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The Power of Habit Tracking.
I came across habit tracking when I started exploring bullet journaling. A habit tracker is a staple spread in any bullet journal and there are a whole host of ways you can design one, but in its most simplistic form you have each day on one axis and a list of desirable habits on the other. Complete a habit on a given day, mark it off. A small search on YouTube or Instagram will give you a plethora of designs on how to set one of these up.
When I read Atomic Habits by James Clear my habit tracking was elevated to a different level as I combined a hybrid of information into one spread. This took my habit tracking from interesting to useful.
There are three elements to my spread which provide me with a good amount of data on where I am every month and why I may be tracking as desired, or in some cases not.
The first element are the habits I am trying to establish such as drawing regularly, drinking more water and exercising. The second element is focused on health related items such as how often I get headaches, my blood pressure and supplements I need to take. Finally I have a sleep/mood/stress tracker with a scale of 0-10.
This trifecta of data points gives me a one page view on how I am doing. By spending a few minutes each evening tracking these habits I am able to spot patterns that could explain my mood, if I am establishing a habit, forming bad ones or whether perhaps not working towards a desired habit at all. By sticking to the same format I am able to compare month over month how I am improving.
Tracking a set of desirable habits has helped me to focus my attention on those things I want to improve or do more of. Rather that wishing to meditate each day, by having this added into the habit tracker I am making myself accountable to do it. I am less likely to forget to do the habit but also it affirms whether its really a habit I want to do. If I go a whole month without ticking the habit off then perhaps it’s not a habit I am that I believe in. The goal is not to complete everything each day, but to be consistent and regular in my habits. I can also use this to make small 1% changes which help to drive me towards a larger goal.
Habit tracking can take many different formats, it can adapt as you need it to, but as a tool and practice I find myself coming back to this again and again when I need to focus and gain insights. I think it’s a very powerful tool to use.
Jenny.