Track Your Habits
An Intro
“Why has my Book Mark got loads of holes in it?” You may be thinking…
This is a simple stencil that you can use to track your habits. As well as this, this provides the reminder that you should track your habits. It can also act as a cue when you see it, and you haven’t completed a particular habit that day. For example, if you’re tracking that you’re exercising 30 minutes each day – seeing the habit tracker can remind you to go for a run.
The Zelo Journal is all about flexibility. Want to track your habits? Good, you have a stencil you can use. Don’t wan’t to track your habits? No problem, we’re not gonna’ force you (and this means no wasted paper)!
Anyway, here is a very brief introduction to the Habit Tracker, and how I use it.
1/ Decide what habits you would like to track.
Lets say that you want to start meditating more, exercising more and reading more. So in this example we’re tracking three habits.
2/ Decide the specifics on each of these goals.
Set these according to the SMART principle (Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant and Time-Bound). This makes it all sound a bit intense – it’s not. This is basically so you have standards to measure against. Exercising for 30 mins is worth tracking – a one minute run, is probably not.
So let’s say our habits we want to track are to 1. Meditate for 10 minutes 2. Exercise for 30+ minutes and 3.Read 20 pages
3/ Use the stencil to draw out the holes for tracking the habits.
So in this example, we’re tracking the habits for seven days and we’re tracking three habits. So we will be drawing 21 circles in total.
Line up the holes with the spaces in-between the lines in the journal – the circles will fit perfectly in the middle of the lines. Make sure that you leave space to the side of the circles so that you can write in the names of the habits.
4/ Label the diagram that you have drawn
Label the top seven circles according to the day – M,T,W,T,F,S,S.
Label each line of circles for one of the habits you are tracking. So for the top line of circles in this example, we write ‘Meditate for 10 minutes’, the second line we write ‘Exercise for 30+ minutes’ and the third ‘Read 20 pages’
5/ Set targets (if you like)
Want to mediate every day? Write down your target of seven. Want to exercise for 30+ minutes, 5 times in the week? Write down your target of 5.
Alternatively, you can skip setting targets and simply roll with it. It’s up to you!
6/ Start Tracking!
Now you’re good to go! Track your habits each day as you complete them or don’t complete them. Make sure you review this at the end of the week.
What has it taught you?
Where in the journal should I Habit Track?
Wherever you like!
I would recommend using the bottom of the ‘Main targets for this week’ section.
Final Words
Please excuse the brevity of this mini-guide. I will be publishing a comprehensive guide very soon.
For now, you can read more about why you should track your habits here. If you would like to get read more about habit tracking ideas and designs, a simple google search will do the trick.
The world of habit tracking is huge, but it’s also very, very powerful.
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Mission: Zelo’s mission is to empower people to live more productive, successful and fulfilling lives, through the development of positive daily habits.
The Zelo Journal: A Planner, Diary & Organiser, designed to turn your goals into daily action.