Give Yourself a Treat as a Motivational Technique

Remember when you were a kid and you had little treats to motivate you to get things done? Like, no TV before homework was done, or ice cream for an a on your spelling test? Well, just because you've grown up doesn't mean you can't still have treats as a reward for getting something done. Treats can be the best motivator for getting just about anything done. And it doesn't have to be a big thing to really work.

Unless you're looking to climb Mt Everest, don't give yourself the reward of taking a two week vacation to Tahiti! Think of something you would really enjoy doing, or a favorite food you haven't had in a while. Really imagine yourself enjoying this. Then, use this as the motivator to get whatever task that lies before you done. Keep your goals and your treat on an even playing field.

For me, I have a bit of an addiction to The Sims 3. Quite literally I can spend hours on hours just playing in my virtual people's lives. But I only allow myself to play after getting a project done. The imagery of playing invokes really strong emotions of having fun. (And seriously, who doesn't like to have fun?)

Attaching emotion to your treat is what makes it a true motivational force. I have such fun playing, and I can easily recall those feelings when I think about playing. Keeping a really strong picture and emotional response will further keep you motivated to complete your task.

And keep a clear plan in mind on what you want to get done. Just a general "well I want to accomplish something" won't get you very far. Just like having a clear reward in mind for your finish, it's also helpful to have a clear finish line! After all, you can't get to your destination if you don't really know where you're going. (I know there are many that would like to argue this point, but for the moral of this story we're going with it! :).

If necessary, break your goals up. If you are trying to complete a huge project at work, why not reward yourself after getting a certain number of pages done? Or giving yourself a 10 minute chocolate break after two straight hours of productive work?

Above all, don't cheat! It completely defeats the purpose, and worst off you'll just end up feeling bad because a) you didn't get anything accomplished and b) you will feel guilty for "wasting" the time on your treat that you should have used getting things done! In all honesty, cheating will only hurt you in the long run. You obviously care about getting this right, otherwise you wouldn't have gone looking for motivational techniques to help you, right? So then let's focus on getting it done right.

So what motivates you? Is it a fun activity? A childhood show? Or a local restaurant? Whatever your treat is, remember to use it as a reward. Anything that keeps you motivated to reach your goals should always be in the forefront of your mind.