After years of study, I think most self-help can be distilled down to two concepts. There are endless variations; these two concepts have been explained in hundreds of different ways. But in the end, I think it amounts to these two things:
Pay attention.
Make conscious decisions.
Take our time tracking experiment. Measurement in this context is a form of paying attention, and rather than running on autopilot, we consciously chose what habits we wanted to change. We paid attention and made a series of conscious decisions.
If you look closely at any popular method of self-improvement or habit hacking and pare it back to the essentials, I believe you'll find one or both of these concepts. If you want to develop a more productive morning routine, you'll certainly be doing both. If someone asks you to find your "why" or your purpose, you have to pay very close attention and make some judgments -- and judgments are a form of decision. If you're asked to be more intentional, that seems to be a combination of both principles at the same time.
I think it's that simple at its core.
However, you can pay all the attention in the world and make endless deliberate decisions, but if you're not recording these things, you may not feel like you're making any progress. Our memories are subjective and tricky. Having a written record helps to give concrete proof that you're improving. It can help you to see patterns and see what isn't working, too. I think that a journal is the most crucial item in your self-improvement toolbox.
As I've mentioned before, I think that a handwritten record is most useful for memory retention, but an electronic method can work. It only has to work for you, so the format is less important than the utility. You might need to try a few different notebooks or apps until you find the one (or the combination) that works for you. I'm a fan of the Bullet Journal method but have found that I like using printable planning sheets in a 3-ring notebook for some things, so I have both a journal and a binder of planning sheets. It's admittedly a little cumbersome to keep track of two notebooks, but it works for me.
Challenge:
Find a way to record your self-improvement. You don't need an elaborate setup; a simple spiral notebook or composition book will do. If you don't already keep a journal, your challenge this week is to purchase a notebook. If you already have a journaling habit, your challenge is to improve your current setup. Do you need a better pen or a pen holder for your journal? Would a different size notebook be better next time? Would a different monthly layout make it easier to see patterns going forward? Give it some thought and try something new.
Weekly Check-In:
How did your week go? Did you see some results from your time tracking experiment? Today is the first of August, so remember to change your calendar pages and look over the month ahead when planning next week. What are you most looking forward to this month? Be sure to schedule something fun, even if it's a small thing.
Until Next Time:
I hope you've had a great weekend. August is here, so try to stay cool and hydrated this week! (Unless you're in the Southern Hemisphere, then I'm betting you need to stay warm.)