The Power of Self Reward: A Key To Motivation and Happiness

Illustration of giving a gift (Source: pexel/Porapak Apichodilok)

Have you ever felt stuck in achieving your goals or trapped in a boring daily routine? We often ignore the importance of enjoying the journey to reach our goals. Unfortunately, many of us forget to reward ourselves for our efforts. In fact, one of the effective ways to stay motivated and increase happiness is to reward yourself, or better known as self-reward. By doing self-reward one is not only motivated, but also creates simple happiness that has a huge impact on mental health.

In this article, we will discuss why self-reward can be a key to motivation and happiness. So, check out the information below and let's start loving yourself with self-reward.

1. Impact on Motivation

According to Andriani & Rasto., (2019, in Wijayanto., 2023) said that motivation comes from the word motive, namely the condition within the individual that encourages the individual to carry out certain activities whether based or not to achieve certain goals. The strength of the motivation we have will greatly affect the efforts we make in order to get to the goal. If someone has high motivation then he will definitely try hard to achieve his goal, but if we have low motivation it is likely that the process will feel long and tiring. By doing self rewards we can increase motivation and encourage positive actions. When you reward yourself, you not only feel good, but are also motivated to keep repeating the good behavior, which increases your energy and performance. This is especially helpful when a lack of rewards or recognition is demotivating, making self-reward the best way to stay motivated.

2. Impact on Happiness

It turns out that by doing self-reward, it can also bring out feelings of happiness in us, when we appreciate the hard work that has been done, our brain will produce the hormone dopamine which will trigger a sense of happiness and encourage individuals to think more positively. Therefore, self-reward plays an important role in increasing happiness because it gives individuals the opportunity to appreciate personal efforts and achievements.

In addition, self-reward also has an effect on our mental health, it can create a sense of satisfaction, increase self-esteem, and support emotional balance. According to research by Rahayu & Baiduri, (2023, in Pastadi et al., 2023) to overcome stress caused by coursework, students often do self-reward and it is proven to help them feel more relaxed, calm, and take a break from their busy daily lives. Self-reward can also help us to get to know ourselves better, because by doing self-reward, we know that we need to be appreciated and know what to do in the future.

Illustration of love yourself lettering (Source: pexel/Tima Miroshnichenko)

Self-reward is a simple yet effective way to reward your own efforts or achievements. For example, enjoying a favorite meal after completing a tough assignment, watching a favorite movie after studying for an exam, or buying a small item that you've been eyeing for a while. Others include me time at a café, sleeping longer after a week of staying up late, or even a short vacation to refresh your mind. Not only do these activities provide a sense of fulfillment, but they also help boost motivation, maintain emotional balance, and boost productivity later on.

By appreciating ourselves, we learn to love the process while nurturing our mental health. Self-reward is a simple and effective tool to stay motivated and feel happy, by rewarding yourself, you not only appreciate your efforts but also build the energy needed to reach more goals. When used the right way, self-reward can help you achieve success and live a more balanced life.

Well, that was an explanation of why self-reward can be the key to motivation and happiness. So, don't be too hard on yourself and let's start appreciating and celebrating all the hard work you've done as a form of love for yourself!

Referensi

Wijayanto, D. (2023). Laporan Penelitian Pengaruh Motivasi, Stress, dan Self-Reward Mahasiswa terhadap Pembelajaran Blended Learningdi Perguruan Tinggi Kota Salatiga. Jurnal Ilmiah Wahana Pendidikan, 9(November), 288–310. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.10100663

Pastadi, A. R., Maret, U. S., Deo, E., Damanik, T., Maret, U. S., Shodiq, F., Maret, U. S., Ikfinalkarim, F., & Maret, U. S. (2023). Pengaruh Self-Reward Terhadap Motivasi Belajar Mahasiswa Di Indonesia. Pengaruh Self-Reward Terhadap Motivasi Belajar Mahasiswa Di Indonesia, December, 12.