6 Ways to Start Habit Tracking

25 Aug 6 Ways to Start Habit Tracking

Are you eager to cultivate lasting habits and establish a routine that you can maintain consistently? If so, you’re in good company, and Artful Agenda is here to support you every step of the way! Explore our six expert tips to kickstart your habit-tracking journey.

Ways to Start Habit Tracking

1. Take Baby Steps

A common stumbling block in cultivating lasting habits is the tendency to take on too much all at once. The sheer enormity of ambitious goals can overwhelm even the most determined individuals. The key to avoiding this trap is by simplifying your goals or breaking them down into smaller, more manageable steps.

For example, in the pursuit of a healthier lifestyle, the impulse might be to revolutionize your entire diet. However, the abrupt shift from a standard American diet (S.A.D) to a whole-food, plant-based (W.F.P.B.) way of eating could be a recipe for disaster. Instead, consider initiating change by focusing on one meal a day for a few weeks. Once this becomes a comfortable routine, gradually incorporate a second meal. These incremental changes collectively contribute to the larger goal of getting healthier, making the journey more achievable and sustainable.

2. Clearly Define Your Goals

Crafting goals that are too general or broad can impede your overall progress because they lack the definition needed for effective tracking and achievement. Concrete metrics will not only offer a clear gauge of progress but also provide you with a tangible marker for success.

For instance, aspiring to achieve “financial freedom” is a broad target. Instead, articulating a goal such as saving $10,000 by a certain date, provides a clear objective. This allows you to develop actionable habits, like calculating how much you need to save each month and setting up an automatic transfer, bringing you closer to your financial milestone.

3. Set up Systems

A fundamental foundation for effectively tracking habits involves integrating them seamlessly into your daily routine. By embedding your habits into your everyday life, you will enhance the likelihood that you can maintain them for the long term.

One effective approach is to incorporate your habits into your morning or evening routine and set up supportive systems that make practicing the habit less of a hurdle. Suppose, for instance, you aim to ensure a daily intake of at least eight glasses of water. In this case, consider adding the habit of drinking a glass of water as soon as you wake up to your morning routine.

Additionally, strategically placing glasses or bottles of water in various areas around your home or workspace serves as visual and physical cues to encourage regular hydration. For example, preparing an insulated tumbler of water the night before and placing it next to your coffee maker can serve as a reminder to kickstart your day with hydration.

4.  Keep Track of Your Progress

A big part of making sure your actions become habits involves tracking them so you can see how you are progressing. A visual representation of how consistent you are in your habits will allow you to see if your set goals and deadlines are reasonably within your reach. It simplifies the process of adjusting your objectives and timelines to align with what’s realistic and achievable.

Consider this scenario: initially committing to a workout routine of five sessions per week, each lasting 30 minutes, may seem reasonable. However, as you delve into building this habit, you might realize it conflicts with your family and work commitments. Recognizing this early on empowers you to pivot, perhaps adjusting to four 45-minute workouts a week, aligning your habits more harmoniously with your lifestyle.

5. Make It Fun

Embarking on goal-setting and habit tracking doesn’t need to be mundane or feel like a chore. Here are ways to inject an element of fun:

• Reward Yourself:  Treat yourself to something special and useful in continuing to build your habit. If you want to make it a habit of cooking dinner at home instead of ordering take-out, reward yourself with a new kitchen gadget or special ingredients, 

• Join a Club: Find a like-minded friend or group on social media that is focused on building the same habits that you are. You can learn and get encouragement from others.

• Celebrate Streaks:  Acknowledge and celebrate when you’ve consistently performed a habit consecutively a certain number of times. 

• Sticker Power: Utilize vibrant and playful stickers to visually track your progress or mark the days you complete a habit.

• Create Challenges: Turn habit-building into a game by setting challenges for yourself. For instance, challenge a friend or family member to a friendly habit competition.

Remember, the more enjoyable and engaging the process, the more likely you are to stick with it in the long run!

6. Know Your “Why”

Having a clear understanding of why you want to adopt a habit or achieve a specific goal provides you with a powerful internal motivator. Understanding your ‘why’ provides a deeper sense of purpose, making the journey towards your goals more fulfilling and sustainable. When you’re clear about your motivations, it becomes easier to stay committed and build habits that align with your values and aspirations.

Use Artful Plus to Start Tracking Your Habits

By upgrading to Artful Plus, you’re not just investing in a subscription—you’re investing in your personal growth journey. With our innovative Habit Tracker feature seamlessly integrated into your daily planning, you’ll find yourself empowered to achieve your goals like never before. Whether you’re aiming to adopt healthier habits, boost productivity, or enhance your overall well-being, Artful Plus provides the tools you need to succeed. With customizable habits, colorful visual cues, and the ability to effortlessly track your progress, you’ll be amazed at how consistency can transform your life. 

Take the next step towards a brighter future—upgrade to Artful Plus today and unlock the potential of your habits.