Work team puts their New Year's resolutions on bingo cards, and it's a genius idea
Vision boards are out. Bingo cards are in!
Who says goal-setting can't be fun?
It’s January, which means that many people are clarifying the goals they'd like to accomplish by next year. But finding ways to actually stick to those lofty New Year's ambitions isn’t always as easy as listing them out. Because, inevitably, pressure starts to set in.
But what if ticking off your resolutions list could be fun as well as productive? Sort of a blend of everything whimsical about a vision board and everything efficient about a to-do list?
Thanks to one work team’s ingenious idea, having the best of both worlds isn't so impossible after all.
As Michelle Wintersteen, owner and creative director of MKW Creative Co., shared in a TikTok following the holidays, her team decided to swap out the vision boards and instead make Bingo cards for their 2024 goals.
The concept is simple: each goal is designated to a square on the card, and will be ticked off once accomplished. The first person on the team to get a row of five goals accomplished wins a spa service of their choice, according to Wintersteen.
@mkwcreative.co Bingo Cards > Vision Boards ✨ #branding #marketing #branddesigner #branding #marketingagency ♬ What Love Is - Zimmer90
And while the Wintersteen’s card focuses on work targets, it’s easy to see how this idea can be fully customized, both in the types of goals listed and the prize to be won. Prefer a day trip to the aquarium or a fresh pair of boots instead? Go for it! The possibilities are endless.
The Bingo card approach is brilliant not only because it gives people something to look forward to but because it taps into a sense of play that keeps things fresh long after the novelty of making resolutions wears off—you know, by February 1st.
Plus, it’s not like you have to tick off every goal in order to get rewarded. All you need is five in a row to feel like a winner. What a great reminder that we don’t have to be all-or-nothing in our ambitions.
With nearly a million views, Wintersteen seems to have struck a chord with viewers eager to try it out.
“The cool kids do bingo cards,” one person quipped.
"Oooh, I'm so gonna do this!" added another.
Several chimed in with their own bingoal success stories.
“I did bingo cards last year and it was so fun and effective!” one person shared.
Some instantly began thinking up ways to contribute their own personal spin, like applying it to a book club. Obviously the reward for that group would be more books.
And perhaps the best part of all—it’s never been easier to digitally DIY your own Bingo card on Canva (though by all means, make it by hand if crafts are your thing).
And due to the overwhelming response to Wintersteen’s own Bingo card, her template is available for purchase here. Happy goal-setting, everyone.- 2022 is the return of New Year's resolutions. Here’s an easy way to keep your wellness goals. ›
- Psychologist reveals 5 evidence-based tips for helping New Year's resolutions stick ›
- 4 simple hacks to help you meet your healthy eating goals ›
- Scientific research says attending just one cultural event a month can cut depression in half - Upworthy ›
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An actual beaver dam on the now-thriving Price River
Not just coworkers—family, friends, strangers, kids…
Imagine having to go so badly but being out of euros. 
Anything hobbit-esque can't be wrong. 
But what if you need pain meds AND mascara?!
Imagine how this would affect childcare.
Honestly…where's the lie?
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Urgent dash to the bathroom! 🚪🏃♂️
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There's a reason why some people can perfectly copy accents, and others can't
Turns out, there's a neurodivergent link.
A woman in black long sleeve shirt stands in front of mirror.
Have you ever had that friend who goes on vacation for four days to London and comes back with a full-on Queen's English posh accent? "Oooh I left my brolly in the loo," they say, and you respond, "But you're from Colorado!" Well, there are reasons they (and many of us) do that, and usually it's on a pretty subconscious level.
It's called "accent mirroring," and it's actually quite common with people who are neurodivergent, particularly those with ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder). According Neurolaunch, the self-described "Free Mental Health Library," "Accent mirroring, also known as accent adaptation or phonetic convergence, is the tendency to unconsciously adopt the accent or speech patterns of those around us. This linguistic chameleon effect is not unique to individuals with ADHD, but it appears to be more pronounced and frequent in this population."
Essentially, when people have conversations, we're constantly "scanning" for information—not just the words we're absorbing, but the inflection and tone. "When we hear an accent, our brains automatically analyze and categorize the phonetic features, prosody, and intonation patterns," writes Neurolaunch. For most, this does result in copying the accent of the person with whom we're speaking. But those with ADHD might be more sensitive to auditory cues. This, "coupled with a reduced ability to filter out or inhibit the impulse to mimic…could potentially explain the increased tendency for accent mirroring."
While the article explains further research is needed, they distinctly state that, "Accent mirroring in individuals with ADHD often manifests as an unconscious mimicry of accents in social situations. This can range from subtle shifts in pronunciation to more noticeable changes in intonation and speech rhythm. For example, a person with ADHD might find themselves unconsciously adopting a Southern drawl when conversing with someone from Texas, even if they’ve never lived in the South themselves."
People are having their say online. On the subreddit r/ADHDWomen, a thread began: "Taking on accents is an ADHD thing?" The OP shares, "My whole life, I've picked up accents. I, myself, never noticed, but everyone around me would be like, 'Why are you talking like that??' It could be after I watched a show or movie with an accent or after I've traveled somewhere with a different accent than my 'normal.'
They continue, "Apparently, I pick it up fast, but it fades out slowly. Today... I'm scrolling Instagram, I watch a reel from a comedian couple (Darcy and Jeremy. IYKYK) about how Darcy (ADHD) picks up accents everywhere they go. It's called ADHD Mirroring??? And it's another way of masking."
(The OP is referring to Darcy Michaels and his husband Jeremy Baer, who are both touring comedians based in Canada.)
Hundreds of people on the Reddit thread alone seem to relate. One comments, "Omfg I've done this my whole life; I'll even pick up on the pauses/spaces when I'm talking to someone who is ESL—but English is my first language lol."
Sometimes, it can be a real issue for those around the chameleon. "I accidentally mimicked a waitress's weird laugh one time. As soon as she was out of earshot, my family started to reprimand me, but I was already like 'oh my god I don’t know why I did that, I feel so bad.'"
Many commenters on TikTok were shocked to find out this can be a sign of ADHD. One jokes, "Omg, yes, at a store the cashier was talking to me and she was French. She's like 'Oh are you French too? No, I'm not lol. I'm very east coast Canada."
And some people just embrace it and make it work for them. "I mirror their words or phrase! I’m 30. I realized I start calling everyone sweetie cause my manager does & I work at coffee shop."