Learn English – Feeling of forcing oneself to do something

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I'm looking for a word that captures that feeling of forcing oneself to do something that is not motivating anymore.

Normally when one has motivation, it takes little to no effort to start doing it. It is a natural thing to do.

However, if there be no motivation one may be compelled to do it for other reasons (eg: for social validation). In those cases, one forces oneself to do the task.

Is there a word for it?

I'd think this would be the antonym (in a certain profound sense) of the word "procrastination" wherein one forces oneself not to do something (which one should be doing). I'm looking for a word wherein one forces oneself to do something (which one need not be doing, as there is no real responsibility to do so; also because there is no intrinsic motivation).

I'll provide some related words so as to help the reader!

  • sticktoitive (tending to persist or stick to an activity or effort): This looks like the closest answer I could find, but it doesn't quite capture the part where the tendency to force oneself to persist/stick is done despite the lack of motivation or real responsibility.

  • fidelity (faithfulness to a person, cause, or belief, demonstrated by continuing loyalty and support): In particular, the "faithfulness to a […] belief" part applies here, inasmuch as the forcing is done for "other reason" wherein that reason tends to be some imagined belief (eg: "If I don't do this, I'll be a demoralized"), often rooted in herd mentality. And the "continuing loyalty" part lends credence to the automatic/ semi-conscious nature (as opposed to it being thought-out) of the "forcing".

Example usage:

Jon [___ (unwittingly forces himself)] to continue participating in
competition X, despite no longer having the genuine motivation for it.
It would seem that he strongly believes on the worth of staying ahead
of others, in order to force himself as that, and thereby risk
spending time on otherwise meaningless activities instead of doing
something out of genuine enjoyment.

Best Answer

The word I would use in this situation would be grudgingly. In essence it can be used to express that a task is being reluctantly or unwillingly completed.

Grudgingly:

done, given, or allowed unwillingly, reluctantly, or sparingly

From Oxford Languages (which definition connotes the emotion of resentment):

grudg·ing·ly

in a reluctant or resentful manner.

"I grudgingly accepted his apology"

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