Why You Should Treat Yourself After an Accomplishment

Posted by Jennifer L Kropf on February 26th, 2021

Let's say that you lost five pounds. Or you just finished that giant paper for your graduate class. Or you finally paid off a little bit of debt. 

It feels good, sure. But with small steps forward we sometimes don't get the big aha of a larger accomplishment. When we don't feel the satisfaction of what we've done, we can easily fall back into old, more destructive habits. After all, if we don't notice or celebrate the difference, what's the point?

Now, there's a solution! One that keeps us inspired to move forward. We can use small rewards, or ways to treat ourselves for motivation. 

Rewards are based on science, and used all the time. Employers know this, and it's why they give annual bonuses. So, now we're using it for our own gain. The great part is that there are so many different ways to treat yourself. What you choose depends on your goals and personality type. See a huge list of ways to reward yourself HERE >>

But most importantly, look at your larger goal and break it down into chunks. For each smaller chunk, you give yourself a reward. This could be a magazine, flowers, a night off of work, etc.

Here's an example of using rewards to motivate you to lose twenty pounds:

Lose 1 lb. = pick up a motivating fitness magazine

Lose 5 lbs. = replace tennis shoes with cool new ones

Lose 10 lbs. = purchase a new swimsuit

Lose 15 lbs. = Take a mental health day from work and use it as your personal self-care day

Here's another example for saving one hundred dollars:

Save 10 dollars = indulge in a movie night with popcorn and zero guilt

Save 20 dollars = go on a cheap date with your partner

Save 50 dollars = take a hike out in nature alone

Save 75 dollars = Get or give yourself a pedicure

Save 100 dollars = Try a new bubble bath product

Again, what you use is entirely up to you, but you get the point. While our intrinsic motivation is important, there's nothing wrong with using external things to inspire us as well. When it comes to our habits, goals, and dreams we should use every strategy in our arsenal!