I tried Elle's “Effortless Week” method for Virgos—and got a bit of a surprise

Recently, I came across a weekly horoscope tip for Virgos in Elle Weekly titled “Effortlessly Elevate Your Week.” To be honest, I didn't take it too seriously at first. But that day, I was feeling a bit scattered, so I thought, “Why not give it a shot? It can't get any worse.” So I followed their advice and actually did it for a whole week. Here's my honest account—no sugarcoating, no bashing, good and bad, but I did gain something.

Step One: Monday morning, I got serious about “kicking off the week”

Usually, my Mondays start in a haze, slowly coming to life after my coffee. Not this time. The moment I opened my eyes, I pulled up that email and went through the tips one by one:

- Write down your most important tasks (they called it “clarifying priorities”)
- Schedule some “me time”
- Tidy up your workspace
- Say the moon can help you make decisions (I was skeptical about this one)

I found it intriguing and decided to give it a real try. I wrote down every task on a pink sticky note and stuck it on the fridge door—so I'd see it every time I grabbed milk.

Then, in my phone calendar, I specifically marked “30-minute walk” for Wednesday noon as “My Time.”

Before my first video call that morning, I spent 15 minutes shoving all the clutter off my desk into drawers. Honestly, the moment I finished tidying up, I felt genuinely lighter.

I also noted: Thursday's moon phase is “suitable for tackling tough tasks.” I thought, “Alright, I'll save the hardest emails for that day.”

Monday: A Bit Fresh, A Bit Chaotic

My desk wasn't piled high with clutter on Monday—that felt refreshing. But I didn't pay much attention to that sticky note, and by 11 a.m., coffee was spilled all over it—same old, same old.

Still, seeing that “My Time” reminder on my calendar made me look forward to it. I didn't get much done, but at least I wasn't anxious first thing in the morning like before.

Tuesday: Plans? Not a Chance

Tuesday descended into complete chaos. My boss suddenly dumped two urgent tasks on me, and I didn't even glance at the sticky note. When I got home that night, the room was still a mess. I managed to tidy just one bookshelf before giving up.

Honestly, at this point, Elle's advice felt utterly unrealistic. “Stay organized”? “Schedule your time”? Reality just doesn't give you that option!

Wednesday: I Actually Went for a Walk!

At noon on Wednesday, my phone dinged: “Time for your walk!” Buried under emails, my first thought was “Forget it, another day.”

But then I thought: “I stuck that reminder on the fridge—I should at least try.” So I dragged myself outside.

At first, I felt a bit silly, like a student skipping class. But after ten minutes, my mind actually started to calm down. The wind on my face, the warm sunshine—suddenly, I realized... I wasn't that tired after all.

Those 30 minutes didn't solve any work problems, but they recharged my whole being. It was truly magical.

Thursday: Borrowing the Moon's Courage to Send the Toughest Email

On Thursday, I remembered that saying: “The moon can help you make decisions.” That day, I had to send a difficult email—telling a client the project would be delayed.

I stared at the screen for nearly an hour, my hand hovering over the “Send” button. Finally, I told myself: “Screw it, I'll just pretend the moon gave me strength!” (I knew the moon hadn't actually done anything, but it was a handy excuse.)

The result? The client replied super fast, saying “Understood, no problem.” I breathed a huge sigh of relief—turns out people aren't as hard to deal with as I imagined.

Friday: Not Finished, But Way Better Than Last Week

Friday, I looked at that pink sticky note. Half the tasks were checked off, the other half... untouched. But surprisingly, I didn't beat myself up like before. Instead, I thought: “Well, I didn't get crushed this week. That's pretty good.”

Finally, I wiped the coffee stain off the sticky note and stuck it back up. This small gesture somehow made me feel like “this week wasn't wasted.”

Honestly, what worked? What didn't?

Now that I've calmed down, not all suggestions were useful:

❌ “Let the moon help you decide” — Pure psychological comfort. The moon won't draft your emails or attend your meetings. But if you need an “excuse” to take action, it can offer some psychological support.

❌ “Write a priority list” — Sounds great, but life doesn't follow lists. One call from your boss, and your “priorities” go flying.

✅ But these two things actually work:

1. Spend 5 minutes daily tidying your desk/workspace

Don't underestimate this action. Seeing a clean desk signals to your brain, “I'm in control.” Even just stacking papers neatly or returning cups to their place lifts your mood. I did this Monday through Friday until it became a habit.

2. Set aside dedicated “me time” and stick to it

Don't think “I'll do it when I have time”—make it “I'll do it at this specific time.” My 30-minute Wednesday walk doesn't solve problems, but it clears my head and boosts my afternoon productivity. This “recharge time” works better than three cups of coffee.

Bottom line: No magic, but worth a shot

These tips from Elle for Virgos aren't some secret formula that'll turn you into a superhero overnight. But if you're like me—constantly feeling overwhelmed by too much to do, too much on your mind, and not enough time—these little tricks can genuinely help steady your rhythm.

You don't need to do them all. Pick one or two to try:

- Spend 5 minutes each morning tidying your desk
- Set aside 30 minutes one day a week for “doing nothing but relaxing”
- Schedule your toughest task for the day you feel “most courageous” (whether it's moon or sun—just pick a reason)

I'll keep trying these next week. Not because I believe in horoscopes, but because—these small actions genuinely make my life a little easier.

Sometimes we don't need big changes—just a few small actions can make each day feel less exhausting.

Want to give it a try? No need to stick it on the fridge—just jot it down in your phone's notes. The key is: Just do it—don't overthink it.

— A real-life experiment report from an ordinary Virgo 📝

Virgo Zodiac Sign – Traits, Compatibility & Horoscope Insights
Virgos

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