Recently, I have been struggling to utilize my time and, because of this, I have become very unmotivated. I started thinking about what used to motivate me when I was younger (outside of my mother dragging me through my school work) and then I remembered something!

When I was about 8 years old, my vision in my left eye was terrible (still is) and the doctor told me and my parents that I would have to wear these stick-on eye patches over my right eye to strengthen my left one. Of course, I fought my parents every step of the way, and I cried every time I had to wear these eye patches… until my mom made the Eye Chart. This chart was made on a bright pink poster board and each day I wore the eye, I got a sticker. At the end of the month, if I wore the patches everyday, we got to go to the local amusement park! It didn’t stop my emotional distress with the whole thing, but working towards something made it easier on me (and my parents).

Now that I’m 22, I have made a new sticker chart. This will keep me motivated to do my work and move at a steady pace through my course. I am hoping to be 75% through my course by the end of July, and to have some money saved up so I can have a bit of freedom. At the end of each week, I will get a reward like a new book or fast food (I’m trying to cut down, and I think having it once a month is a good start).

I’m really excited and I have a good feeling about it. I finally feel like I’m moving forward, instead of making progress while standing still. I don’t care how old I get, if a reward chart works then so be it!