Doin’ it for the Birb

In which I share about an app that’s helped me find motivation…

I’ve been struggling lately to check the boring and every day things off my to do list. The laundry hasn’t been put away, the dishes waited too long, piles of stuff all over my home office, boxes left behind the couch for ages after they arrive.

I’ve struggled in the past to get things done because I didn’t have the time or any energy left at the end of the day. Now, though, it’s the opposite. I’ve got lots of time because I stepped back from some volunteer commitments and my newish job is far more relaxed than my previous one. But, still, major struggles to do boring things.

See, it’s not that I forget to do these boring things. I certainly do that often, but not always. Like when I need to stop on my way home from work to pick up my meds I don’t need right now but CVS has been threatening to restock if I don’t get it TODAY. Or that a load of laundry is still in the dryer.

It’s that I struggle to motivate myself to do them. All the time in the world to do something means all the time in the world to get comfortable on the couch with an audiobook and knitting. I let things sit for ages until Matt points out it’s been weeks since I got rid of that couch pile or that we haven’t kept the snacks on the kitchen cart organized. I ignore it, like it’s not even something to be dealt with though I know it is my responsibility.

And, when it lasts long enough, Matt, poor guy, asks what he should do to help. He can remind me but I’m far more likely to be snippy at him than thank him for the reminder. He can just do it himself which leads to him resenting me. He can pretend it doesn’t bother him but that’ll lead to resentment, too.

I can also help myself. I’ve explained all of this to my psychologist who upped one of my meds that’s known to help with motivation. Could be my depression. Could be I have ADHD. Who knows. Either way, it’s worth trying out. I’ll know in a few weeks.

I needed an interim solution, however, and learned that a couple folks from work use the Finch app. One of them shared their friend code and I got myself set up. Pretty sure it’s for both iPhone and Android via their respective stores. There’s a free version but I pay the 30ish bucks for the premium plan to have access to everything. (That’s less than two people having lunch at Chipotle with the way prices are!) If you can’t afford a subscription, check out their Guardian program where people have donated memberships.

In the app, you have a digital finch, called a birb, that you raise as you check off your goals. As you progress, your birb gets older, learns its likes and dislikes, and explores.

The goals don’t have to be huge. Get out of bed. Fold a load of laundry. Clean out your water bottle. It’s got all sorts of suggestions related to self care, nutrition, movement, sleep, and connection with other people.

Here’s a look at my list right now, early afternoon:

(The burb on the right is mine, the one on the left belongs to a friend who is “visiting” me right now.)

You also get Daily Quests each day that will help you earn energy (lets your birb go on adventures). Again, not huge things and there’s only four of them.

You can also choose to and seek challenges like these breathing exercises.

There are also Special Quests goals like the ones below that encourage you to keep using the app over time.

The incentive to do your tasks is earning energy or “rainbow stones” which are the currency of the Finch realm. Money is used to buy outfit pieces or decor.

Another incentive is the ability to encourage your friends who use the app or even buddy up on accomplishing a goal. I’ve been working on water consumption with a work friend for two weeks.

I’ve seen an improvement in doing things that are on-offs (reply to my pen pal) or often forgotten or aggravating to the point I tend to want to skip them. I first had doing my daily journaling but I almost never forget that. Teeth brushing, ugh. Necessary but I hate it, if I’m honest.

Between the upped med dosage and continuing to use the app and, let’s be real, focusing on this issue, I’m hopeful. Doin’ it for the burb. And, you know, myself.

(I’m open to friends and strangers added me. My Finch code is PHAHK62V8J.)

How do you motivate yourself to do the boring or annoying tasks? Any tips I should try?