Dr. Hibbs - Consider It Done

"Helping People Change for Good"

NEW! Dr. Hibbs'  book in paperback: Consider It Done: Ten Prescriptions for Finishing What You Start

The Consider It Done Newsletter
“To help you finish what you start.”
Volume 12
<><><><><><><><><><><><><>

Stanley E. Hibbs, Ph.D.
Psychologist
Personal Effectiveness Coach
Phone: 770-668-0350 x-224
E-mail: drhibbs@drhibbs.com
Web Site: www.drhibbs.com
<><><><><><><><><><><><><>

Article: “The World’s Greatest Time Management Principle.”

Every Introductory Psychology student learns the Premack Principle.
(At least I learned it but that was many years ago!). The Premack
Principle is one of those “discoveries” of modern psychology that
confirms what wise people have known for some time.

Simply put, the Principle states that one activity can act as a reward
for another activity. Everyone knows that a mouse will run though a
maze to get cheese. But he will also run through the maze to get to
one of those exercise wheels (a mouse’s idea of “fun?”) or to “hang
out” with other mice. He will work in order to be able to play.

So how do we apply the Premack Principle? I will use myself as an
example. Most every evening, I need to spend about an hour on writing
and taking care of administrative paperwork. It’s the end of the day,
I’m tired, and the work can be pretty tedious. However, this work puts
food on the table and helps achieve important personal goals. It’s clearly
what I “should” do.

However, it’s not what I “want” to do. What I want to do is to sit back in my
aptly named Lazy-Boy, firmly grasp the TV remote and pig out on every
sports show I can find (How about Australian football?). But hours of TV
watching doesn’t get me anywhere and leaves me feeling pretty useless.

So when there’s a battle between what I “should” do and what I “want”
to do, I ask myself if I’m “willing” to apply the Premack Principle. When
I do this, I decide to do my work first and then reward myself with at
least some of what I want to do. I get the work done and then watch TV.
I have seen the last inning of many a baseball game and the last two minutes
of many a basketball game (Most basketball games aren’t exciting until
the last two minutes anyway!)

Around my house, the words “Premack Principle” remind my sons that
chores and homework must be completed before anything else.

For me, a productive day is one in which I apply the Premack Principle.
An unproductive day is one in which I don’t. I suspect that if you
compared the lives of successful and unsuccessful people, you would find
that the successful people apply the Premack Principle more often.

See if applying this principle will help you have more productive days.
You’ll never achieve perfection, but the more productive days that
you can string together, the more you’ll be able to reach your goals
and achieve your dreams. Try it!

So now that I’ve finished this newsletter, where’s the remote?
<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>

Dr. Hibbs is now accepting new clients for personal, business, and
executive coaching. As a subscriber to this newsletter, you can receive
a free 30-minute consultation to see if coaching is right for you.

Contact Dr. Hibbs:
drhibbs@drhibbs.com
770-668-0350 x-224

For information about Dr. Hibbs’ clinical services go to:
www.dunwoodypsychologists.com

The Consider It Done Newsletter is offered to you free. If you know
of others who might like to receive it, please forward it to them. Feel
free to quote from this issue as long as you give credit where credit is due.
<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>


 

 Free Newsletter | Newsletter Archives | Articles | Contact | Diabetes Life Coaching