One of the best ways to develop and track your habit is to use a habit tracker. All high level performers need to keep track of their progress as it gives a feedback about their progress. With the data collected it can be used to analyse how well they are performing and where there is a requirement of change. One famous chef said that what differentiates them from the home cook is that they taste and record every ingredient they use. And then try different combinations to come out with a new dish.
But there is one big difference between a chef trying a new dish and getting feedback while building a habit. While cooking a dish the feedback is instant but forming a habit is a time consuming task. The chef can taste and tell how the food is but to form a habit the results are often delayed. While forming the habit of running it may take weeks to see any tangible result. Habit formation is a long drawn process and one has to break it into short term goals to see any progress.
The basic format which we most commonly use is marking in the calendar. Suppose you want for form a habit of running Monday Wednesday and Friday and to run on Tuesday Thursday and Saturday, the easiest way is to mark it on a calendar. Another way can be to make monthly habit tracker templates and use it. Here you can make various templates depending on the type of habit which you are trying to form and then use it.
The benefit of a habit tracker is that here you can create a visual cue, and it gives you satisfaction of progress by marking on it. It has been seen that those who use such trackers for losing weight of quitting smoking are more likely to be successful as they can see their progress and visualise the success.
Habit tracker also keeps you honest unless you turn a blind eye. It will show you how you are missing your routine and how frequently. With the evidence in front of you, you are less likely to fool yourself.
Progress in a habit is the best motivation. When we can see the progress in black and white it pushes us to follow that path. Even a small progress is an achievement. Also too many empty squares will bang you to be less lethargic and start your routine. It is also rewarding. After completing a day’s routine when you mark that block it feels satisfied and that is your reward every day. If you are already doing a thing and it has become a part of your habit then you need not use the habit tracker. But when you decide to start a new routine and habit then it is to be used diligently.
Some common daily habits to be tracked can be
• writing one line journal
• reading a page daily
• doing yoga
• taking medication
• taking weight
• calling mother
• wake up at a particular time
These are small things and need very less time but it is a good beginning to develop the habit of using a habit tracker. Developing a habit and being habitual in it is to repeat it and for that daily habits are the best. But you can design your habit tracker for things which you want to do weekly or monthly also. Your weekly habits can be:
• blog writing
• washing the car
• vacuuming the house
• laundry
Your monthly habit tracker can include:
• paying rent
• paying credit card bill
• review monthly expenses
But for bad, addictive and negative things habit tracker is not to be used. You should not make a habit tracker to mark your alcohol taking, smoking, caffeine etc
How long to track a habit? It depends on the type of habit you are pursuing. Some may take one week, some 15 days, some a month and some even more. Once you have become comfortable in a routine and you know that you are not going to miss it then you need not use a habit tracker. If you have become habitual in writing one article a day here then you won’t need a habit tracker, but for a new member to write an article a day, he should use a habit tracker in the beginning.
