Use a pleasant task as a reward for an unpleasant task. Rank your tasks and activities for the day in order of desirability; do the most undesirable then reward your self with a desirable activity. We have done this with children when we told them they could go play after they cleaned their bedroom.
The reward of one duty is the power to fulfill another.
George Eliot
English novelist (1819 - 1880)
Although I am sure this was used on me as a child I like this principle, here is an example of the principle in action.
Today's to do list includes the following:
q Mow the lawn
q "Summer-ize" the back porch
q Clean up back porch flower bed
q Vacuum home and furnishings
q Clean out fireplace
q Write Taking Action Articles
q Paint something
q Complete paperwork for a presentation at end of month
q Schedule and possibly have a massage
Now ranked in order from most desirable to least
q Write Taking Action articles
q Schedule and possibly have a massage
q "Summer-ize" the back porch
q Paint something
q Complete paperwork for a presentation at end of month
q Clean out the fireplace
q Vacuum home and furnishings
q Mow the lawn
q Clean up back porch flowerbed
The Premack Principle, as I understand it, says I should do the least desirable item first then reward myself by doing a more desirable item. Right now I am obviously writing articles, I have not already clean up the flowerbed off the back porch. But if I were to follow the principle I would accomplish things in this order today
q Clean up the flowerbed off the back porch
q Write Taking Action articles
q Mow the lawn
q Schedule and possibly have a massage
q Vacuum home and furnishings
q "Summer-ize" the back porch
q Clean out the fireplace
q Paint something
q Complete paperwork for a presentation at end of month
When I look at this list I think it is not the most efficient use of my time so how about I group activities and work to my strengths and natural energy rhythms
q Mow the lawn and clean up back porch flowerbed (as long as I am outside getting dirty let's do these together)
q "Summer-ize" the back porch by repainting the floor and resetting it for summer activities (this will pay off later in the day)
q Clean out fireplace and Vacuum home and furnishings (need to wait until my daughter wakes up to do this)
q Write Taking Action Articles (needs to be morning activity, I am a morning writer)
q Complete paperwork for a presentation at end of month (could do this in the evening on the "summer-ized" back porch)
q Schedule and possibly have a massage (this is a reward not really a to do)
My now more efficient and play to my strengths and natural energy rhythms list looks like this
q Write Taking Action Articles
q Mow the lawn and clean up back porch flowerbed
q "Summer-ize" the back porch by repainting the floor and resetting it for summer activities
q Clean out fireplace and Vacuum home and furnishings
q Schedule and possibly have a massage
q Complete paperwork for a presentation at end of month
Since I changed the Premack Principle is it now the Rosenberg Principle? Give this a try, you may find your day a whole lot more productive. Let me know how it works for you. I am now off to mow the lawn.
One way to take action and get more out of your time is to incorporate one tip each week that will help you achieve your most inspiring goals. Blueprint for Life Success is a FREE strategic tip series created for those who want to utilize the most effective goal getting strategies to create the life they most desire. Enroll today and also receive the Set Inspiring Goals E-Course to identify your most inspiring goal and design a plan to achieve it. Enroll in your FREE e-course and tip series at http://www.jodirosenberg.com or send a blank e-mail to jrlcnewsletter@aweber.com
Jodi Rosenberg is an action-oriented life coach with tips and strategies to help you create the life you most desire. |
