Advice for Writers: Mark Success — Stickers and Colorful Schedules Aren’t Just for Kids

The brain loves to be rewarded. And I believe we adults lost something valuable when we stopped using stickers and colorful schedules to track our success once we got out of grade school. Colors are memorable, many of them can help boost mood, and the activity of putting a fun sticker on a fun schedule helps solidify the moment of success in our minds. In short, I highly recommend building yourself a success tracker poster for your office wall.

Posters and Planners

Amazon has some great poster options that are sadly mislabeled (in my opinion) as being for kids. But they are great! Particularly this one. Another option is to build your own notebook planner, which is the route I have chosen. Or you can mix and match as needed! Whether you use those posters or make your own, list out the main tasks you need to do each day, and create a space for each day of the week (or of the month if there is enough space). Next, find yourself some fun stickers. Using stickers that relate to each task or the genre you write in can add a bit of flair and fun to the process. Each day, mark with a sticker what you got done. This not only helps you feel great, but it also provides a visual measuring stick for how much you have accomplished.

Longer or More Complex Tasks

If you have tasks that you find yourself spreading out over multiple days, break them into different stages (such as writing, editing, building, etc.) or measure them by how much time you spend on each. Keep in mind that it is okay, better actually, to do things the way your brain needs to do them. If you don’t follow lists very well, clump tasks by mood and set a day (or an hour each day) where you just have to get things done, no matter what you feel like doing. This can give you the space to work with your brain the way it needs to most of the time, while still making sure you get things done. Just make sure you don’t leave too much to your catch-up time or day, or it will become overwhelming. And remember to place your sticker on each task, or task phase, as you accomplish it.

Have Fun and Remember to Include Breaks

If you tend to overwork yourself, remember to include breaks on your poster or in your planner! This can help ensure you get in at least a few minutes of break time each day. If you can, schedule a good hour off each day around the time you normally start to fade and feel tired midday. And as always, have fun!