Drawing from the wondrous wisdom of Tom Haverford and Donna Meagle, I invite you to
This is part 1, and it describes how and why a reward system can be so powerful.
Why should I read Part 1?
Click the little arrow under each header to read that section.
This information will help you implement a rewards system more effectively. This information is also for those of you who are a bit skeptical and might need some convincing.
I needed convincing.
I was setting and knocking down milestones and goals one after the other—cue brushing that shoulder off.
I never paused to appreciate what I’d accomplished. I was actually working with a coach who pointed it out. I don’t remember exactly how I verbalized my response, but my thought was:
“So, I did what I said I was going to do. Whoop-dee-do.”
I thought of rewards as spoiling yourself for what you should be doing already. Unlike the “Treat Yo Self” Parks and Rec episode, this is actually not about spoiling yourself.
This is about harnessing the power of neuropsychology and educational psychology.
How does a Reward System help?
Creating a reward system can be a powerful way to increase your energy and focus.
Why does a Reward System Help?
Curious?
Let’s make this picture-book basic.
Say, “Hello” to Dopamine.
Dopamine is a neurotransmitter. This simply means dopamine “transmits” messages throughout your brain.
The message dopamine transmits depends on the pathway it takes. When your brain perceives a possible reward for action, dopamine takes a ride on the mesolimbic pathway.
When dopamine is on the mesolimbic pathway, it transmits the message that you should be focused and energized to act now to get that reward.
It is as though your brain gives you a jump start that actually makes you want to act.
Essentially, when your brain perceives a “reward” for a task, your brain will help you complete that task by giving you a burst of focused energy.
Why isn't the "reward" of achieving your goal enough?
Sometimes it is. Too often, it is not.
The problem is that the “reward” of achieving your big scary goal is too far in the future and the link is too attenuated to the small actions comprising your daily grind.
Think of it this way:
Let’s pretend someone is on a diet with a goal of losing 10 pounds.
They packed a healthy lunch for the day, but they don’t want to eat it. Instead, they really want a free cookie in the office. Why?
The cookie’s carbs and sugar will taste good and provide a more immediate source of energy. So, the brain’s dopamine says, “Yes! Act now! Grab that cookie!”
Yep.
Dopamine can betray you.
Achieving that “10 pound” goal is comparatively far into the future. It’s difficult for the brain to appreciate how “this one little cookie” is going to demonstrably move the person closer to that goal.
By contrast, let’s pretend a wish-granting fairy flew down and promised, “If you eat your packed lunch and avoid that cookie, you will magically—and instantly—lose all 10 pounds.”
In that case, the person would likely have no problem avoiding the cookie because the brain is anticipating an immediate award that is better than the cookie.
This means that dopamine is now sending the messages: “Eat that sack lunch!” and “Don’t touch that cookie!”
The Moral:
“If you’re not with us, then you’re against us.”
Dopamine works toward the reward that is most imminent.
Whenever you “just don’t feel like” putting in the work toward a goal you truly want to achieve, it might be because dopamine is telling you to take action toward a competing interest that will give you an immediate reward.
This can occur even if that “action” is hitting the snooze button and the immediate reward is staying snuggled in bed.
Achieving your big, scary goal likely does not feel imminent. This is why manufacturing an imminent reward system is important:
A reward system will help the dopamine to flow in your favor and deliver messages that will jump start goal actions.
What if I don’t need a reward? If I can just grit my teeth and do it, that's better, right?
Not necessarily—particularly for the sake of studying...
Self-Control as a Limited Resource
Currently, there is a prevailing theory in psychology that our self-control is limited and wanes as it is used throughout the day.
However—even assuming limited and waning self-control—if you use dopamine to your advantage, you won’t need to use as much self-control.
Remember the cookie? Sure, with no reward in sight for eating the packed lunch, avoiding the cookie might take that person quite a bit of self-control.
By contrast—with the magic fairy promising an instant drop in 10 pounds for avoiding the cookie and eating the packed lunch—far less self-control (if any) is needed for follow through.
In fact, that person would likely eat their packed lunch eagerly, awaiting that bippity-boppity-boop moment.
Set up a rewards system and you won’t need to use as much self-control.
The little bursts of dopamine alone could keep you buzzing all day long.
Dopamine’s Impact on Learning
In the immortal words of Elle Woods,
“Happy people just don’t shoot their husbands.”
Interestingly, Elle Woods is referring to another group of neurotransmitters: endorphins.
In Elle Woods’ style—yet on account of the dopamine neurotransmitters—I might add:
“Happy people learn better, too.”
Increased dopamine is correlated to quicker and deeper learning.
Keep It Super Simple:
Your brain believes there is reward coming very soon for performing a task right now.
This makes the brain believe there might be a chance that performing a similar task in the future could lead to another future reward.
To prepare for that future reward, the brain pays more attention to what is happening now.
Let's Sum Up:
Shall We?
An effective reward system can wire your brain to give you a jump start of focused energy.
With an effective reward system in place, you can keep buzzing along without dipping into your “self-control” reserves as much. This means less burn out (and more self-control available for other goals).
This final point is perhaps the most compelling for law students or bar examinees: an effective reward system also leads to quicker and deeper learning.
Ready to Design Your Rewards System?
Each person’s reward system is unique.
The rewards that get dopamine flowing varies from one person to the next. The preferred system also varies greatly.
Designing a rewards system is a process for which one-on-one coaching is particularly helpful.
Not to worry:
Part 2 is here.
Part 3 is forthcoming.
Part 2 helps you identify action steps you might reward to give yourself that little boost of dopamine.
Identifying those action steps will help you structure your overall reward system.
To read Part 2, simply clickity-click on its image below:
Part 3 will provide concrete ideas for how you might implement a reward system—complete with visual examples.
Hopefully—when combined—this three part series will provide enough assistance for you to design and implement an effective reward system yourself.