Keep track of your progress with 5 easy steps

 

Measuring your progress is important if you want to achieve long-lasting lifestyle changes.


In a previous blog post - Discover why making a lifestyle change is important to you- we talked a little bit about the importance of your goals being in line with your needs and motives.

Evidence shows that when we commit to a goal that comes from our own motivations we’re twice as likely to achieve that goal versus if we set a goal for external reasons – like pleasing your boss, your partner, family members, etc.

5-Easy Ways to Track Your Progress

  1. Quantify your goal – No matter the hoal, one of the keys to achieving it is identifying the HOW and the WHAT. For example, if your goal is to save money, determine HOW much you want to save (i.e. $100.00) and in WHAT time-frame you want to achieve that goal by (i.e. 30, 60 or 90 days.)
     
  2. Stay on course – Use an app on your phone or a calendar on your fridge to break down your main goal into sub-goals or milestones. For example, if you’re goal is to lose 10 pounds in 30 days, set a day at the beginning and half-way through the finish line to do a weigh-in and to take your measurements. This will help you identify if you’re on track or not, and if changes need to be made to ensure you reach your final goal.
     
  3. Record, record, record – Use an app on your phone, or keep a written journal of your daily progress. This will give you something to fall back on in case you aren’t on the right track to achieving your goal. For example, if your goal is to exercise 3x a week you can use the calendar app on your phone to record what day and time you worked out.
     
  4. Check off your achievements – After creating a SMART plan for your goal, you'll identify what actions need to be taken.  Put these actions into a Check-list format and as you complete them, mark them off. This is a great way to stay motivated and boost your confidence, as well as give you a visual of your progress.
     
  5. Celebrate your achievements and learn from your mistakes – Each time you successfully reach a milestone, reward yourself! You’ve worked very hard to make it to this point. Soak in the positive emotions that come with achieving each milestone. This will help build your confidence for the remainder of your journey.


If you happen to not reach your milestone or your main goal, it’s OK. It’s not the end of the world. On the contrary, moments such as these are what build up our character. Rather than seeing it as a “failure”, tell yourself that “this is a teachable moment”.

Go back to your logs and identify what could’ve caused you not to reach your milestone. Once you’ve discovered that, you will be able to modify your plan as needed and continue your journey.

If you'd like to read more about how you can achieve long-lasting lifestyle changes visit our blog by clicking here!
 

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