How to create momentum in mid-September using habit trackers

I can hear them before I can see them. The Red Tail hawks are calling to each other in their high, keening cry. Minutes later I spot a trio, soaring around each other, talking back and forth.

I stop to watch, fingering the single ripe raspberry in my pocket, plucked from a backyard bough hanging over the fence line on my way to the trail along the ridge.

It’s lunchtime, and I’ve ducked away from my computer to squeeze in some fresh air between meetings. I’m racing a thunderstorm but happy to be outside even as I warily eye the sky.

This is the best of September—this midpoint of the month when fall feels inches away. I don’t want to miss a minute of it.

But earlier, I’m elsewhere in my mind. Instead of golden light and fall leaves, I’m visualizing twinkle lights and falling snow and garland hanging over frosty windows. I’m doing this intentionally (and briefly) because the holiday season is three months away and mid-September is the perfect time to plan ahead.

I’ll share more about my holiday intentions soon, not because I want to usher away autumn in favor of Christmas — in fact, I want to do the opposite. However, I believe that the holiday season benefits from a little extra intention than other times of the year, mostly because it’s layered with family dynamics and expectations and expenses. #IYKYK

Ask yourself, “How do I want to feel during the holiday season?”

Rested?

Grateful?

Inspired?

Surprised?

And then, “What would it take for me to feel this way?”

Don’t get bogged down with steps and lists. Instead, try to picture moments.

Like drinking hot tea and watching the stars through the window.

Or laughing with a family member at a movie quip.

Or wandering the holiday aisles at the stores, enjoying the festive colors, favorite treats and decorations.

Write your thoughts and notes as you go along. They don’t need to be long or artsy—just authentic.

This exercise won’t guarantee the outcome you’ve pictured. Nothing can do that—life is unpredictable and three months is a long way off. But still—know that taking just five minutes to picture these things and write down your intentions increases the opportunity for fruition.

Now, back to September…

At the start of the month, I shared two habit trackers from my September bullet journal pages: one for 30 workouts in 30 days, and one for a spiritual practice of daily prayer and meditation.

My specific progress with these trackers isn’t particularly interesting, though briefly I’ll report that I’m enjoying the fruits of follow-through in these two areas, and am thankful for them in my life this season.

Rather than dwell on my experience, I’d prefer to talk with you about the value of tracking habits generally. Not everyone will resonate with a workout plan or meditation, but ALL of us can relate to the desire to build habits that support our goals. (Note: if you ARE curious about more specifics on my workouts and spiritual practices, I’m happy to share—just leave a comment and I’ll do a follow-up.)

There’s a lot of science behind habit formation and plenty of good books written on the topic. I won’t summarize all of their points here. Instead, I’ll just say that keeping a simple visual tracker is a low-tech yet remarkably effective way to create accountability and motivation.

• The small act of filling in a square or circle after completing a task is a gratifying reward. It seems trite, but your brain truly fires a little boost of dopamine when you do it.

• A chain of completed squares or circles creates a sense of momentum, reinforcing your habit.

• A missed day is visually jarring in a way that creates dissonance, which also reinforces your habit.

Further good news: creating a habit tracker requires nearly zero art skill. If you can draw boxes, you can create a habit tracker in your journal.

Have you tried a habit tracker yet? If not, consider adding one to your September journal now. There’s still plenty of time for momentum toward a goal this month.