How To Create a Habit Tracker That Actually Works

Habit tracker is one of the spreads in my bullet journal that I can't go a day without. Oh, she's a staple. It definitely makes me want to know myself more and improve myself constantly. I think habit tracking is one of the best ways to get to know yourself more as well as to hold yourself accountable for your intentions or resolutions.

Put simply, a habit tracker is like a to-do list of the habits you're trying to set or trying to break. The most basic way of habit tracking is to just cross out the day you've done or leave a habit. It helps you monitor short and long-term goals on one page. 

I must say habit tracking does take some trial and error. It can give you a sense of accomplishments to see your progress over time especially if you've worked on something for weeks/ months/ years. This is also where you can recognize whether or not you're being overly ambitious and wanted to track everything you did. #BeenThereDoneThat

Hey, even if you don't manage to achieve your goal, at least you can learn from the experience. I am learning to not get discouraged when this happens — everything takes time, consistency and dedication.

Here’s how to create a habit tracker that actually works:

Well, for starters, it's not about the tracker. It's the habits. Why? Because I have been in the position where I got really obsessive about filling in my habit tracker instead of actually implementing the habit. Such a waste of time and energy. So follow these tips to make habit tracking a more mindful experience.

Track fewer habits

I had to learn this the hard way. You know what, it's never about filling the page with a ton of habits to track. Unless that's your goal, you go girl. But I would say if you really want to perform these habits as well as track them, just do less. Once you're confident enough you can always build it up.

Turn your goals into steps

If you often feel overwhelmed by what you want to accomplish, I would highly recommend breaking down your goals into achievable moves. Baby steps. You gotta do it for the long game. Results don't magically pop up after you try something once. 

For example, if cleaning your room every single day seems undoable, you can try to break it down by making your bed every single time you wake up. That's what I did and making my bed every single day right after I wake up becomes second nature, easy even. 

Make the page easy to find

I can't say this enough. Find a way to make it easier for you to find the page instead of flipping through pages to find the right habit tracker page. I have two ribbon bookmarks in my Tsuki Ichigo Boba bullet journal, I always use one for the habits page. That way I always remember to fill out my habit tracker daily. The bullet journal also comes with an adorable strawberry paperclip that I often use to mark pages. Whatever it is, the idea is there. Make some marks.

Neat and stress-free trackers

I know what you're thinking. "It's not about the tracker", huh? Well, it isn't the design that matters. It's more about how it makes you feel when you use it. To me, a messy habit tracker page will only cause frustration and stress. If the tracker is neat and makes me feel inspired and encouraged, it will fuel me. 

This is the reason why so many people put in art, doodles, quotes and colors to their habit trackers. It excites them and evokes their emotions. This definitely calls for fast-drying pens and markers that'll leave no smudge on your habit tracker page.

Bonus!

Be honest with yourself

Hold yourself accountable when it comes to habit tracking. Ask yourself your big why. What is your purpose for doing all of this? Habit tracking is definitely a long-term commitment and if you're doing this because you saw what someone else did online, you might want to reconsider the journey. 

Embrace any errors

If something isn't working out for you, you won't have to commit to it for a whole month or year. Embrace not keeping up with certain habits. Like I said, it's the experience that matters. These errors are here for you to learn more about yourself. Be open to change so you can make the most out of your habit tracker. 

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Do you have any habit tracking tips to share?