Today in the United States it is estimated that 1 of every 2 people suffer from an invisible chronic illness (ICIs) of one kind or another, ranging from diabetes to Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS). This essentially means that nearly half of all Americans suffer debilitating symptoms on any given day -symptoms that can interfere with leading a happy and productive life. It is here that a personal reward system can be transformed into a useful tool for better living.

Imagine waking up each day to the same old grind, but that grind not only includes commuter traffic and bad coffee it also comes with a constant headache, endless fatigue, nausea, intensive dietary requirements or  a series of daily injections. These are just a few realities that those with ICIs face every day. Everything thing from a trip to the grocery store to getting the kids ready for school takes intensive planning, as well as back up plans, and often the help of others.

Needless to say this type of existence can quickly wear down ones nerves and emotions, leaving the sufferer mentally and emotionally exhausted on top of other symptoms.

Now imagine that same daily grind but in your mental calendar, add a little something special for Friday night or Saturday afternoon. That something is entirely for you and up to you. It’s not about your spouse or the kids, it’s not about bosses or deadlines or practicality, it’s just about you.

Anything from a trip to your favorite salon to a night of bingo or bar hopping with your buddies will do. Short term rewards don’t necessarily have to be big or cost a lot, they just have to mean something to you.

Once you have your reward, or rewards, planned – put them on the calendar and make them a priority.  Tell your friends or family about your goals and your rewards – it’s much harder to back out of doing something for yourself if you know someone is going to quiz you about it later – “did you enjoy your massage Sara?” “How was the fishing this week Dan?”

Just as it is important to set short-, intermediate- and long –term goals it is also important to set appropriate rewards for attaining those goals. For instance, it’s not likely reasonable that a goal of setting and sticking to a sleep schedule for 30 days should merit a trip to Paris, however a new pillow or before-bed-book would be entirely appropriate.  Likewise, for those suffering from chronic pain, remembering to stretch every day – which long-term will result in a reduction of pain – could further be rewarded by a massage for each month that you stretch daily.

That trip to Paris, or a vacation closer to home, would make an excellent reward for achieving major long-term goals, such as a significant loss in weight or a major lifestyle change that has paid off (quitting smoking, giving up soda for a whole year) by lowering your risks for heart disease, diabetes or stroke.

Regardless of what your overall health goals are it’s important to give yourself the credit and recognition your efforts deserve in spite of whatever chronic symptoms may impede you.  When you work hard to attain optimum health the benefits are great, but that hard work can be made easier if you have little – and a few big—rewards along the way.

The reward program isn’t just for those with new health, wellness and/ or fitness goals – it’s also a fantastic plan for those sufferers who have already dialed in and attained their goals. The ones who know that yoga reduces their pain or that eating gluten-free can keep them headache free. Once you’ve attained your health and wellness goals, among others, the reward system remains as important as ever and as the commander of your own destiny you just get to keep picking what best motivates you – be it dancing classes, frequent road-trips or a new piece for your lawn gnome collection.

The best thing about a personal reward program is that it can be adjusted to fit any budget and any lifestyle. All one needs to do is sit down and create a list of goals and a list of rewards. It’s best to categorize your selections, such as short-, intermediate- and long-term goals/rewards. Additionally, as discussed above, make sure that your goals –and your rewards – are attainable and realistic, once that is done, sit back and enjoy the anticipation – even better, draw on that anticipation during harder moments and use it to see you though those tough times.

Don’t let ICIs stand in your way to an active, happy lifestyle, instead, discover what motivates you most and use it to your best advantage by implementing your own personal reward system and discover just how much fun it can be to meet your health and wellness goals.