The Value of Measuring Your Progress Along the Way

Some goals, especially large ones, take time to achieve.  It’s often hard to see progress when it comes slowly which can lead to self doubt or negative thoughts and feelings.  A great way to avoid that is to measure change and record it to review so you can see exactly what progress you are actually making.  Without concrete measurements, you might not realize you’re truly getting somewhere and give up. Every baby step towards out goals is progress. We just need to be aware of it.   About Measurement When it comes to goals, measurement is any method that identifies progress or a lack thereof.  The way you measure yours will  depend on your specific goals, personality, style and creativity.  How often you note your progress will also be tied to the specific goals. Some things will be best measured sporadically, like quarterly or monthly because progress is expected to come slowly. Others can be on a more regular basis, like weekly or even daily, because the change will  be more noticeable and happen quicker. It’s important to get a handle on the type of measurements you’ll want to take and how often for each goal. Why Measure Measuring your goal lets you see whether you’ve made a dent, are at a standstill or have fallen behind. This information is useful in helping you to make or adjust a plan of action for getting on track. Your measurements act as your guide toward reaching your goal. They give you a realistic “big picture” as to how you’re doing along the way. Without any type of progress tracking, you may find yourself lost in overwhelm or thinking you’re doing better than you are which can lead to  disappointment or obstacles. How to Measure Progress Here are a few ways you can measure progress for your goals. First determine how often you want to track your progress for each one  and remember they may be different depending on the goal.  This isn’t necessarily difficult, but it can take some thought ahead of time. When possible, it’s good to use specific measurements that are concrete and not left to interpretation. Sometimes you will break it down by task or plan for a goal and track those. Do this by setting up a daily, weekly or monthly activity list or checklist for tasks you need to complete in order to reach your goal. Then check off each activity as it’s done, so you can easily see your progress.  Create a spreadsheet with fields that you fill in on a regular basis.  Use a task management platform like Trello or even something like Assana.  Write in a journal, create colored charts or graphs, or get creative and come up with something that speaks to you.  Whatever you decide to use, be consistent and make it fun so that you look forward to it and gain confidence as you work towards your goals.