How to Measure Your Progress All Year Long
In a few weeks, we’re going to be halfway through 2020. Isn’t that crazy?! Consider this your check-in to see how much progress you’ve made so far. :)
While goal setting is one thing, it's another thing to actually MEASURE your progress towards those goals.
Whenever you set a goal, it should always be S.M.A.R.T.
Specific (simple, sensible, significant)
Measurable (meaningful, motivating)
Achievable (agreed, attainable)
Relevant (reasonable, realistic and resourced, results-based)
Time bound (time-based, time limited, time/cost limited, timely, time-sensitive)
If you set your goals up in this way, you will be able to chart your progress much more easily. Check out my blog on setting goals if you want more info on this process before you think about how to measure your progress.
WHY IS IT IMPORTANT TO MEASURE YOUR PROGRESS?
When you commit to regularly check in with your progress, you are adding another level of insurance and accountability. If you wanted to write a book in 2020, but haven’t gotten past the first page – that’s important to circle back and check in with yourself!
Now, what if you wanted to write a book but only have one page written… but you have 50 pages of a detailed outline? That’s different and it’s only when you evaluate your progress that you can really see if you’re on the right path.
Here are the top 6 reasons you should regularly measure your progress:
It will determine if you are on the right path or do you need to modify the goal to make it more achievable.
It builds accountability because you are ensuring that you don’t have blinders up about the work you are doing.
It creates a habit where you are invested in your energy and growth by regularly checking in on how you are progressing toward your goals.
It builds clarity and confidence to see that your effort is making a difference and moving the needle.
It allows you to understand where you are focusing your time and energy, which lets you make changes if you need to before it’s too late.
It ensures you stay focused because you are not letting goals slip through the cracks when you check in on them.
HOW TO MEASURE YOUR PROGRESS:
I tend to check in on how I’m doing with my goals quite frequently. Since I have set specific, measurable, and time-bound goals, seeing how far I’ve come won’t be a guessing game.
Here’s how you can successfully measure your success:
Make it a habit to track your progress daily. This is a way for you to reflect on your experiences & get more insight about where you started versus where you are heading.
Keep a calendar or a Google document where you track when you’ve reached certain benchmarks toward that goal.
Write everything down! This allows you to document your unique experiences so you do not forget where you started to where you are going.
With six months left in 2020, it’s time to invest in yourself, and get to work! I hope these tips helped you and provided you with specific strategies & tools on how to ensure your ultimate success is possible!
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