another day.