A self-improvement question: How do you go about tracking your new habits/goals?

yellowmonkeyzx93 · 2016-09-08T09:38:39+00:00

a) Set S.M.A.R.T goals

Specific: It must be something very specific and not vague. Ex: 40 laps in the swimming pool.
Measurable: You must be able to measure progress of your habits or goals. Ex: Viewer counts for blogs / subscribers, how much money you're earning, how many sets you've done for lifting etc.
Actionable: It must be something that you can take action.
Realistic: Of course, you can't expect to make 1 million dollars in 1 minute.
Time-based: You need to have time goals to promote a sense of urgency to do them / deadlines. Ex: I'm going to make 1 million dollars by the age of 27.

b) Simple checklist or table. Keep a table to record what you've done. A checklist. It seems like a simple idea but many guys I know don't do it. By investing a little time into making a simple table (in anyway how).. it'll allow you to keep track of your progress or achievements. For example, I track the number and names of books I've read since leaving high school. It allows me to feel a measure of pride at what I've done over the years. It is that imperative.

c) Have milestones of achievements.. You read 10 books, 20 books, 30 books etc. Each of these are milestones.

d) Reflecting on your progress. Personally, this is vital. Reason being by thinking on what you've done so far, you are giving yourself feedback to improve yourself or to reward yourself for exceeding expectations.

Edit: Just thinking what comes to mind.

Officer_Dick_Johnson · 2016-09-08T14:26:18+00:00

To track your habits, that is to make sure you do that one thing every day, buy a bunch of Sticky Notes and every day write on one of them what you need to do and take it with you.

When you accomplished that goal (it's more of a to-o list to be honest) throw the sticky away. Rinse and repeat.

LukeMooney · 2016-09-08T15:25:50+00:00

I write lists and use excel spreadhseets

TheRedStoic · 2016-09-08T23:02:28+00:00

Habit tracking software is excellent. I would have begun with smart goals but that's been covered.

Find a good habit tracker for yourself, and listen to ace productivity podcast. It's free. Get logging and crunching.

the_red_monk · 2016-09-09T02:17:20+00:00

After reading "Smarter Faster Better" by Charles Duhigg I learned that it's much more effective to track goals and data by hand than use software or tools that take away the leg-work. The reason being that having slick tools actually makes it too easy and you fail to notice patterns and real change doesn't happen. There was a pretty significant study that bore this out.

Since then, I track all my goals on graph paper with pencil. Additionally I structure them like SMART goals as posted by another.

No fancy tools are needed, only that you actually do it.

In this case action beats method.

Title	A self-improvement question: How do you go about tracking your new habits/goals?
Author	RPFlame
Upvotes	6
Comments	5
Date	September 8, 2016 9:28 AM UTC (9 years ago)
Subreddit	Posted in /r/askTRP
Original Link	https://old.reddit.com/r/asktrp/comments/51qgey/a_selfimprovement_question_how_do_you_go_about/
Archive Link	https://theredarchive.com/r/askTRP/a-self-improvement-question-how-do-you-go-about.110988 https://theredarchive.com/post/110988

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