Monday Motivation | The Monthly Success Check-In Process

We're in the last week of the month.  January seemed to just fly by.  It wasn't long ago that we were making promises to ourselves of the new habits we'll bring into the new year.  So.....how are things going so far?  Are you having an amazing month to kick off the new year?

If you're not staying on track, perhaps you can benefit from incorporating regular checkin's into your routine.  What are check ins?  Basically, it's taking time to assess and measure your actions & results.  In corporate America, annual performance reviews are considered check ins.  But, the problem with them is that they're too far apart.  Once a year is to infrequent.  By then we've missed out on a year of potential course corrections.

Seize the day poster

I used to absolutely HATE having annual performance review discussions with my supervisor.   So glad I never have to do those again.  Instead, I do monthly check ins with my personal goals.  Basically, I review my progress on the major areas of my life.  I reflect on what's working well, and what strategies I need to adjust.

This has been a monthly ritual for years.  I can say with certainty, that the monthly check in method has directly impacted my life.  All I do is record a short update on the Iphone while on a long nature walk.  In my recording, I discuss all of my current intentions, my outcomes for the month, and what I'll do differently to create new results in the month ahead.  This ritual keeps me focused on my goals because otherwise, the days & months will slip by and nothing has changed.

This strategy is so effective that I'm ready to step it to the next level.  Ideally, I'd like to incorporate bi-weekly updates to review my activities (good or bad) over the last couple of weeks.  And to make it that much more interesting, I'll include a method to measure activities.  One thing I'm motivated by is seeing results in black and white. When I used to track my personal finances, I easily reached my financial goals.

My tip for everyone is to find a way to break down your big goals into measurable activities.

For instance. Your goal is to lose 10 lbs by March.  Measurable activities include:
1. How many days you went to the gym.
2. How many steps you take daily.
3. How many clean meals eaten per week.
4. How much water you drank.

If your goal is to make huge progress on your hair journey, measurable activities can include:
1. How many days you consumed your hair vitamins.
2. Tracking daily scalp massages.
3. How much water intake.
4. How many times a week do you moisturize and seal.
5. Tracking wash day activities.

These are actions that can easily be tracked and measured.  Measuring monthly is good, weekly is better. But daily is best!  Ultimately, I want to get to the level of conducting daily check ins.  I know for a fact that daily checkins could accelerate success by 10X!  Steady results are good. But growing results exponentially would be amazing.  As I write my daily to-do list, I'm making sure to include specific actions which are directly linked to my goals.  

If daily check ins seems a bit much for you, then start with this process monthly.  Without the monthly check in, I wouldn't be where I am today. It's simple, all you have to do is reflect on your intentions and take a look a where you are on your progress.  You can do a voice recording, write in your journal, or record a video.  Whatever you decide, it's important to stay consistent (even when the results aren't good).  Consistency is the blood that gives this process life.

Since we're starting the last week of the month, give this method a try.  Start by incorporating goal related actions into your daily to-dos and measure your results at the end of the week. Then, on January 31, 2016, do your first monthly check in.  Keeping this habit up for the entire year will ensure that 2016 is your best year ever.