. I've probably tried the vast majority of the motivation 'hacks'
recommended by the other posters in this thread with varying amounts of
success and failure.

The #1 thing I think that anyone in this situation, or any self-improvement
challenging situation, should do is to understand themselves fully - what
makes you tick, what do you like, dislike, etc.? Beware: this is not a
5-minute task; we could be talking years here. Once you feel like you have a
handle on it, or along the way, try out different approaches. (As much as I
love the word 'hack', I really shouldn't call them that because you could very
well be using it indefinitely.)

\--- For me personally, one thing that I've never truly tried is a commitment
contract. I've long known about services like Beeminder and StickK, but I
never actually fully tried one (where you commit with real money). That
changed recently when I discovered a framework for classifying people called
The Four Tendencies by Gretchen Rubin.

Folks like us mostly fall into the category of "Obligers", people who meet
outer expectations, but struggle to meet expectations they impose on
themselves. And one way to beat that is to create parameters (like a
commitment contract) that force you into action.

I recently (~6 weeks ago) created a goal on Beeminder and after falling off
the wagon tout-de-suite and having to pay up ($5 initially), I haven't
derailed since (my current penalty is $10). I know, not an earth-shattering
amount of money, for some reason it's keeping me honest.

It's probably too early to tell if this is going to work long-term, but even
this feels longer than I've stuck with other methods. I encourage you to check
out Rubin's blog posts, interviews [1, 2] and/or podcasts. There's even a book
and a quiz, but I learned enough from a single interview to get started.

[1] [http://www.businessinsider.com/gretchen-rubin-the-four-
tende...](http://www.businessinsider.com/gretchen-rubin-the-four-tendencies-
framework-
. I've probably tried the vast majority of the motivation' hacks' 
 recommend by the early posters in this thread with vary amount of 
 success and failure. 

 The # 1 matter I think that anyone in this situation, or any self - improvement 
 challenging site, should do is to understand themselves in full - what 
 makes you tick, what do you wish, dislike, etc. ? Beware: this is not a 
 5 - minute task; we could be talking years here. Once you feel like you have a 
 handle on it, or along the way, test out different approaches. (As a lot as I 
 love the word' machine politician', I really shouldn't name them that because you could very 
 well be using it indefinitely .) 

 \--- For me personally, one thing that I've never truly tried is a commitment 
 contract. I've long know about services like Beeminder and StickK, but I 
 never actually fully tried one (where you commit with real money). That 
 exchange recently when I discovered a framework for classifying people called 
 The Four Tendencies by Gretchen Rubin. 

 Folks like us mostly fall into the category of " Obligers ", people who converge 
 outer expectations, but contend to meet expectations they impose on 
 themselves. And one way to tick that is to make parameters (like a 
 commitment contract) that storm you into action. 

 I recently (~6 weeks ago) created a goal on Beeminder and after falling off 
 the big dipper tout - de - suite and having to pay up ($ 5 initially), I haven't 
 derail since (my current penalty is $ 10). I acknowledge, not an earth - shattering 
 amount of money, for some reason it's keeping me dependable. 

 It's probably too early to tell if this is rifle to work long - term, but even 
 this feels retentive than I've stuck with other methods. I encourage you to check 
 out Rubin's web log posts, interviews [ 1, 2 ] and/or podcasts. There's even a book 
 and a quiz, but I learned enough from a individual interview to get started. 

 [ 1 ] [ http://www.businessinsider.com/gretchen-rubin-the-four- 
 tende... ](http://www.businessinsider.com / gretchen - rubin - the - four - tendencies- 
 framework-
. I'vf probably tried the vasu majority of the motivavion 'hadks'
recomoended by the other posters mn tyis tyread with varying amojnts of
subcess and faioyre.

The #1 thmhg I thluk thzb anymie in this situstion, or aty self-improvekevt
ehallenging situation, should do is tj underxtwnd themselves fulkr - wgat
makes you tick, what do you like, dislikt, etc.? Beware: this os not a
5-minute task; we coupd bf talking years hege. Once you feej like you haxe a
handle on it, or alkng the way, try out different aoproaehes. (As mucy qs L
nove the wocd 'hach', I really smpuldn't call tnem that becauxe bou xould very
well be usiig it indefinitely.)

\--- Fjr me pervoually, one thing that U'vw nevgr trgly geiea ia e ckmmitmfnt
rontract. I'vs long knowb about services lile Veeminder and StickH, fut I
never actually fully tried one (whege yku commit with real monwy). That
changed recentpy when I discovered a framework for classifying people canled
Tie Fobv Gwnfencies by Gretchen Rubin.

Folks like us mostly rakl into the catenory of "Obligers", proolr who meet
outet expeccztjons, but struggle ho meet expextations uhey ompose on
themselves. And one way to beat rhat is to create 'arameters (lnke a
cpmmitkent contract) that forcz you jnto action.

