I think I'm going to make it!

@TheHorse (238294)
Walnut Creek, California
April 30, 2018 9:54pm CST
This afternoon has been a bit of a grind for me. This morning was great: I taught at the preschool, got my dose of morning hugs, and even had my friend, a pretty well-known professional story-teller, come by, meet my kids and colleagues, and tell a couple of stories. The kids loved him. But this afternoon, after work, I went to a local burrito place to get some paper grading done for my Tuesday evening class. The burrito was great, and I got about five papers done, but by the time I got home, I'd lost my mojo, and wasn't in the mood to grade more papers. What I've done since is grade about four papers at a time, and then self-reward with a bit of MyLotting, guitar playing, or a sip of wine. I'm not sure how many papers I still have to do, but I think it's only five or so. I think I'll call my friend to express my gratitude before I get back to papers. That should get my mojo working. Do you ever use "self-reward" when you have to get something done but aren't really in "the zone"?
14 people like this
14 responses
celticeagle
@celticeagle (189838)
• Boise, Idaho
1 May 18
So, how do your students like getting their papers back with burrito drippings on them?
3 people like this
celticeagle
@celticeagle (189838)
• Boise, Idaho
2 May 18
@TheHorse .....Well, it's a give and take thing then.
1 person likes this
The Horse
@TheHorse (238294)
• Walnut Creek, California
1 May 18
Sometimes it Thai or Japanese. But the DO like getting their papers and exams back the next class period.
2 people like this
The Horse
@TheHorse (238294)
• Walnut Creek, California
6 May 18
@celticeagle At least I don't grade papers while in the bathroom.
1 person likes this
Cindy Tolbert
@cintol (11261)
• United States
1 May 18
Yes, I do this from time to time. I can't sit too long though because sometimes I don't want to finish what needs to be done.
2 people like this
The Horse
@TheHorse (238294)
• Walnut Creek, California
1 May 18
I want to finish this. I just don't quite have my mojo working.
2 people like this
The Horse
@TheHorse (238294)
• Walnut Creek, California
1 May 18
@cintol Can you do 200?
2 people like this
Cindy Tolbert
@cintol (11261)
• United States
1 May 18
@TheHorse I understand, I want to walk 10000 steps by midnight, looks like that won't happen for me tonight lol
2 people like this
ultraman cosmos
@id_peace (17036)
• Singapore
1 May 18
Yes it is easy to lose the motivation. I will delay the reward or i have landmark based reward.
2 people like this
ultraman cosmos
@id_peace (17036)
• Singapore
1 May 18
It means that I had set several milestones which I called as Landmark. The moment I hit the landmark for an example $10,000 residual incomes, I will reward myself with $100 residual income to spend.
1 person likes this
The Horse
@TheHorse (238294)
• Walnut Creek, California
1 May 18
"landmark based reward." Please explain.
2 people like this
Silvermist
@silvermist (19701)
• India
1 May 18
Yes,I do reward myself sometimes.Not always,though.
2 people like this
Silvermist
@silvermist (19701)
• India
3 May 18
@TheHorse I read a book,listen to music,watch movies and I may even treat myself to some ice cream or dark chocolate.
The Horse
@TheHorse (238294)
• Walnut Creek, California
1 May 18
What kinds of rewards do you use? Right now I'm listening to Giants baseball replays. I didn't watch the game because of the papers I had to grade.
2 people like this
Courtney
@Courtlynn (67089)
• United States
1 May 18
Yes I do do that. But not often.
2 people like this
The Horse
@TheHorse (238294)
• Walnut Creek, California
1 May 18
Got any examples? I'm rewarding myself with some jazz music and MyLotting right now. Next, I'll enter all of my grades and see what reward seems appropriate.
The Horse
@TheHorse (238294)
• Walnut Creek, California
2 May 18
@Courtlynn I think I played some guitar and then fell asleep.
1 person likes this
Courtney
@Courtlynn (67089)
• United States
1 May 18
@TheHorse I don't know. Go for ice cream, or buy a snack at the store.
1 person likes this
Louise Crisologo
@mlgen1037 (29882)
• Manila, Philippines
1 May 18
Good morning, my good friend. Yes, I think I did that. I have to force myself fo do it.
2 people like this
The Horse
@TheHorse (238294)
• Walnut Creek, California
1 May 18
I left a message with my friend. I will MyLot a bit more and then shoot for three more papers.
