Typically, as you grow and mature, both your view of life, and how you fit into it, change as your circumstances change. THAT’S NORMAL!
What Would You Like to Change?
Everyone has some aspect of their lifestyle that they’d like to tweak. What’s yours?
I’m sure you have one because all human beings live their lives as evolving Works-in-Progress. No one wakes up one day, plants their hands on their hips, and announces, “I’ve done it! I am a completely evolved person, and there is no more for me to do. My work here is done!”
Motivate Yourself by Tracking Your Progress
If you’d like to see some improvements to your life, I have 3 ideas to help support your journey.
As mentioned in Part 1, when you want to change your lifestyle, you’re actually talking about changing your habits. There is nothing more rewarding than witnessing your own success.
Lifestyle Change = New Habit
With that in mind, keep yourself accountable by tracking what you achieve.
This is the second of 3 unique Progress Trackers you can try. Progress Trackers are so great because they visually show two types of Wins:
FREQUENCY: How many times did you do the desired behavior?
CONTINUITY: How many days in a row did you do the desired behavior?
Both components are important.
Continuity reflects the number of days in a row that you practiced the new habit. As that number increases, the behavior becomes more and more like a habit.
Frequency, on the other hand, reflects your return to your goals on those occasions when you slide back into old habits. (Don’t worry about that. It’s all part of the process.) Over time, you’ll see that increase, also.
Any and All Progress – Even Tiny Progress – Is Real Progress.
This particular Progress Tracker allows you to track several changes/habits over the course of a month, reflecting the number of times you execute your new habit. That’s how you build/grow a new habit.
Try it on…
Strength training exercises (repetitions; weight)
Improving nutrition (green veggies; protein; liquid intake)
Centering yourself (meditation; Me Moments; self-soothing activities)
Family interactions (reducing scolding; improvements; employing strategies)
Directions
1. Print out the Progress Tracker and post it somewhere visible.
2. Inform your family that you are attempting to improve an aspect of your life, and that as part of that process, when they have time you’d to share an idea with them. That way you’ll be able to start immediately, and capitalize on the initial enthusiasm your desired habit generates.
3. When you do sit down to talk, have a copy of the Progress Tracker with you. (You don’t have to share the characteristic that you’re tracking if you don’t want to. They’ll see your progress regardless.)
4. Ask your family members for their support. Mention any typical family/individual behaviors that will inadvertently sabotage your efforts, and ask them to not do them.
5. Shade in every day on the Tracker that you do the new habit.
6. Celebrate your wins!
Progress Tracker #2 – Frequency Habit Tracker
Want to increase your daily servings of veggies? Or add more positivity to your life? Or increase the number of sit-ups you can do? Write what you’re tracking on the line, and then color in a block for every day you do it. Your objective is to complete the circle. Missed a day? No problem! Fill in the next block when you resume!
Click on image to download your free copy.
This is the second post of a 3-part series. Part 1 and Part 3 have different types of Progress Trackers. Download the chart that best suits your goal, and post it where you will see it every day. Then take it one day at a time.
And, don’t forget to share this with your kids. If the school year is about over, use a Visual Progress Tracker to focus on a new habit they’d like to see develop over the summer. If the school year is about to start, use a Visual Progress Tracker for motivating them to consistently do their homework. If they are midway into the school year, Visual Progress Trackers are a fun way to boost the mid-year enthusiasm sag as they return to school (and exams?) after a holiday break.
I’m always looking for more content to share with you. If you have any topics you’d like me to address, reach out at info@DeborahAnnDavis
More soon.
Wishing you health and happiness,
Deborah
Parenting Life Coach
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