Life's a Wick 🍿 — Dodging boredom with movie tickets and rewards

Buckle up folks, I'm about to take you on a wild ride down memory lane - a tale of two college students, a crucial exam, and a movie that could make or break their semester. Trust me, it's a real thriller, and no, it's not a premise for John Wick 5, although I wish it were!

Imagine this. It was the second year of college, and exams were creeping up on us like a tiger stalking its prey. There we were, burning the midnight oil, cramming our brains with information, chugging down cups of coffee like water, trying to decode the mysteries of Zoology and Chemistry. Ah, the golden days of youth!

Between the Zoology and Chemistry papers, we were graced with a three-day break. While the rest of our comrades took this as a chance to bury themselves deeper into the academic abyss, my accomplice and I had a different plan. We thought, "Study more? Over our dead bodies!" So, we decided to play truant and escape to the movies instead.

Our well-intentioned (read ‘boring’) friends tried to chain us to our study desks, but we were rebels with a cause. And surprise, surprise, we both aced the next paper!

It turns out, a dose of cinematic adrenaline was all we needed to recharge our exhausted brains and take the chemistry exam by storm.

Let's fast forward 24 years. My all-time favorite action sequel, John Wick 4, was in theaters. Back in the day, I would've run to the cinema faster than Eliud Kipchoge (I wish!). But now, things that once felt like my birthright, now feel like a privilege. Adulthood, what a thing!

And as much as I love Keanu Reeves, I had to deal with the real-life villain first —boring work. Yes, the kind of work that makes you want to poke your eyes out with a pen.

Like a real-life John Wick, I decided to use my favorite movie as a reward for conquering dull tasks. And guess what? It worked like a charm!

Now, before you start bribing your toddler with ice cream to eat their veggies 🥦, let's delve into how this whole rewarding system works for our brain. Because we can't all be John Wick, okay?

When we anticipate a reward (say, watching Keanu Reeves in a slick suit), our brain releases dopamine, the "feel-good" hormone. This rush of dopamine makes us want the reward even more, leading to increased motivation. And let's face it, motivation is as elusive as a unicorn when it comes to doing mundane tasks.

But hold your horses before you start rewarding yourself with a shopping spree 🛍️every time you do laundry.

Rewards should be timely, and not overused. Think of them like dog treats. You don't give your pooch a treat for every breath he takes, do you? 🐶

And what should the rewards be?

If you're trying to eat your greens, maybe reward yourself with a little dessert. If you're struggling to write a report, maybe reward yourself with some leisure reading time.

But remember, there's no one-size-fits-all here. What works for me might not work for you. For me, a long run is a reward, for you, it might feel like a punishment.

If you find yourself needing rewards to get through every single day, Houston, we have a problem. Rewards are great, but they're not a permanent solution. If one area of your life constantly requires rewards to get things done, it might be time to dig a little deeper and find out what's really going wrong.

But don't let that stop you from enjoying the simple pleasures in life. Cleaned your closet? Good job! Reward yourself with a nice bath 🛀 and a good book 📘. Finished that mind-numbing report? Celebrate by hosting a movie night with friends, popcorn, and all!

There's a world of rewards out there, big and small, many of which cost nothing at all. So, don't shy away from treating yourself every now and then.

And just remember, if life throws you a dull task, hit it back with an exciting reward. With a self-rewarding system in place, you can be your own action hero 🦸🏻‍♀️