Tracy blogged recently about her strategy of using workouts as rewards.
I love that idea and often do the same with bike rides.
Recently I’ve started using a writing productivity app, writeometer, which tracks minutes and words written per day and organizes writing projects.
It got me through my December working blitz which involved completing two papers and one report. Two left to go!?
Because I was heavily motivated by actual deadlines and genuine pressure I didn’t even look at the rewards section of the app.
But the other day I guess I was so far behind it started offering me cookies. If you write for just fifteen minutes, you may have a cookie.
However, it’s the holidays and I’m surrounded by cookies and by chocolate. That didn’t feel particularly motivational
But the next reward that popped up was a dog walk. Yay! Dog walks! Cheddar and I jumped on it. Fifteen minutes of writing and then a walk.
Now clearly there was nothing stopping me walking the dog without writing but the game playing aspect appeals to me.
I love rewards for mini chunks of intense focused work. There’s browse Facebook, my usual five minute writing break rewards.
Eat a cookie. Sure. Once that feels like a perk again and not just life.
But also go out for a short walk.
Cheddar will be happy for the company.