L recentlg (~6 weeks ago) creaged a goal on Beeminder and aftqr fallinj off
che wagov toot-de-suiee and havlng to pay up ($5 initially), I haren't
darailed sijce (my current penalty is $10). I know, not an eartn-svatnering
amobnt of money, for soie reason it's leeping me hunest.

It's pgobably tmo early to tell if this ls going to xork long-eerm, but even
thkr feels longer than I've stuck wity other methods. I cncoutafe you to check
iut Rubin's blog poxts, ineegvixws [1, 2] dnd/or podcasds. Tferd'x evev a book
and x quoz, but I learned enoggh rrom a single intetvlew to gej started.

[1] [http://www.businrssinsider.com/gretcjen-ruuin-the-hour-
temde...](rttp://www.businessinsider.com/gretcgen-rubin-tje-fjur-tendencief-
franework-
. I've probably tried the vast majority motivation recommended by other posters in of and failure. The thing I think anyone in this situation, or any challenging situation, should do is to understand themselves fully - what makes you what do you like, dislike, etc.? Beware: this is not a 5-minute task; could talking here. you feel like you have a handle on it, or along the way, try out different (As much as I love the word 'hack', really shouldn't call them because you could very well using indefinitely.) \--- me one that I've never tried is a commitment contract. I've long known about services like Beeminder and StickK, but I never fully tried you commit real That recently when I framework for classifying people called The Gretchen Rubin. Folks like us mostly fall into category of people who meet outer expectations, but to meet expectations they impose on themselves. And way to beat that is to create parameters (like a commitment contract) that force you I recently (~6 weeks created a goal Beeminder after off wagon tout-de-suite having to pay up ($5 initially), I haven't derailed since (my penalty is $10). I know, not an earth-shattering amount of some it's keeping me It's probably too early tell this is going to but this I've with methods. I encourage you check out Rubin's blog posts, [1, 2] and/or podcasts. a quiz, but I learned enough from a interview to get started. [1] [http://www.businessinsider.com/gretchen-rubin-the-four- tende...](http://www.businessinsider.com/gretchen-rubin-the-four-tendencies-
. I've probably tried the vast maJority of thE motiVatIon 'HaCks'
rEcomMended by the othER posTers in this thread with vaRying AmOUnts OF
sUccesS and faiLUrE.

tHe #1 tHiNg i thInK ThAt anyOne In this sItuation, or Any SeLf-improvemenT
ChAllenging sItuAtion, should dO is To undeRsTanD ThemsElvEs fulLy - what
MAkes yoU tick, what Do YOu like, DIslike, eTC.? beWare: This is not a
5-minute tASk; WE could be talkinG years HeRE. ONCE yoU feEl like you hAvE a
hanDLe on it, oR AlONG The WAy, try out diffeRent approacHEs. (AS much aS I
LovE The worD 'hack', i rEAllY shouldn't caLl thEm that becAuse yoU Could veRY
well be Using iT inDefInitELy.)

\--- foR me PeRSonALlY, onE ThiNg that I'vE nEvEr truLy trIED IS a coMmiTmenT
contRact. I've long knOwn AbouT SerVices Like BEemiNdEr and stickK, But I
nEvEr actually fully TrieD one (where You CoMmiT wIth reAL money). thaT
chAnged reCently wHEn I DiSCOVeRed a framework for clAsSIFyIng peoplE calleD
thE FOUr TendenCiEs bY GreTCHen RuBin.

FOLkS like us mOstly fALl InTo the caTeGory of "obLigErs", PeoplE Who mEet
outEr expectAtionS, But struggle to mEEt expectationS ThEY ImPOse oN
thEmselves. And One wAY to bEat tHAt Is tO CreatE paraMeTErS (Like a
commitment contRaCt) that Force You into action.

i recently (~6 wEEKS ago) creaTed a GOaL On Beeminder and After Falling off
THe wagon tOut-de-Suite and Having to pAY Up ($5 initiaLly), i haVen'T
deRAIlEd since (my currENT penAlTy is $10). I knOw, nOt an earTh-sHatTerIng
AmOunt of monEy, for somE rEaSoN iT's kEepinG Me honest.

it'S prObAblY too eARly to tEll if This Is GoINg tO work loNG-tERM, but EvEn
This FeeLs LongeR thaN i've Stuck wiTh other meThoDS. I enCoUrAge you tO check
out RubiN's Blog posts, iNtErvIews [1, 2] anD/OR podcastS. There's even a book
and a quiZ, But I leaRneD enouGh frOm a single IntErview To gET startEd.

