So, at the end of my previous post, I noted that I would do a quick summary of the techniques, and I have a very specific reason for doing so.

I struggle to achieve some of my goals. I’m committed to them; they’re important; but I get overwhelmed and lag. I need something more to help kick my butt. A checklist isn’t enough for those ones. So, I’m making a list in this very pedestrian fashion so that I can then pick and choose which “enhancements” / “rituals” I can add for specific goals that are challenging me.

Here’s my list:

1. Simple rituals
   • List the goals
   • Include checkboxes when completed
   • Schedule the activity
   • Add a duration element
   • Add a quantity element
   • Gamify to be a “chain” of achievements (the Seinfeld method)
2. Social engineering
   • Public announcement
   • Tribal (join a group)
   • Informal accountability (buddy)
   • Formal accountability (paid professional)
3. Participation and completion rituals using gamification
   • Performance / high score / personal best
   • Completion / participation element
4. Certification and combination rituals
   • Validation of completion (external)
   • Validation by test (standard)
   • Combination (through point systems)
5. Reward rituals
   • Simple
   • Combination

I’m a little shocked, to be honest. I knew that I hadn’t paid enough attention to rituals in goal-setting, hence my desire to work through this. I did NOT expect so many choices when I was done with my curation, and I’m sure I haven’t thought of them all. I know, for example, that I focused on ritual over ceremony, leaving out options where part of a “reward” or “completion” might be some form of party or ceremony to acknowledge that I’ve achieved something.

It is a good list; let’s see if it can help me prepare for retirement.