How short-term rewards can benefit your long-term…

What is the right choice – what gives you a quick reward now, or what will have a greater positive effect, but much later?

Both, suggest the two Dutch researchers Becker and Bernecker in a recently published meta-study titled “The Role of Hedonic Goal Pursuit in Self-Control and Self-Regulation: Is Pleasure the Problem or Part of the Solution?”. They argue that there doesn’t have to be a conflict between short-term rewards and long-term goals; instead, you can use the former to more easily achieve the latter.

For you who prefer listening to reading, this post is also available as an episode of the ""Done!"" podcast:

A powerful combination

If you want to reach a long-term goal more easily by becoming more motivated to prioritize working toward it, you can, for example:

remind yourself what is attractive in the moment about choosing the tasks that contribute to the long-term goal. Are there parts of them that you especially enjoy? Does working on them feel more meaningful than tasks that give quick, fleeting rewards?
make the work toward the long-term goal more enjoyable in itself, for example by doing it in a particularly pleasant environment or enjoying something really nice while you work.
reward yourself with something appealing that you get if and when you complete one of the tasks that contribute to the long-term goal. Is it chocolate? Or a walk?

Feel better and prioritize more effectively

Becker and Bernecker also point out that a short-term reward puts us in a better mood, which in turn increases the likelihood that we will choose to tackle a task that only pays off much later. Hand on heart, don’t we want to get those done well in advance and therefore prefer them over tasks that give quick kicks?

Do this

Do you have a task aimed at a long-term goal that you find yourself postponing far too often?

Then do something concrete today to make it easier to get it done.

Remind yourself what is fun, inspiring, or motivating about the task
Make working on it more enjoyable in the moment
Come up with a reward you get when you’ve done it

Try this today and a few more times during the week.

Then evaluate. Did the trick work? Were you motivated enough to choose the long-term tasks? Or do you need to raise the stakes for it to really work?

The right choice now

If you combine short-term rewards with long-term goals, you’ll find it easier to achieve them, according to the researchers mentioned. Without having to “pull yourself together,” you will more often choose the tasks you’ll be glad you prioritized later on. You waste less time and gain better foresight in your work.

How do you do it?

What immediate rewards have you linked to your long-term work? Write to me and give me examples — I’m curious and all ears.

(Want to know how others celebrate? Here are thirteen ways to celebrate the small victories that have been shared to me!)

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