I like the "competing with myself" - that's what I do, too. I set small goals, one after the other (be it Number of comments made, my author rewards or the 5X5 (five posts a week, five comments a day) and with reaching these goals I'm closer to the main goal. Which right now is being a Dolphin here on New Year's Eve :)
Dolphin? I thought you're a dolphin already. That's a nice target, I remember how much I wanted to be a dolphin 🐬 but that seems so far now ☺️
Good luck!