--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I have a reward-and-punishment system: If…" description: "\"I have a reward-and-punishment system: If I have done this much work, then I can play video games this long. It gives my day structure.\" — Kumail Nanjiani" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/592/kumail-nanjiani-7820_day_i-have-a-reward-and-punishment-system-if_2731340.jpg" --- # I have a reward-and-punishment system: If I have done this… ![“I have a reward-and-punishment system: If I have done this much work, then I can play video games this long. It gives my day structure.” quote by Kumail Nanjiani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/592/kumail-nanjiani-7820_day_i-have-a-reward-and-punishment-system-if_2731340.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/592/kumail-nanjiani-7820_day_i-have-a-reward-and-punishment-system-if_2731340.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/592/kumail-nanjiani-7820_day_i-have-a-reward-and-punishment-system-if_2731340.jpg) > “I have a reward-and-punishment system: If I have done this much work, then I can play video games this long. It gives my day structure.” [Kumail Nanjiani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kumail-nanjiani/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A personal reward system links work output to leisure, providing structure and motivation through gamified incentives. **In simple terms:** Reward yourself after completing tasks. Key Takeaway Use gamified rewards to boost productivity. Themes productivity self‑discipline reward systems gamification Mood playful practical Type self‑help productivity When to use this quote - daily work blocks - gaming breaks - task tracking apps - goal setting Key Concepts behavioral psychology time management habit formation Questions to Reflect On - What non‑reward incentives can sustain long‑term focus? - How can you balance work and leisure without burnout? A Different Perspective Over‑reliance on rewards may weaken intrinsic motivation. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Day](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/day/) [Games](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/games/) [Games Long](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/games-long-777510/) [Long](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/long/) [Play](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/play/) [Punishment Work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/punishment-work-2957539/) [Reward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reward/) [Reward Punishment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reward-punishment-519564/) [Video](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/video/) [Video games](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/video-games/) [Work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work/) ## Related quotes > [I think the NFL needs a more stringent policy when it comes to domestic violence. Make the punishment work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/booger-mcfarland/i-think-the-nfl-needs-a-more-stringent-policy-when-it-comes-to/) [Booger McFarland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/booger-mcfarland/) > [I would play games long enough to discover what games were doing and how they were doing it. And then I'd spend the rest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-sweeney/i-would-play-games-long-enough-to-discover-what-games-were-doing-and/) [Tim Sweeney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-sweeney/) > [Enlightenment is its own reward, its own punishment. You begin to see so much more. And so much more sees you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laird-barron/enlightenment-is-its-own-reward-its-own-punishment-you-begin-to-see/) [Laird Barron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laird-barron/) > [Sleep is a reward for some, a punishment for others. For all, it is a sanction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/sleep-is-a-reward-for-some-a-punishment-for-others-for-all-it-is-a/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Play, creativity, art, spontaneity, all these experiences are their own rewards and are blocked when we perform for reward or punishment, profit or loss.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-nachmanovitch/play-creativity-art-spontaneity-all-these-experiences-are-their-own/) [Stephen Nachmanovitch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-nachmanovitch/) > [The whole religion of Islam is based on reward and punishment and reward and punishment, and it becomes a part of how you think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kumail-nanjiani/the-whole-religion-of-islam-is-based-on-reward-and-punishment-and/) [Kumail Nanjiani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kumail-nanjiani/) > [Sixteen games, to me, is a long enough schedule for anybody. 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I've been playing games for a long time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dario-franchitti/i-was-a-big-pole-position-fan-i-ve-been-playing-games-for-a-long-time/) [Dario Franchitti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dario-franchitti/) > [Nine games? It's too long.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-jeter/nine-games-it-s-too-long/) [Derek Jeter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-jeter/) > [Playing 82 games is a haul, and with eight or nine exhibition games, it's a long process. You've got to take care of your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blake-griffin/playing-82-games-is-a-haul-and-with-eight-or-nine-exhibition-games-it/) [Blake Griffin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blake-griffin/) > [You'll have games where you're out there a long time. 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If you're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kumail-nanjiani/i-didn-t-know-if-i-could-be-funny-on-stage-or-write-a-joke-but-i-saw/) [Kumail Nanjiani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kumail-nanjiani/) > [A lot of times, it seems like social media has devolved into people just yelling at each other and not really conversing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kumail-nanjiani/a-lot-of-times-it-seems-like-social-media-has-devolved-into-people/) [Kumail Nanjiani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kumail-nanjiani/) > [Just because you saw a vampire doesn't mean that a snowman or a Loch Ness Monster also exists.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kumail-nanjiani/just-because-you-saw-a-vampire-doesn-t-mean-that-a-snowman-or-a-loch/) [Kumail Nanjiani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kumail-nanjiani/) > [You really need to have that discipline. It's not even discipline. I just put down these rules. 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When does a Latino actor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esai-morales/i-am-tired-of-our-characters-being-so-incomplete-when-do-we-ever-save/) [Esai Morales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esai-morales/) > [I want to make my music and be a happy woman, a good wife, a good mom and one day hopefully have a child…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leann-rimes/i-want-to-make-my-music-and-be-a-happy-woman-a-good-wife-a-good-mom/) [LeAnn Rimes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leann-rimes/) > [Valentine's Day: Rubbing singles' noses in their lack of a mate and the noses of couples in their lack of time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-mclaughlin/valentine-s-day-rubbing-singles-noses-in-their-lack-of-a-mate-and-the/) [Emma McLaughlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-mclaughlin/) > [One day I woke up and Juventus wanted me, another Manchester United and what I know is that there were approaches made. 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I keep pushing forward, keep working hard every day, keep my head on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-daniels/being-under-recruited-coming-out-of-highland-i-ve-carried-that-with/) [Mike Daniels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-daniels/) > [You can't cheat comedy. You know, it either is going to be there on the day you capture or it's not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-lin/you-can-t-cheat-comedy-you-know-it-either-is-going-to-be-there-on-the/) [Justin Lin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-lin/) [Browse all 18,587 Day quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/day/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I have a reward-and-punishment system: If I have done this much work, then I can play video games this long. 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