In the Czech Republic, we have one phenomenon related to boyhood: A novelist Jaroslav Foglar. He was one of the boys' scout leaders. He wrote many books and comics, was banned during the communist era, but mainly - I've never met a person who read his books and was not a truthful person.
In one of his books, he has created a concept of living called 'A blue life.' Surprisingly, it's close to Robert Fulghum's 'All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten.'
There was a recent period of my life, where I slept less, worried more, drunk more, and have sported less, and also I wanted a large Lego.
So I made my own blue life. You should make your own.
So, the Lego I want worths about 4.500 Czech crowns (some 180$). I said one point = one Czech crown (around 4 cents). A day with three coffees means a point, 4 means zero, and 5 and more counts minus one per each. A portion of vegetables adds three, as well as a beer or glass of wine subtracts three.
I've tried this for two months and realized I'll need 5 years to get the Lego. A longer while than I'd expect :). So I've updated many things and also understood what works and what doesn't work.
- Sports are varied - 5 minutes of my regular goalkeeper training, 2 minutes of home exercises, 100m swimming, or 1km walking adds a point. 1km walking with a baby or heavy load on my back adds three. 1km running gets 4.
- A healthy lifestyle is distinguished: vegetables add 3, 'a reasonable diet' adds 5, overeating subtracts 50. A portion of alcohol (shot or glass of beer and wine) subtracts 3 while day without a dose adds 5. (So the first portion is veeeery expensive at minus 8).
- There are also bonuses for good mood, nice ork, or housework. Your wife would love your new style. (And taking care of kids counts as housework!)
- And I've added a system of weekly and monthly bonuses - 75 points for sports per week adds an extra 25. And 500 points per moth adds another 100.
What worked well for me was realizing what I want to change and what I can change with my life. Sometimes you need to adjust the points. Sometimes you need to admit that reward and punishment are not enough to change things in your life right now. Maybe later.
After 9 months, I'm close to my dreamed treasure. It's something I could afford any day, I've just made that a long-term reward. And my life turned a little better. Not significantly, but I'm able to realize and rationalize good and bad days.