The problem is that we often have big goals in life (which is GREAT, don’t get me wrong). The issue with this is that the **action** and the **results** you get from it are too far away from each other.

You start exercising daily today, and you’ll be fit in multiple weeks or months’ time.

Because the action and reward are too far apart, your mind does not make the same connection that it would if you got the reward immediately. You don’t get the same rush of dopamine and thus it is not behavior that your mind wants to reinforce.

The solution to this is actually fairly simple!

What you want to do is celebrate your actions! Whenever you’re doing something that brings you closer to your goals, take a moment to recognize that as a major win!

Here’s what I liked to do:

Whenever I do something (work out, deep work, writing an article or this post for that matter) I pause, put a big grin on my face and acknowledge the work I’ve just done.

I explicitly tell myself of the great job I’ve just done and how it connects to my long-term goals.