A habit is any behavior that is repeated on several occasions. These habits determine the majority of our actions and are an essential component of our decision-making process. Habits are a part of who we are, and it’s important that we understand, practice, and prioritize them. Some habits are deeply ingrained and others are transient, but these very tendencies have the power to reveal interesting information about ourselves. What better way to gain insight than tracking our habits on a daily basis?
At SILK + SONDER, our main goal is to celebrate you and empower you on your unique journey of self-discovery. The habit tracker is one of the many frameworks we include in our issues in an effort to guide you through this process. Our intent is to give you the power to decide which habits you want to keep in your life versus those that you do not. There are different versions of the habit tracker that we sprinkle from time to time but whether it’s a traditional layout or the habit wheel, we hope that you can visually interpret your growth by the habits that you track over the month.
However, we understand that this can be intimidating. Not having any rules or accountability can be handicapping, so here are some of our recommendations on how to best utilize your habit tracker:
1. Choosing a Habit
New habits are hard to form. And old habits are hard to kill. Luckily, it’s a new month, a great time to restart, and an opportunity to hold yourself accountable. Remember, this isn’t for anyone but you. It can be a reminder to smile more or stretch for at least 10 minutes a day.
The most important question you need to ask yourself when going through the process of choosing is: will this make me a better version of me? If the answer is yes, write it down and begin your journey!
Here is a list of some of our favorite habits- just in case you’re looking to get started:
- Take Vitamins
- Walk outside for 10 minutes
- Run a mile
- Floss
- Meditate
- Read for 30 minutes
- Cook at Home
- Get 7-8 hours of sleep
- Call an old friend or relative
- Allocate 30 minutes for a hobby
- Look up at the stars
- Perform one thoughtful act of kindness for a stranger
- Drink Lemon water in the morning
- Exercise
- Write down three goals for each day
- Meal plan using my S+S issue!
- Drink at least 8 cups of water
- Introduce yourself to someone new
- Eat more vegetables!
- Invest in more me time
- Get off your phone at least 30 minutes before bedtime
2. Writing Them Down
Once you’ve made a few habit commitments (new, old, or continuation), it’s time to write them down! You can write them in your weekly section and your monthly section.
It’s normal to use this as a trial and error period. You’ll quickly learn which habits are realistic to achieve and which will require a bit more discipline than you originally anticipated. Remember, it’s natural for some habits to fall off. Maybe you managed to do a decent job with 2 habits, or 4, or all 7 - each counts as a victory. Acknowledging a habit to track is already a victory!
If you are feeling extra determined, we recommend ranking the habits in order putting the one you wish to prioritize the most at the top and the least prioritized one at the bottom. This will help you make sure that even if you can’t do all 7 you are at least able to do the most important one to you!
3. Determining the practice of the habit
Once you’ve identified the what, it’s time to plan out the how. Are your habits measurable? Do they really have to be done every day? Some habits are better suited for the month trackers and some are better suited for the week. For example, your schedule may not allow you the time and flexibility to work out for an entire hour every day. That’s fine! Expect to have some cells left “empty” then. View your habit tracker as a progress report- only you will be able to assess whether that progress report looks good, okay, or not so great. It’s about consistency and commitment and your charge towards holding yourself to your truth.
If you are starting a new habit, we recommend starting small. Get into a rhythm of practicing only 2-3 times a week rather than overcommitting to it every day. Jumping too fast may leave you overwhelmed with the possibility of entirely stopping the habit. Slow and steady might win the race in this one!
4. Choosing Your Marking
It’s time to execute! The best part about filling out your habit tracker is that you decide how to visualize your habits. For some color, you can fill it in (fully or with a pattern!) with highlighters, colored pens or pencils. If you’re more of a minimalist, you can check it off with a checkmark, pattern, or “yes” / “no”. This is your habit tracker, and you’re in full control of how you want to style it!
Here are some examples to get your creative juices flowing! And don’t forget to tag us on Instagram for a chance to be featured by using the hashtag: #silkandsonderhabittracker.
Happy tracking!
