But you say you’re not a dog? Dogs can’t read. I know that, and I certainly know my audience… all one of you named Mom. Well that’s no excuse! Shaggy wasn’t a dog either, and positive reinforcement worked wonders on him. That guy would do anything for a Scooby Snack!

What is positive reinforcement anyway? Positive reinforcement involves the addition of a reinforcing stimulus following a behavior that makes it more likely that the behavior will occur again in the future. When a favorable outcome, event, or reward occurs after an action, that particular response or behavior will be strengthened. In other words, do something and receive a reward immediately after doing it. After repeating this, it becomes something you enjoy.

Why is this great to hear about? Well, this may be a great way for you to finish your daily writing goals. When I finish writing this article, I’m going to go to Italy… no that’s too big of a prize for writing an article. After writing this article, I’m going to eat a piece of chocolate immediately. I have it right here. I’m looking at it, and as soon as I finish writing I get to eat it! Now every time I write an article I get that piece of chocolate I love. I will immediately feel great after writing this article, and every article after this with positive reinforcement.

Maybe you should try rewarding yourself every time you finish a daily writing goal, or if that’s too long of a wait every time you write a page. This works wonders. One thing to note: Don’t use chocolate as a reward if you’re addicted to it. This goes for anything you’re addicted to! Maybe you can pat yourself on the back, watch a hilarious guilty dogs video on YouTube,  or text your best friend and let them know what you did. There are many ways to reward yourself in a healthy way. Now go test this out!