‘Documenting’ your way to success!

We have huge goals, well, as they should be. Our goals aren’t those that are achievable in a day or a week or even a month. It is not the most profound knowledge that breaking down the large goals into small, non-overwhelming tasks and do them over some time diligently is the way to go. But it is indeed the most logical answer.

Now even though this theory seems to be perfectly reasonable, we know what happens. Suddenly one day, the gravitational field of the bed becomes too strong and we succumb to it! But the damage isn’t done immediately. Rather what follows after that does! You are more likely to skip the workout or the task you intended to do on daily basis the days or the weeks following this day. There is a sense of more acceptability for mediocrity within us than before and we are ‘OK’ with the way things unravel.

The problem is quite evident. We, humans, are visual creatures. It is difficult to convince ourselves what we don’t see, well at least immediately. Good luck convincing a kid that the earth is rotating at a thousand miles per hour when he can’t see even the chocolate milk in his cup moving! Now it is easy to laugh at it but we are all kids in some way or another. It is very easy to justify falling for an excuse to not do something today.

How does documenting your activities help?

1. Building Momentum:

If you look carefully at your life, you’d realize that you are a momentum-driven creature. It’s not just you, it’s the story of everyone. When you go to the gym or train for 3 consecutive days, it’s more likely that you’d do so on the 4th as well than not and also vice versa if you don’t!

We already know that the starting few days of any habit are the most difficult. It’s just the sheer momentum of the activities/habits we possessed before starting this habit. Documenting can help tunnel through this mountain of unwanted momentum in the initial days as well as build up the positive momentum once you catch up with the habit.

When you record your activities, you show yourself the proof of what you did yesterday and today. When you see that you did do what you intended to in the past few days, it is going to put you in the zone for tomorrow that encourages continuity. This only gets easier as the days pass by to exercise your ‘good habits’.

2. Defending against distractions:

We are a forgetful bunch of people. Our generation probably has the least amount of attention span or highest number of distractions, worst case both. In today’s world, it seems indifferent not to do what you intended to do because the immediate consequences don’t seem to be devastating. Rather big organisations are working hard designing applications to distract you and make you feel pleasurable in immediate effect. Your time and attention are their money. Yes, the social media maestros.

Here’s where documentation can make the difference. When you held yourself accountable, you are less likely to ignore the small step you need to take today as well as the small step you don’t need to take! Distractions over time can destroy your plans and sign you up for something that you never planned. Documenting can help you realize where you lost time or the amount of junk you ate or the times you skipped physical training.

3. Makes your gratitude game strong:

When you are happy with yourself, you radiate. You are more likely to help, motivate and contribute positively to the lives of others. And how could you not? Isn’t it satisfying to know, that at the end of the day you did everything that was required to do today? You only increase this power of gratitude by documenting what you did correct yesterday, the day before, the week before and the month before.

Seeing the tangible results makes you realise how well you are on your track. This in turn lights the confidence and the charm within you.

Remember, you are your best metric. Use this tool of documenting today to write your success stories tomorrow!