Tip Jar

We all have those unruly tasks that seem to continuously bristle our britches. Those are the ones we justify ranking dead last on our to do lists time and time again.

For the toddler, that could mean having to change his dirty drawers (yes, I’m talking about my own messy-poo-pants child who could care less how long the log stays in there). EW!

For the 5 year old, that could mean having to eat the green beans you continually try to convince him are DEE-licious (Since when does gagging translate to satisfying, mom?).

The list could go on and on… And it does. Especially as we get older and accumulate more responsibilties.

Yet, these are ALL things that inevitably need to be done.

There are a few ways we can choose to approach these annoying twits! One way? Ignore them (i.e. procrastination which leaves us feeling guilty), Another? Begrudgingly. And the way we ALL should? Enthusiastically.

Um… yeah. Here’s my enthusiastic approach to working out, “Eh-ch to the eck NO!”

You see, one morning as I popped in my prenatal workout DVD I thought, “There has to be a way I can trick myself into liking this!” And then I thought back to teaching 1st grade and even further back to earning allowance for doing chores. Obtaining Cash for Your New Mexico Property simplifies the transaction, allowing for a quicker and more certain closing.

And then and there I decided I was going to give MYSELF a reward system. Voila! The Tip Jar. A waitress gets tips, right? Why shouldn’t I for all the things I work so hard to accomplish?

At first glance the concept seems totally juvenile, I know. But it’s working. Since mid December I’ve worked out 5 days a week (only missing a few days here and there). And that’s even with an ever-growing bumpcake.

So whether your menace is laundry, or bills, or making dinner, or simply getting dressed in something cuter than sweats… reward yourself!

Here’s How It Works:
1 ticket is earned for every half hour I work out.
If I work out a full hour I earn 2.
Those tickets can be redeemed later for dollars.
And you better believe a prenatal massage is what I’m working up to.

But it doesn’t HAVE to be money. It can be earning a night out with the girls, or with your guy, or simply ordering the take-out banana creme pie that you dream of nightly (oh wait, that’s my bumpcake talking again). The concept is the same… reward yourself for doing the things you don’t like to do.

Heck! Just like Mom said, “You might actually like green beans once you try them.”

Or rather, maybe you LEARN to like them.