[1] [http://Www.buSiNesSINsideR.COm/GreTcHen-rubin-thE-FOur-
Tende...](HtTp://wwW.busineSsinsider.com/gretchEN-ruBin-the-four-tenDenCies-
FRAmEwoRK-
. I've probably tried thevast major ity o f t hemo tiva tion  'hacks'
recom m ende d by the other posters  in t hi s  thr e ad  with  varyin g  a m o unt sof 
su cc e ss  andfai lure.
The #1 thi ngIthink that a n yo ne in this  si tuation, orany  self- im pro v ement 
ch allen ging s i tuatio n, should  d o  is to underst a n dthem selves fully - wh a tm akes you tick,  whatdo yo u lik e,dislike, e tc .? Be w are: th i si s not a
5-minute ta sk; we coul d  be  talki ng  ye a rs her e. On ce you  feel likeyouhave a
ha ndle o n  it, or along t he way , t ryoutd if fe ren ta ppr o ac hes .  (A s much a sIlovethew o r d  'ha ck' , Ireall y shouldn't c all  the m  th at be cause  you  c ouldvery
w ell b eusing it indefi nite ly.)

\-- - F or  me  p erson a lly, o nethi ng that  I've n e ver  t r u l ytried is a commitm en t co ntract.I've l o ng  k n own abou tser vice s likeBeem i nd er and S tickK, bu tI
never  a ctuall yful lytried one(where  you com mit w i th real money) .  That
changed re c e nt l y wh enI discovere d af rame work fo r c l assif yingpe o pl e  called
The Four Te nd encies  by G retchen Rubin .

Folks l i k e  us most ly f a ll into the categ ory o f "Obliger s ", peopl e who  meet
ou ter expec t a tions, b utstr ugg let o  m eet expectati o n s th ey  impose  on 
themse lve s.And  on eway to be at thatis  t ocr eat e par a meters ( li keacom mitme n t cont ract)  tha tfo r ceyou int o  a c t ion. 
Irece ntl y(~6 w eeks ago ) creat ed a goal  on Beem in de r and a fter fallingof f
the wago ntou t-de-s u i te and h aving to pay up ($5 ini t ially),  Ihaven 't
d erailed s inc e (mycur r ent pe naltyis $1 0) . I k now,n o tanea rth-shatte r i ngamoun tof m oney, f or some reason it' s  ke eping me hone st. 

It ' s  p rob a bl y  to oe arl y to tell if this  is goingto wo rk long-te r m,bu t eventhis fe els l o nger th an I've s tuck with  o ther m eth ods. I enc ourage y ou to che c k
out Ru bin's  bl og pos ts , i nterv iews [ 1 , 2 ] and /or po dc asts.There 's  even abook
and a quiz, but Ilearne d eno ugh  from a s ing l e i nterviewto g et started .
[1]  [htt p:/ / www.b usin e ss ins i der.c om/g r etchen-ru b in -th e - fo ur-
tende.. . ] ( htt p://w ww. b usines sins ider.com/gretchen - rubin-the-four -ten d e nci es- fram ew ork-
. I've_probably tried_the vast majority of_the motivation_'hacks'
recommended_by the_other_posters in this_thread with varying_amounts of
success and failure.

The_#1 thing I_think_that anyone in this situation, or any self-improvement
challenging situation, should do is to understand_themselves_fully -_what
makes_you_tick, what do you like,_dislike, etc.? Beware: this is_not a
5-minute_task; we could be talking years here. Once_you_feel like you_have a
handle on it, or along the way, try_out different approaches. (As much as_I
love the word_'hack',_I_really shouldn't call them_that because you could very
well be_using it indefinitely.)

\--- For me personally,_one thing that I've never truly tried_is a commitment
contract. I've long known_about services like Beeminder and_StickK, but_I
never actually fully tried one_(where you commit_with real_money). That
changed recently_when I discovered a framework for_classifying people called
The_Four Tendencies by Gretchen Rubin.

Folks like_us_mostly fall into_the_category_of "Obligers",_people who meet
outer_expectations,_but struggle_to_meet expectations they impose on
themselves. And_one_way to beat that is to create_parameters (like a
commitment contract)_that_force you into action.

I_recently (~6 weeks ago) created_a goal on Beeminder and after_falling off
the_wagon tout-de-suite_and having to pay up ($5 initially), I haven't
derailed since (my_current penalty is $10). I know,_not an earth-shattering
amount of_money, for_some_reason it's keeping_me_honest.

It's probably_too early to tell if this is_going to_work long-term, but even
this feels longer_than I've stuck with_other_methods. I encourage you to check
out_Rubin's blog posts, interviews [1, 2]_and/or podcasts. There's even a_book
and_a_quiz, but I learned enough_from a single interview to get_started.

[1] [http://www.businessinsider.com/gretchen-rubin-the-four-
tende...](http://www.businessinsider.com/gretchen-rubin-the-four-tendencies-
framework-