Setting Up a Time Table is Not Enough for Your 2021 Goals
Your Brain May Not Agree With You All The Way.
During the early days of December, I started my exam preparation. I made a schedule, spaning out my syllabus through a period of sixty days. The contention was that I had some things going on that I did not want to forsake even in these crucial days of my exams like hitting the gym and writing regularly. So, I needed to structure my routine in a way that these chores may seep in as habits with my studies whilst not affecting them badly.
So, I devised a time-table. It seemed pretty productive. I had 8 to 9 hours of study, 1.5 hours of gym and 2 hours of writing with short breaks in between, for meals and relaxation.
During the first week, it went well. Surprisingly, I surpassed my own expectations. I used to get up at about 11 in the morning and was ready to study around 12 pm after breakfast and tea. I went to the gym at about 7 pm and returned after an hour and a half. I continued studying after showering and eating dinner and practised writing at about 12 am. Then I went to bed around 2 pm happy as a lark.
But like all good things this did not last. My focus dimmed gradually and I started getting distracted easily. I couldn't figure out the reason and started making changes one at a time to find the bug and fix it. After a week or so, I realized that my pattern of dividing time was wrong.
I Got my Dopamine Dose from the Wrong Activities.
Dopamine is a chemical that our brains release in order to focus and stay motivated and also when we accomplish something or when we are enjoying something. Even when someone is high on drugs, or has sex or binge-watches tv shows, this chemical floods our brains. It is also the main chemical that orchestrates our motivation towards a certain goal.
When we get high on this chemical, for activities like watching tv shows or exploring our Instagram or even achieving our targets regularly, our brains’ thresholds begin to rise and the dopamine receptors get saturated. So that the next time, even greater amount of dopamine is needed to satisfy our brains. Basically, its cocaine for the brain.
In my case, hitting the gym was the badly timed dopamine dose. I studied before the gym but the post-workout period was hell in the sense that it was difficult to build the motivation to study and write. It seemed as if I was getting my daily reward from workout alone. But, I couldn’t quit the gym as I had come so far. So,…….
I Shuffled my Time Table to Take the Doses at the Right Time.
Now, I’ve prioritized my goals according to the time at hand. I give my initial hours to study. Then, I practise writing and after that, I hit the gym. I’ve also devoted my Sunday as a dopamine detox day. I spend half of the day fasting on dopamine. It’s a technique to sensitize the brain and replenish the dopamine stores so that I can focus maximally.
Its really worked for me. All you need to do is:
- Set a time table for your goals.
- Prioritize your goals in a way that the work that gives you quick satisfaction goes to the end.
- Practice dopamine detox now and then.
All of you, have plans for the next year as this year was a game-changer. I hope this small practice will strengthen your conviction to achieve your goals.
