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Rant: I mocked themed collections for a year, then my habit tracker got fancy | Bullet Journaling - Free To Speak

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Rant: I mocked themed collections for a year, then my habit tracker got fancy

I used to laugh at people who made elaborate collections with washi tape and color coded boxes. Seemed like a total waste of time. Then about 3 months ago I started a mood and sleep tracker for my doctor in Portland, and I slapped a simple 3 color key on it. Turns out the visual pop actually made me check it daily instead of skipping, and my doctor asked for a photocopy because it was so clear. So now I'm stuck wondering if there's a middle ground or if I should just fully embrace the decorative nonsense. Anyone else flip sides on something they swore was pointless?

2 comments

2 Comments

leo_black761mo ago

Oh man, here we go. I mean, it's a habit tracker, not a piece of fine art. If color coding gets you to poke the app twice a day, cool, whatever works. But the minute someone starts buying sticker packs and matching pens for their sleep log, that's when I check out. That middle ground you're looking for is probably just the three colors you already have. Don't let the washi tape crowd trick you into thinking you need a whole craft room for a doctor's appointment.

blakestone1mo ago

Heard something similar on a podcast about how people are more likely to stick with tracking stuff if it doesn't feel like a chore. The brain likes things that look pleasing, even if it's just a little bit of color. Makes sense why your doctor liked the copy, it wasn't just decorative, it actually told a story at a glance. You probably found the sweet spot already with those three colors. Decorating just for its own sake is where it gets silly, but a little visual structure can be a real tool, not just fussy nonsense. If it keeps you honest with your health stuff, I'd say run with what you got and skip the sticker aisle.