Don’t Forget to Reward Yourself for a Job Well Done

Goal setting and achieving is supposed to be fun.  When you reach a goal, whether it is a little one or a big one, why not give yourself a reward!  For example, if your goal is to get to the gym every day, you could break it up into smaller goals.  Start with going to the gym once a week for several weeks.  When you reach your goal of going to the gym once a week, you could buy yourself some workout music.  When you reach the final goal of going every day, well it’s probably time for some new clothes because you’re looking awesome, right?

How are you going to reward yourself? 

Sometimes when all else fails, tangible things can motivate us to reach our goals, even when the reason we’re striving for those goals has nothing to do with tangible rewards and everything to do with getting healthier and living a better life.

Rewards are important to keeping the motivation alive.  However, they can also derail you from your goal if the rewards are inappropriate.  For example, if you’re on a strict no sugar plan and you reward yourself for a week with no sugar by eating a piece of cake,  you could just set yourself back.

However, if you reward yourself with a massage, a night out at the movies or a treat that you would enjoy that isn’t full of sugar, then that is an appropriate reward you can look forward to and feel good about.  Make the rewards fit the accomplishment.  If your large goal is to run three times a week and you’re starting with an initial goal of running once a week, reward yourself for running once a week with something smaller like a new song for your iPod.  And when you reach running three times a week, you could reward yourself with new running clothes or a new pair of jeans. 

So what kinds of rewards will motivate you?  Make a list of some items that you can use to reward yourself.  It might be:

• A vacation
• Music for your MP3 player
• A massage
• Makeover
• Haircut
• New wardrobe
• Dinner out at that restaurant you’ve been dying to go

Make a list of the things you might be motivated by and see how they fit into your goals.  Make certain to not choose rewards that will sabotage you reaching your goal.  For example, if your goal is to lose weight, then a food reward may not be the best solution.  However, a goal that makes you feel good about yourself, like a new pair of jeans to fit your new body, might be an excellent motivational tool.