Beauty bribery, babe. It’s the key to getting sh*t done, I kid you not.
If I find myself dragging my feet or otherwise struggling to finish a task, I dangle the idea of getting a little beauty treat if/when I finish, like a carrot in front of a horse’s eyes, and 99.9% of the time, it works.
Of course, you have to be strict with yourself here. I mean, if you don’t finish the task, you don’t get the treat.
The trick works particularly well on household chores (like one lipstick for cleaning two toilets), tasks that require standing in long lines (go to the DMV, get a new nail polish) or any activity tied to sweating (30 minutes of exercise for a new body care product).
And the treat doesn’t have to be a brand new product. It can be a special treatment, like a relaxing bath or manicure, with something you already own.
Like this week, the only reason I exercised at all was Dolce & Gabbana!
I tell myself that I only get to take a shower with Dolce & Gabbana Light Blue Energy Body Bath & Shower Gel ($35) after I go for a run.
Seems to be working.
And after I dry myself off, I follow up with Light Blue Refreshing Body Cream (a $51 splurge, albeit a wonderful one).
Both have the same crisp, fruity floral scent as the regular Light Blue fragrance, one of my staple perfumes.
On me, Light Blue is refreshing like a resort vacation, with jasmine, apple, orange and musk notes. If you like light, summery scents like MAC Turquatic and Bobbi Brown Beach, you might lurve Light Blue.
There’s also a Light Blue deodorant, by the way, and sometimes I wear that, too.