Treat Yo Self: Part 2

Drawing from the wondrous wisdom of Tom Haverford and Donna Meagle—once again—I invite you to

This is Part 2.

Part 1 describes how and why a reward system can be so powerful.

Part 1 is not mere theoretical fluff 'n stuff.

Understanding the how and why will help with practical application. Plus, it's only a 4-minute read.

To read Part 1, simply clickity-click on its image below:

In keeping with the spirit of this "Treat Yo Self" series, Part 2 is bite-sized.

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.

 

Action Steps you might Reward:

 

Mini Goals:

 

A full post on mini goals will be...

 

 

For now, we’ll simply define mini goals as bite size steps toward an eventual goal.

 

 

Daily Recurring Mini Goals

Let’s pretend you have a goal of going to bed earlier and getting better quality sleep.

 

 

Well, you can’t always control when you fall asleep—even assuming you can control what time you get into bed—and you certainly can’t control the quality.

 

Let’s pretend, however, that you know certain actions help increase the likelihood of an earlier bedtime and better sleep quality.

 

 

Those daily actions become your daily recurring mini goals. Your reward system will be set up to record—and reward you—for each mini goal you complete.

 

Non-Daily and Non-Recurring Mini Goals

 

What if you want to use rewards to motivate your studies?

 

 

Well, your study strategy likely varies daily by both subject matter and study technique.

 

For each subject, set your main goal.

 

 

Yes, the general idea of the main goal is likely to do well in each class. However, the specifics of this main goal will vary widely from one student to the next.

 

Once you have that main goal, break it down into mini goals.

 

 

This is a process for which one-on-one coaching is particularly helpful.

 

However—as I mentioned above—a post is forthcoming on mini goals. Hopefully, that post will assist you in creating mini goals yourself.

 

Random Tasks you do NOT want to do:

 

These tasks need to get done, but they are not part of any specifically identified goal.

 

 

For example, this could be scheduling a dentist appointment. Unless you have a very specific goal for your oral hygiene, it is unlikely that scheduling a dentist appointment is a mini goal.

 

 

Nevertheless, sometimes—for whatever reason—you simply do not want to do these tasks. In times like these, it can be helpful to give yourself that dopamine jump start.

 

 

That's All Folks!

 

Yep. Short and sweet.

 

Maybe that was sufficient for a light little brain break.

 

If so, feel free to wander on back here whenever you need another brain break.

 

If you're ready for more, not to worry. Part 3 will be coming shortly.

 

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.

 

In the meantime—if you still need a brain break—choose your own adventure! 

 

You might explore the other tips and tricks, skim through some motivating music selections, or try a few brain breaks.

 

Simply click one of the images below, and away you go!