Do you ever have trouble staying motivated to do hard tasks? Whether you’re 7 or 70, I think we all have trouble with this!
Several weeks ago, my 7-year-old nephew was visiting me from Pennsylvania. We had lots of fun trips planned, but he ALSO had some summer homework to do (ugh). He TOTALLY didn’t want to do it.
Luckily, I have the tool that’s in this video laying around my apartment. I’ve seen it work on 17-year-olds, but apparently, it works for younger folks as well. He got his homework done, and when we were skyping after he returned home, he asked, “Auntie Gretchen, can you show Ayla that ‘easy’ button?”
Check out the tool that kept him motivated in the video above!
Don’t have time for the full video? No worries, here’s a summary:
I’m curious, do you tend to notice the good things you do as often as you do the things you think you are doing wrong? I’ve noticed, in my work as an Academic Life Coach, that most students tend to just pay attention to the things they have or are doing wrong.
So as an academic life coach, I try to instill in my clients the idea that they should be paying attention to the things they do right as well, and I have a funny story to share about one of my clients. Whenever he’s done something well, in this week’s case it was finishing up his college applications, we hit the “Easy” Button. It’s a silly little congratulatory tool that we use, and have a lot of fun with. I’ve found it’s a nice little motivational bonus for getting through hard tasks.
What silly tools keep YOU motivated? I’d love to hear.
I too have the Easy button and the Spanish teacher has a “Facil” one. I also have egg timers, the real ones with the skinny middle, balls of different bounce and “squishability” and a Koosh ball. High schoolers do like to have rewards too!
Hi Nancy! Nice to e-meet you. It’s always exciting to have a passionate educator in my community. How great to know that there is a “facil” button! How do you use the balls as rewards? I’d love to know!