Are you working towards a big goal or trying to create a new habit? Either way, you should definitely consider tracking your actions. In this blog post, you’ll find out about the power of tracking and why you should use it when you are looking to improve.
When it comes to goal setting SMART is an acronym that is often used. If you haven’t come across the acronym before it is used in a number of ways, but one breakdown is
S is for SPECIFIC
M is for MEASURABLE
A is for ACTIONABLE
R is for REALISTIC
T is for TIMED
If you would like to find out more about setting goals using the SMART method check out ‘How to Set Goals Using the SMART Method’.
Tracking is directly related to M is for MEASURABLE. A good goal should be measurable, which means there is some way for you, and others, to know if you are making progress and eventually if you have achieved your goal.
Tracking is powerful for a number of reasons including:
Having to track your actions makes you more aware of them
Even if you are keeping your tracking personal there is something powerful about having to physically record what you have or haven’t done. Research has shown that people who have to write down everything they are eating eat less.
In many ways knowing you are tracking an action means there is an extra thought before you take the action. If it is an action you are meant to be quitting you will think ‘Do I really want to do this?’ and if it is an action you are meant to be doing you’ll think ‘If I do this now then I have done what I need to do for this morning, today, this week etc?”
Tracking helps to show the real truth
When it comes to our memory the brain isn’t perfect. It is easy to think that you have read every morning, been to the gym 3 times this week or made 10 sales calls every day. However, through tracking you aren’t relying on your memory but can see clearly exactly what you have and haven’t done.
Tracking should help you stay consistent so that you don’t break the chain
Tracking is especially effective will daily habits. Think about recovering alcoholic who will say they have been sober for XX days. There is a strong emphasis on the number of days in a row that you have or haven’t taken an action. If you are tracking a daily action it is recommended that you get some sort of calendar where you can cross or tick every day and clearly see the chain. Hopefully seeing the chain growing longer and longer will help you to keep on going as you don’t want to break the chain.
