Importance of Rewarding Yourself
February 20, 2017
Reward – a thing given in recognition of one’s service, effort, or achievement.
This blog post is not going to be technical. Instead, I am going to focus on something that has helped me gain confidence, & be more confident.
I like to think I’m a very organized person. I set long-term goals, break them down into smaller goals. Every day, I review my to-do list & try my best to prioritize things. However, despite making tremendous progress towards my goals, the experience felt a bit incomplete. I was learning new things, growing both personally & professionally in the process. But, something was missing.
Every time you reach a goal, regardless of its importance or size – celebrate.
It took me a while but I eventually found the missing link. After accomplishing a goal, I’d just move on to the next one. No time wasted on celebrations. No rewards. HIGH EFFICIENCY, LOW SATISFACTION!
Turns out, whacking away at your to-do list at the speed of light isn’t enough. Happiness is of paramount importance.
Celebrating?
What do I mean by celebrating? Do you have to throw a big party & invite all your friends & distant family members? Naah! Just be proud of what you’ve accomplished. Enjoy that moment, regardless of the size of the task that you completed.
Very quickly, your brain will associate this feeling of pride & happiness with your work. Being happy with the work that you do keeps you coming back for more.
Don’t get caught up in “what’s next?”
Recently, I finished a side project that I had put off for a while. As soon as I deployed it, I was already thinking about things I wanted to change in the next version. I wasn’t pleased with the design choices I had made. Don’t be that version of me.
What I should have done is be pleased with myself for finally wrapping up this side project. I should have looked at things I did well & enjoy those. Should have taken my dog for a walk, teach him a new trick! Do you get the idea? Do happy things! Instead, I was more concerned about the few negatives.
Keep it Simple
I make lists, lots of lists. I have the best lists.
At the end, I am going to diverge from the topic a bit. One tip I’d like to give to you is – don’t let your “to-do” lists get too large. A large list can cloud your judgment & take away the feeling of progress. You can have the most productive day of your life, look back at your list & still feel overwhelmed.
