How to Hack the Reward System in Your Brain And Stay Motivated — 10 Best Ways!

Staying Motivated Can Be a Challenge, but It’s Not Impossible. You Can Use Your Brain’s Reward System & Stay On Track.

Shaheer Gharay
6 min readJul 12, 2022
Hack the Reward System in Your Brain And Stay Motivated

The brain’s reward system is a complex network of neurotransmitters and receptors that are responsible for the pleasure we feel when we eat, drink, have sex, or do anything that is enjoyable. This system can be “hacked” by using certain foods, drinks, activities, or supplements to increase the release of dopamine and other feel-good chemicals.

Here are some of the best ways to hack the brain’s reward system.

1.
Find What Motivates You

The best way to achieve your goals is to find what motivates you and personalize it. Everyone is different and what motivates one person may not work for someone else. You have to find what makes you want to achieve your goals and focus on that. It can be something as simple as the desire to improve your own life or help others, or a need to prove others wrong. Whatever it is, tap into that feeling and use it to drive you forward.

2.
Identify Your Rewards

Rewards are an important part of any goal-setting process. They can help you stay motivated and on track as you work to achieve your objectives. But it’s important to choose the right rewards for yourself, lest you find yourself unfulfilled or even demotivated.

When identifying your rewards, think about things that are important to you and that will provide genuine motivation. It might be something as simple as spending time with friends and family, taking a vacation, buying a new outfit, or enjoying a nice dinner out. Whatever it is, make sure the reward is something you really want and will enjoy.

Setting realistic goals is also key to staying motivated. If your goals are too lofty or unrealistic, you’re likely to become discouraged and give up before reaching your objective. Instead, set goals that challenge you but are still achievable.

3.
Use Positive Reinforcement.

It can be tough to stay motivated when you’re working toward a goal, especially if you don’t see immediate progress. But using positive reinforcement can help keep you on track. Rewarding yourself for good behavior is a great way to stay focused and motivated. It’s also a great way to build positive habits.

There are many different ways to reward yourself, so find what works best for you. Some people like to treat themselves to something they enjoy, like a new book or a trip to their favorite restaurant. Others prefer to do something that makes them feel good, like taking a yoga class or spending time with friends.

Whatever method you choose, make sure it’s something that you really want and that will make you happy. And be sure to celebrate your accomplishments along the way!

4.
Avoid Negative Reinforcement.

Negative reinforcement can actually be counterproductive in terms of developing better behaviors. When you punish yourself for bad behavior, you may feel guilty and discouraged, which can lead to more of the same behavior. Alternatively, if you reward yourself for good behavior, you may feel happier and more motivated to continue behaving well.

5.
Stay Consistent.

To be successful in any long-term goal, it’s important to stay consistent and have a strong motivation. When you first start out, it might be easy to stick to your routine and maintain your focus, but eventually, the novelty of your goal may wear off and you may find it harder to keep going. This is when it’s important to remember why you started and to find new ways to stay motivated. Maybe your goal is to get fit, so you start going to the gym every day for the first few weeks, but eventually, you start missing workouts. At this point, it’s important to find ways to make going back to the gym more enjoyable or rewarding, like setting goals for yourself or tracking your progress. Whatever method you choose, it’s important that you remain consistent so you can achieve your long-term goal.

6.
Eat Healthy Foods.

Dopamine is a neurotransmitter that is important for motivation, pleasure, and focus. Foods that are high in dopamine-boosting nutrients like protein, omega-3 fatty acids, and B vitamins can help to increase dopamine levels. Eating a healthy diet that includes these foods can help to improve mood, increase energy, and boost productivity.

7.
Drink Caffeinated Beverages.

Caffeinated beverages like coffee and tea are popular choices to help people wake up and feel more alert. What many people may not know is that these drinks can also increase dopamine levels. Dopamine is a neurotransmitter that is responsible for transmitting signals between the brain’s nerve cells. When dopamine levels are increased, it can lead to feelings of pleasure and euphoria. This can be beneficial for those who need to stay alert and focused during the day.

8.
Exercise Regularly.

Dopamine is a neurotransmitter that is responsible for transmitting signals between the brain’s nerve cells. Dopamine is also responsible for controlling the brain’s pleasure and reward centers. Low dopamine levels have been linked to mood disorders, such as depression, and Parkinson’s disease.

Fortunately, there are several things that you can do to boost your dopamine levels. Exercise is one of them. In fact, exercise has been shown to boost dopamine levels by up to 30%. So, if you are feeling down in the dumps, or if you are struggling with any illness, make sure to get regular exercise.

9.
Stick to a Routine

How many times have you started a new routine with the best of intentions, only to give up after a few weeks? It can be tough to stick to something new, especially if it’s something that’s not really part of your personality.

But there are a few tricks you can use to make sticking to a routine easier.

First, find a routine that works for you. There’s no point in trying to force yourself to go running every morning if you really hate running. Find an activity that you enjoy and make it a part of your daily routine.

Second and once again, set realistic goals. If you’re trying to change your entire lifestyle overnight, you’re going to be disappointed when you fall short. Start small and gradually increase the difficulty of your routine as you get more comfortable with it.

Finally, don’t be afraid to change things up occasionally.

10.
Celebrate Each Accomplishment.

It is important to celebrate each accomplishment along the way. Here are 05 tips to help you celebrate your successes.

1. Give yourself credit. Acknowledge how hard you worked and give yourself some congratulations!
2. Tell someone. Share your good news with a friend or family member and enjoy their congratulations, too.
3. Reward yourself. Treat yourself to something that you’ve been wanting after reaching a goal- even if it’s something small, like a new book or an afternoon at the spa.
4. Make a note of it. Record your accomplishment in a journal or on a blog, so you can look back and see all that you’ve achieved.
5. Give something back to someone else. Do something nice for someone who has helped you along the way, such as donating blood or volunteering at a hospital or animal shelter.

Conclusion

In order to achieve success, it’s important to learn how to hack the reward system in your brain. This system is responsible for motivating you to take action and achieve your goals. By learning how to work with this system, you can stay motivated and achieve your goals. When you have a clear goal, the reward system in your brain will be activated and you will be motivated to take action.

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Shaheer Gharay
Shaheer Gharay

Written by Shaheer Gharay

My focus on Medium is Life Productivity & Self-Development. If you need a writer to create SEO content for your website, write to ShaheerGharay@rocketmail.com