The HBR Guides Collection (8 Books) (HBR Guide Series)

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Chapter 14

Reward Yourself

for Doing Dreaded

Tasks

by Alexandra Samuel

For some of us, checking off each item on our to-do lists

provides the endorphin rush we need to make task com-

pletion an intrinsic joy. But most of us need a little ex-

tra motivation, especially for boring work like recording

billable hours, uncomfortable tasks like facing awkward

conversations with dissatisfi ed clients, or major projects

like writing a complex case study. Setting up a compelling

reward system can help you power through your to-dos.

Here are some types of rewards to consider:

Regenerative

By rewarding yourself in a way that recharges your body

and brain, you’ll give yourself more energy to tackle your

next task or project. Use these brief rewards mid morning, ...