Why Rewarding Yourself Is Good for Your Health
By Finn Pierson
Trying to balance work, home life and personal goals, it seems like there is never enough time in the day. As our to-do list gets longer, it's easy to feel a constant need to go-go-go, surging from one item to the next. However, pushing ourselves too hard can actually yield negative results.
No matter what is on your schedule, carving out designated time to do the things you love is not only healthy but will also increase both your happiness and productivity.
Increasing Work Productivity
A Stanford study recently proved that working more hours in a day does not result in higher productivity. According to John Pencavel, a researcher and professor at the University, "workers need time to recover from work". The article states that all forms of mental and physical work result in some degree of fatigue.
While you may not feel physically tired, this can result in brain fog or trouble concentrating on the task at hand, which decreases overall productivity. Research has shown that taking a break can "dramatically" increase your focus and performance when you return to your desk.
So, take time to reward yourself for a task well done. Whether with a quick walk, a few minutes scrolling through your social media feeds or a break for a sweet treat (Edoughble - edible cookie dough, hint hint), you're doing your career a favor.
Implementing a Successful Diet
Speaking of a sweet treat, did you know that eating dessert can help you lose weight? It's true! In a 2017 article, Shape Magazine cites a Tel Aviv study proving that people who eat dessert are more successful in losing weight than those who did not.
Following a restrictive diet can allow cravings to build up. This not only makes us miserable but, since we can't satisfy the craving, it can lead to overeating. Rewarding yourself for a successful day of following your diet by treating yourself with your favorite sweet can help keep cravings at bay and even increase your overall happiness since one of the benefits of eating processed sugar is an instant release of mood-boosting endorphins.
Whether your weakness is edoughble (edible cookie dough) and ice-cream, chocolate or even doughy delicious cookies, go for it (in moderation)! Your body and mind will thank you, plus it doesn’t hurt to treat yourself every now and then.
Creating a Positive Mindset at Home
From housework to bills, there is always something needing to be done around the home. If you have kids, this is even more true. Add any personal goals, exercise and social obligations and you have a packed schedule.
Just as it's important to take time to reward yourself at work or in your diet, the same concept applies to your personal life. Rewarding yourself with your favorite treat (such as edoughble edible cookie dough!) for completing your least favorite chores can lead to long-lasting benefits.
According to Tony Robbins, a world-renowned motivational speaker, by treating ourselves after completing an activity we dread, we can re-wire our brains to feel more positively toward that activity. For example, if you hate housework, try coming up with a treat to reward yourself once you've finished a particular chore. Over time, if you continue treating yourself each time you finish that task, your brain will start to link the activity with the reward. As a result, you will not only stop dreading that chore, but you may even look forward to it.
Using this approach works because we all know that we tend to conquer tasks we like (or at least don't dread) with more energy and enthusiasm, getting them done much faster. Plus, we're happier doing them.