If you want to see improvement in any area of your life, whether it’s health, love or finance, it all starts with a decision.
Unfortunately, for us, most of the decisions we make in life are subconscious, meaning we don't even know we're making them in the first place
This means that the first step towards making better decisions is learning to be conscious of the decisions we’re already making. How can you do this? Well one way you can do this is by using a simple accountability exercise known as tracking, which is where you hold yourself accountable to the decisions you make by tracking every action that relates to the area of your life you want to improve.
"Tracking is one of the single greatest strategies I’ve ever used in my personal development. This strategy helps me take control of the choices I make throughout the day, causing everything else to fall into place, and leading to behaviors and actions that shepherd my habits into line like dutiful, loyal minions. Tracking is my go-to transformation model for everything that ails me.” - “The Compound Effect,” Darren Hardy says
So, how does tracking work? Well it's simple.
First, you want to pick an area of your life where you want to improve. Do you want to have more money in the bank? Do you want to have a better relationship with your significant other? Or do you want to read more books?
Then, once you’ve decided what area of your life you want to improve, you’re then going to track every action you take in relation to that area. If, for example, you decide you want to improve your financial situation by learning how to spend less money, then your job will be to write down every single cent you spend in your notepad for the next 30 days.
No matter what it is, whenever you spend money on something, you have to write it down in your notepad.
If you spend $10 for a movie ticket, take out your notepad and write it down.
If you spend $5 on a cup of coffee, take out your notepad and write it down.
If you spend 25 cents for a piece of gum, take out your notepad and write it down.
These are decisions you make constantly throughout your day that you're probably not even aware of. But all those pennies and dollars add up over time.
***When we aren't consciously tracking our actions, they become very easy to dismiss and forget because they seem so small.
This is exactly why tracking is so important. It’s important because it brings moment to moment awareness to the many unconscious decisions you make on a daily basis, which in turn will help you make better decisions in the future***.
Doing this simple exercise will help you create a new set of disciplines around the area you're tracking. So, try it out. Start tracking at least one behavior in an area of your life you’d like to improve.
If you decide you want to be more financially responsible, then you’re going to track every penny you pull out of your pocket.
If you decide you want to lose weight, then you’re going to track everything you put into your mouth.
If you decide you want to exercise more, then you’re going to track every step you take and every workout you do.
Simply carry around a small notebook with you at all times, and write down every action in relation to the area of your life you want to improve.
Do this exercise every day for 30 days and see the positive effects it has on your life.
Thanks💖😘✌