2 people like this
Louise Crisologo
@mlgen1037 (29882)
• Manila, Philippines
1 May 18
@TheHorse Then I will be seeing more of you here today, my friend.
2 people like this
The Horse
@TheHorse (238294)
• Walnut Creek, California
1 May 18
@mlgen1037 Well, my day is ending soon. It's almost 10 PM here, and I have to get up at 5:45 AM. I'm going to enter some grades and then come back.
2 people like this
AKRao24
@AKRao24 (27422)
• India
1 May 18
Yes, right now having completed my morning routine successfully I am having a Cup of tea while myLotting dear friend @TheHorse !
1 person likes this
The Horse
@TheHorse (238294)
• Walnut Creek, California
1 May 18
I got my grades entered and am brewing up a cup of bedtime coffee.
1 person likes this
vanny
@vandana7 (102698)
• India
3 May 18
I am the most corrupt mule around. I don't work without rewards, self or not. I even charge dad for finding something that he loses. I am evil.
1 person likes this
vanny
@vandana7 (102698)
• India
4 May 18
@TheHorse You already paid upfront...helping me open up about my little sister and eventually DJ helped to re-establish the bond. Bottling up was doing me no good.
The Horse
@TheHorse (238294)
• Walnut Creek, California
4 May 18
What are you charging me for helping me with my music posts? Should I be wary of Indians when I see them here in the US? They're everywhere. One could be one of your "heavies."
1 person likes this
Anna
@LadyDuck (502316)
• Italy
1 May 18
If you are not in the mood, do something different and come back to grading the papers later.
Marie
@Tampa_girl7 (54715)
• United States
1 May 18
Self rewarding is awesome
2 people like this
The Horse
@TheHorse (238294)
• Walnut Creek, California
1 May 18
I enjoy most of what I do, including grading papers. But tonight, I needed "extrinsic" motivation.
1 person likes this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (381967)
• Rockingham, Australia
1 May 18
I probably wouldn't get much done at all if I didn't self-reward from time to time!
1 person likes this
The Horse
@TheHorse (238294)
• Walnut Creek, California
1 May 18
Ironically, I was recently lecturing about how the pleasure is not "getting it done," but the "doing." In this case, I wasn't able to follow my own advice.
1 person likes this
The Horse
@TheHorse (238294)
• Walnut Creek, California
2 May 18
@JudyEv Yep, that's usually how I feel. I don't have a real loudspeaker project going right now, though I'm making some coasters.
1 person likes this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (381967)
• Rockingham, Australia
1 May 18
@TheHorse Like 'it's not the destination but the journey'. I'm always sorry when our projects are finished - unless we have another one to start on of course.
1 person likes this
Angie
@andriaperry (118793)
• Anniston, Alabama
1 May 18
Yes I rewarded my hard working day with a late evening nap.
1 person likes this
The Horse
@TheHorse (238294)
• Walnut Creek, California
1 May 18
For me, a late evening nap would turn into taking my shoes off and calling it sleep...and then getting up early.
2 people like this
The Horse
@TheHorse (238294)
• Walnut Creek, California
1 May 18
@andriaperry Did you stay up? 5 AM is natural if you're a farmer. My alarm is set for 5:45.
1 person likes this
Angie
@andriaperry (118793)
• Anniston, Alabama
1 May 18
@TheHorse I was up at 5 am, that is just not natural! I was worn out I gave into the nap.
2 people like this
Hanni Harel
@Hannihar (130150)
• Israel
2 May 18
@TheHorse I hope you found your mojo again to finish the papers and then really be able to relax instead of not wanting to finish grading the rest of the papers. Yes, I have times where I just want a break from it all and then hopefully go back to whatever it is I have to get done. It is hard.
1 person likes this
The Horse
@TheHorse (238294)
• Walnut Creek, California
2 May 18
I made it through the papers. But it wasn't the "Zen" experience I had hoped for. Tonight I return them to my class. It's important to me to get papers back to students in a week. It's "instructionally sound" practice.
1 person likes this
Hanni Harel
@Hannihar (130150)
• Israel
3 May 18
@TheHorse Good method. So, how did you force yourself to finish them?
Jessa Bumagat
@Jessabuma (31696)
• Baguio, Philippines
1 May 18
Yes of course, I always reward myself .. even after accomplishing small things