So I’ve been doing The Five-Minute Journal now for about a month, and the big thing that’s helped me stick to it — and this is major because I’ve started and stopped more projects than I can count — is something so simple and really very elementary, and by ‘elementary’ I mean something that kids in kindergarten probably still do (because I did it about a bazillion years ago).
This: tracking your progress every day with gold ⭐ stars. (I use hand-drawn Sharpie stars because I couldn’t find gold sticker stars anywhere in my town.)
Every day you complete a task, and for me it’s filling out a page in the journal, you stick a star on the calendar, and after ‘X’ number of days, you treat yourself to a reward. ???
The reward part is totally key, but ya know…you don’t have to buy yourself a Lambo or anything. A trip to your favorite lunch spot so you can buy that bougie $20 salad you love so much (*cough* Blue Barn Tostada Salad *cough*), a new eyeliner, or — ooh! — a spa treatment (I WISH). I’m going to get myself some workout pants from Senita because I’m all about that high-waisted life these days.
Even though this system is low-tech, it’s very effective. I don’t know if it’s something hidden deep inside the folds of the most primitive part of my brain, but I love seeing those stars pile up week after week. It feels like a good habit.
The Five-Minute Journal has enough pages for six months, and I’ve got about five more left.
I can’t wait to see my calendar filled this gold stars. 🙂
Speaking of stars…
The MAC x PatrickStarrr Me So Chic Face Kit ($49.50, coming April 19 to the MAC website and select MAC counters)
I feel like I’m wearing makeup that the girls in my high school marching band’s color guard wore in the late-’80s/early-’90s. Like, gimme an over-sized flag, a sequined outfit, shiny flesh-colored tights, and I’m be good to go!
I think the blush duo (a matte warm bronze and satiny peach) flatters my NC42 skin, but my eyes get watery when I wear the purples in the quad. Also, the nude lipstick and gloss… I think they’re pretty, but they’re pretty easily duped, too.
I like the MAC x PatrickStarrr Me So Fleek Kit more than this one…
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
Indya says
April 12th, 2018 at 10:13 amHave I mentioned how much I love your blog?
I do this thing where I make a huge list of things on Saturday I want to get done for the weekend and beat myself up on Monday because I only did three of those things but still managed to endlessly surf instagram, twitter, and whatever else. I like your calendar star idea! I have a cracky cats one I bought from CVS I could use for this 🙂
Indya recently posted … What’s in My Sephora Cart? Preparing for the Spring VIB Sale
Karen says
April 12th, 2018 at 10:18 amAww, Indya. MBB (and I) love you right back. You’re always so cheerful and nice in the comments and I really appreciate you, and how you take time to say hello.
You should use your calendar for this! Even if it’s just for one task that you do every day for a set amount of time. I had a therapist once who liked to pick a new skill to learn for three months. The idea is that three months is not too much time go bite off, but enough to really learn something. Maybe try a three month period where you try to build a new habit? You can reward yourself at the one, two and three month marks.
Indya says
April 12th, 2018 at 4:00 pmThese are good ideas! Now I just need to place an actual task in them! Thanks Karen.
Karin says
April 12th, 2018 at 11:20 amI love this post! I’m spinning a lot of plates at the moment so the idea of something so simple to track progress is awesome – plus rewarding myself too! I totally get what you’re saying with this collection. I got ’90’s Days of Our Lives Hope Brady vibes from the eye shadows. The only thing I’m considering is that blush. Have a beautiful day! x
Karin says
April 12th, 2018 at 11:22 amAnd I forgot to say – how amazing is your skin looking right now! Gorgeous x
Karin recently posted … Review: Too Faced Totally Cute Palette – with swatches and a look!
Lulle says
April 12th, 2018 at 6:52 pmI should totally do that, then I would use my calendar and my gold marker, both of which are laying unused on my desk.
I was super excited for this quad, but the swatches are sad, especially the darkest shade. And, for the first time ever… I’m not a fan of your eye look. Sorry! But I know you can create wonders out of anything, so it’s not you. It’s the quad.
Lulle recently posted … Sephora Spring Sale 2018: French Beauty Recommendations and Wish List
Sarah Lowes says
April 13th, 2018 at 2:36 amI hate to tell you this Karen, but in the UK teachers use the gold star system to motivate the most badly behaved pupils!!!
Has Tabs awarded you a gold star yet or employee of the month?
Kim says
April 13th, 2018 at 9:56 amThere is some major color payoff in that pink shadow. It’s bright and bold and super pretty (agreed on the 80s/90s vibe, of course).
Karen says
April 13th, 2018 at 10:35 amIt’s a little crazy! You should see the other kit in this launch. It’s colorful but wearable and 100% awesome!
Happy Friday, by the way. 🙂