Reward Sytem (Dopamine)

Today’s world screams discipline, discipline, discipline!

from every corner, Instagram fitness gurus, Youtube influencers, TikTok productivity hacks, X threads on grinding 24/7.

But here’s the thing no one ever talks about:

97% of us fail to maintain that hardcore discipline routine.

For a fact, too much discipline is a one-way ticket to burnout city!

Just take a scroll through your feed, and it’s probably filled with 'discipline reminders'.

Wake up at 5 a.m.

No carbs, no mercy

Hustle till you drop.

Everyone is flexing their way to success...

Yet only a handful of extraordinary people keep up with such a system.

In fact for most of us, it's not healthy at all and a completely wrong approach to motivation...

Admit it, you're not David Goggins or Jocko Willink.

And that's perfectly fine!

Unpopular opinion

Here's what you should do:

You should rewire your REWARD SYSTEM!

Why?

Your brain’s not wired to thrive on deprivation.

It’s like telling a puppy to sit still forever without a treat...

Eventually the puppy is gonna run crazy around the house and start showing bad behaviour.

Same goes for you...

Forcing yourself to ditch movies, snacks, or scrolling for the sake of “discipline” might work for a week, but eventually the cracks will show and they will leave a scar!

So, why fight your nature? Let’s work with it instead.

This isn't just me telling you what's right or wrong...

Science also proves this.

Dopamine is the brain's chemical that spikes when you anticipate something you like.

A 2018 study from the Journal of Neuroscience found that expecting a reward lights up your motivation way more than just going through tasks with no payoff in the near future.

So, set your goal, pick your treat, and watch your focus expand.

It’s not cheating, it’s wiring your own brain in a positive way.

How to (re)wire your brain?

Step 1: Set reward

Grab a piece of paper and pen (or your phone notes) and write on the top of the page the things you love doing but don't necessarily contribute to your goals.

For example:

• Watch a movie
• Read book
• Play game

Step 2: Create your list

On the same page, write down all your necessary work or goal related tasks for the day.

For example:

• Finish writing
• Hit the gym
• Pay subscriptions

Step 3: Weigh your rewards

On the bottom of the page weigh the reward(s) according to the amount of tasks.

Some tasks might be easy and take little time, so stack up or split up some tasks before you reward yourself.

(The discipline part is) only permitting yourself the reward after completing the task(s).

For example:

• Finish writing
• Pay subscriptions
• REWARD: Read book

-

• Hit the gym
• REWARD: Play game