How to Track Your Progress and Set Realistic Goals

One of the best ways to stay motivated and on track with your goals is tracking progress. Not only does this hold you accountable, but it can also boost your self-worth as an achiever.

Tracking your progress is a great strategy to achieve larger objectives. Breaking them up into manageable chunks makes them seem less overwhelming, and will keep you motivated towards achieving them.

1. Write it down

Writing down your progress and goals makes them more tangible, easier to monitor, and helps you reach your desired outcomes. Additionally, having a visual reminder of where you want to be in the future serves as an inspiring motivational boost.

If you are uncertain of your goals, consulting with friends or a mentor may be beneficial. They can give an honest assessment of whether the goal is achievable.

Make your goals SMART (specific, measurable, achievable, realistic, and time-limited) by breaking them down into manageable steps and milestones. Doing this will make the final result seem more manageable and encourage you to complete your goal within a certain amount of time.

2. Make a to-do list

Create a to-do list as one of the most effective methods for tracking your progress and setting achievable objectives. It also assists in prioritizing tasks and staying organized around deadlines.

Prior to beginning any major project or initiative, it is essential to create a to-do list. This way, you can ensure all of your work gets done on schedule with excellent quality.

Make your to-do list more effective by writing it out on paper or displaying it prominently in your home office. This will serve as a visual prompt and encourage you to cross off items as you complete them.

Another way to make your list more efficient is by eliminating any unimportant tasks from it. Things like “take a shower” or “get dinner” won’t provide any benefit and will only add unnecessary stress.

3. Create a visual roadmap

A roadmap is an invaluable tool for tracking progress and setting achievable objectives. It also enables you to visualize how all your teams are working towards a common strategic objective and how they’re collaborating effectively.

The roadmap should outline key project details, such as the management timeline, phases, order of operations, priorities, and requirements. Furthermore, it should include milestones and due dates for work completion.

When crafting a roadmap, the level of detail you share depends on who the audience is and the information being shared. For instance, an external roadmap requires less detail than one aimed at internal stakeholders.

4. Keep a diary

Maintaining a diary is an excellent way to monitor your progress and set achievable objectives. Additionally, it offers you valuable insight into yourself as you’ll be recording all of your thoughts and ideas on a regular basis.

Keep a diary on paper or digitally. Use an app like Penzu for paperless recording, or write your thoughts down in Word documents saved on your computer for digital storage.

When journaling, be honest and open about your emotions. Doing so will help you feel better and make writing about these feelings more comfortable for you.

5. Set deadlines

Setting deadlines provides you with a tangible goal and can serve as an inspiring motivator to reach it. Additionally, setting deadlines forces you to prioritize tasks and maximize your time efficiently.

You can set daily or weekly reminders for your goals, depending on how close you are to achieving them. This way, you’ll know when it’s time to resume working toward them again.

Setting achievable goals and staying mindful of them are the best ways to ensure progress in a given area. Avoid setting too many demands on yourself or feeling like there’s no progress being made by setting achievable targets.