Let’s chat about the fun part of NaNoWriMo: your reward system. Reward systems are a fantastic way to keep yourself motivated to hit your daily, weekly and monthly word count. It’s the carrot at the end of the stick––the extra oomph that will remind you that you have something waiting for you once you’re finished.
I’ll dive into all things reward systems and treating yourself in this blog post, so if that’s something you’re interested in, just keep reading.
Reward Systems 101
Reward systems for NaNoWriMo are traditionally broken up with bigger word count goals like hitting the 10,000, 20,000, 30,000, 40,000 and 50,000 word count marks. But just like breaking up NaNoWriMo into smaller daily goals, I recommend breaking up your reward system into smaller daily rewards. This way, you’re treating yourself every single day.
The reason is this: let’s say you’re writing the 1,667 words every single day. That means that you won’t reach that first 10,000 word count mark until the end of the first week in November. That’s nearly a week without a single reward. And if you’re someone like me who really enjoys and relishes rewards, then that’s far too long to go without a reward.
I recommend breaking up your reward system into three categories: daily, weekly, and end of the month rewards.
Daily Rewards
Your daily rewards should be things that are easily accessible to you. I’m thinking things like: doing your favorite workout in the morning, grabbing your favorite snack in the afternoon, having your drink of choice at night, and taking bubble baths. I love to take daily bubble baths to reward myself. I usually bring a book, light some candles, and wear a face mask to make it more of a spa-like experience.
I don’t recommend waiting until you’ve hit your word count for the day to reward yourself. Ideally, your rewards are trickled throughout the day as you check off your top ten goals. For example: one of my goals is to workout every single day in the month of November. To reward myself immediately after, I’m planning on eating my favorite breakfast immediately afterward.
These daily rewards should not be expensive or take up too much of your time. They should be quick and easy for you to have immediately. The key for daily rewards is to have that instant dopamine rush and feeling of having accomplished something.
Make things special for yourself and don’t be afraid to romanticize your life as a reward. So when you reward yourself daily, really lean into it and don’t skimp.
Weekly Rewards
Weekly rewards can and should happen at any point in the week––not just the end of the week. I usually like to schedule two to three weekly rewards per week. These rewards only happen when I’ve been hitting my daily goals. So what does that look like?
NaNoWriMo officially starts on Tuesday, November 1st. So I plan on going to my writers group on Thursday as a reward and Saturday I plan on being fully present for my husband’s 31st birthday.
The beauty of going to my writers group on Thursday is not only do I find it rewarding, but it also helps me accomplish one of my support group goals and I get to socialize with other writers. I always have the warm fuzzies after I spend time with my writers group.
On Saturday, I look forward to not only celebrating my husband’s birthday but also spending quality time with friends and family. I consider this a reward because we’re planning on doing some go-kart racing and heading to a brewery which are both fun activities where I can blow off steam.
I might throw in a couple more rewards of getting my nails done, going hiking on Sunday, and purchasing a few new books. The key with weekly rewards is to pick things that you really can’t do on a regular basis. Make these extra special and stand out from your daily rewards.
Your Monthly Rewards
I recommend having multiple monthly rewards. These rewards are for the end of the month when you have accomplished NaNoWriMo. I want you to actually do something big here.
Something big could be having a party with friends to celebrate NaNoWriMo being over or having a staycation at a local bed and breakfast. Are you planning on purchasing champagne? Pop that bubbly and enjoy. By the end of November, you deserve some pampering.
Like your weekly rewards, your monthly rewards should be extraordinarily special to you. These should be things that can only happen once per month because they are so rare. Think about this and really consider how you’re going to celebrate at the end of NaNoWriMo.
Rewards that Align With Your Goals
When you’re planning out your rewards for your month, make sure that they actually align with your top ten goals for NaNoWriMo. For example: I have a goal of exercising every day during NaNoWriMo. That means one of my rewards could be going to a yoga studio or picking up a delicious watermelon smoothie. That does not mean that I am going to reward myself by skipping a workout to watch television instead.
For writing, maybe your reward should be purchasing books that help you become a better writer or signing up for an upcoming writers’ conference you’ve had your eye on for a while. You’re not going to want to skip writing for the day to reward yourself and derail you from your ultimate goal of reaching 50,000 words in the month of November. That won’t be helpful and it doesn’t align with your goal.
Whatever your rewards are, just make sure that they resonate with your goals. You don’t want to go completely off the rails and then lose track of what you’re trying to accomplish.
When thinking of rewards for NaNoWriMo, just make sure that they are actual rewards for you. They should be things you really look forward to. Don’t reward yourself with things that don’t make you happy. Remember: these are rewards for your hard work, so treat yourself accordingly.
Let me know in the comment section below if this blog was helpful!
Elizabeth Yuen 