First, let’s discuss tracking our progress.
Tracking isn't primarily about accountability; it can be about evidence.
One of the strange things about progress is that it can be difficult to see while we're making it.
We notice the book that isn't finished.
The business that isn't where we want it to be.
The career move that hasn't happened.
The habit we haven't mastered.
What we don't always notice is everything we've done between where we started and where we are today.
That's why I believe there is value in making progress visible.
Not because we need another spreadsheet, app, tracker, or checklist telling us whether we have been productive enough.
Because sometimes we need evidence that we're moving.
Design and Tailor Your Own System for Evidence
Everyone is different with what type of system for documenting evidence works best for them. I have some suggestions, including what works for me. However, I encourage each of you to find your own system that works best for you to maintain your commitment rather than try and copy mine or someone else. You can also experiment with different systems to see which feels right for you.
It might be a journal, notebook, calendar, notes app, spreadsheet, voice memo, a graphic or artistic representation, habit tracker, or a few sentences written before bed.
This is where your authorship and sense of agency for writing your next chapter comes into play.
A journal isn't merely a record of activities. It becomes a record of the story you are creating.
Consider a very simple daily entry. Ask yourself:
Today I showed up by…
One small step I took was…
Something I learned or noticed was…
Tomorrow's next step might be…
Importantly, you don’t have to fill every category every day. Only those that feel most meaningful for you in that given moment.
Key distinction:
Tracking should help you notice your life, not turn your life into another performance metric.
Want a place to start? I created a free companion worksheet for this series, ARC Forward: The Evidence Journal, with daily and weekly prompts to help you notice the evidence you’re already creating.
Design and Tailor Your Own Framework and System for Commitment
I call these life hacks. As one friend said about both of us, “sometimes we are easily distracted by shiny objects.” And I’m the king of procrastinators. I once procrastinated on completing a challenging grad school assignment by watching a TED Talk about procrastination. How’s that for irony?
But in all seriousness, procrastination and distractions are challenges for me to remain committed to completing tasks towards my goals. So, I incorporate some of these suggestions below. For example, I often leave my smart phone in a completely different room while I’m working on some activities because I know myself well enough to know that I will be tempted to pick it up and scroll through social media every few minutes.
I also remind myself that sometimes when I act and get started on something, like writing chapters for my historical fiction novel, I get into the flow with writing, and the action then results in increased motivation to continue writing. These are a few suggestions to consider experimenting with below. There are only a few. Consider tapping into your curiosity and creativity to research and test out other commitment life hacks that may help you to maintain commitment to your goals, even when motivation may seem low.
Commitment Framework/System Suggestions:
1. Lower the Bar to Action
When you lack motivation, the biggest hurdle is just getting started. Instead of focusing on the massive final goal, shrink the task until it requires zero willpower to begin.
The 2-Minute Rule: Commit to doing your task for just two minutes. If you want to study, just open the book and read one page. If you want to exercise, just put on your shoes and stretch.
Action Precedes Motivation: We often think we need to feel good to act. In reality, acting first often triggers the momentum that makes you feel motivated to continue.
2. Design Your Environment
Do not rely on willpower alone. Change your physical and digital surroundings to make the right choice the easiest choice.
Remove Friction: If you need to write in the morning, leave your laptop open on your desk with the document already running.
Add Friction to Distractions: Move your phone to another room or use website blockers to make procrastination harder to choose.
3. Build Non-Negotiable Routines
Treat your goals like a job or an important appointment.
Schedule It: Do not say "I will work on this later." Decide on a specific time and place (e.g., "I will study at my kitchen table at 4:00 PM").
Stack Habits: Attach your new commitment to a habit you already do automatically. For example: "Right after I pour my morning coffee, I will write down my top priority for the day."
4. Reconnect with Your "Why"
Commitment stays strong when it is tied to your core values, not your temporary mood.
Focus on the identity you want to build rather than just the outcome.
Remind yourself how you will feel after you complete the task. You rarely regret doing the work, but you almost always regret skipping it.
Key distinction:
Commitment framework structure should be acceptable, manageable, and flexible to your lifestyle, helping you sustain commitment actions, even when motivation is lacking. It shouldn’t make your life overly structured or feel unnatural or forced. Experiment with different commitment structures to find the ones that work best for you.
Because at the end of the day, you want to focus on actions that link to what truly matters to you, which is where we will wrap up our series in the next newsletter, reflecting on what truly matters to you each day on your journey and writing your next chapter, because as always, Your Story Matters.