Three reasons to track your goal progress.
In the last few articles, I posted about:
-> How to identify what game you are playing (aka. you’re goals - check it out HERE),
-> Then I wrote about how to create ‘rules for engagement’ to help you achieve your goals (HERE)
-> Next I discussed how to consistently take action on your goals by using routines and streaks (HERE)
For this article, I’m going to talk about the importance of keeping score and why you should create a Tracker.
Reason #1 - Accountability
When you begin to take action on a new goal, you have initial excitement and energy. This is due to a concept called the “Fresh Start Effect.” This can be used to our benefit to help kick-off the effort needed to achieve meaningful goals.
However, after about 2-4 weeks, (sometime sooner), we realize how hard it is to stay focused and disciplined. We may even realize we were too ambitious or optimistic about our goal.
Keeping score of our efforts makes it a bit harder to ‘just’ give up.
For example, if you are using a printed calendar or an app tracker, you really WANT to check it off. It doesn’t feel great to NOT put an ‘X’ in the box or check off the day. The tracker may act as an Accountability partner to motivate you to get it done.
Reason #2 - Builds Trust + Confidence
When you complete the action needed to help you achieve your goals and you check it off on your calendar or app tracker, you start to build trust and confidence in yourself that you CAN do it!
It’s hard to take consistent action in the beginning, but when you visually see your progress collecting, you are showing yourself that you CAN and ARE doing it. This can help you keep going.
If you don’t keep score and don’t have a visual, it’s easy to forget about your successes and only focus on your failure. It's easy to think you are failure when you don't have a tracker or way to keep score. If you can't see it, it's hard to believe you have what it takes. Prove to yourself you can do it, track it, and then celebrate your progress!
Using a tracker or scoreboard build trust and confidence in yourself!
If you removed the scoreboard from your favorite Football team's field - would you still watch them play?
Reason #3 - Data Analysis
By taking consistent action and tracking it, you are essentially collecting data – personal data about the effort you are putting in to achieve your goals. Over time, you will begin to see if the actions you are taking and the effort you are making are making a positive difference or not.
If you feel you are gaining progress on your goal, then your data will ‘show and tell’ you that you should keep going.
If you don’t feel like you are gaining progress on your goal, then your data will show you that you need to adjust the actions you are taking, try something else, or keep going.
A good rule of thumb is to stick to consistent action for at least 3-4 weeks and see if that creates positive movement on your goal. If you aren’t seeing traction, then after 4 weeks consider adjusting the actions you are taking.
Your tracker will help you see if you are winning or not.
How are you going to keep track of your goal progress?
Which is your favorite way to keep track? Physical calendars? App trackers? Collectively with a group of friends? Reminders in your calendar? On a sticky note?
There are so many ways you can keep track. Pick one method and try it for a month.
