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What are your methods for tracking the progress of your life goals?

I'm interested in learning the routines and techniques that help you stay organized and motivated. Thank you for sharing your insights!

Víctor García
@gcv

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Cat Stickler
PRO
@cat

Call me weird, but if it's a quantifiable life goal (and I do think we should be able to quantify things, even if they're qualitative on the surface), then I use the same software to track as I do my work goals (OKRs through the software WeekDone).

I define the goal qualitatively (let's say "getting into shape") then think about what that actually means quantitatively (like working out X times a week, gaining X amount of muscle, losing X% of fat, etc.).

Even if it's something people think of as more qualitative (like "experience a higher quality of life"), setting quantitative metrics helps us really define what "higher QOL" means TO US so we're chasing our own ideal instead of someone else's, which means we'll be happy. And quantitatively defining it also helps shape our actions, which means we're more likely to experience our goal than if we just always chased the undefinable, nebulous qualitative goal.

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Cat Stickler
PRO
@cat

I was just thinking another qualitative example would be "improve relationship with kids," which is pretty hard to define quantitatively, but one way is you could have a weekly check-in with each kid individually and make a little ranking scale where you ask questions about different topics, then see where you fall on that scale.

Definitely trickier for some, but not impossible (if you want to meticulously track goals like that).

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Víctor García
@gcv

I totally agree with your point about the significance of quantifying goals. When establishing specific metrics for a goal, such as "getting into shape," how do you determine the proper measurable milestones? What factors do you consider to ensure your milestones are achievable and challenging enough to keep you motivated?

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Cat Stickler
PRO
@cat

That's the entire hard part haha. It can be different for everyone. I'm underweight, so what my metrics would be would look very different from someone who's overweight or is training for an athletic competition.

1.) Define what you want to get out of it and why you're doing something

2.) Define what would "success" look like quantitatively if you got what you wanted

The good thing is YOU get to define what that looks like for you.

As for being realistic, you won't really know til you start tracking, and you can always adjust mid-quarter or when you go to create new OKRs. I go by the rule that 70% met is a win.

I'd definitely take a look at your life as a whole and see which kind of season you're in -- if you're really busy with work, it's probably not a great time to also do something intensely challenging for the first time unless you have the extra support to keep up with it.

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Víctor García
@gcv

Do you recall the most recent time you established a personal goal for yourself? How did you monitor your progress, and what changes did you make?

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