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Happy Monday 🌞

One of my goals this year is to have more 100% days.

That's what I call a day when I've hit all five of my daily habits. I love these days because I usually feel like I'm operating at my best and showing up as my best self — more energized, more present with my kids, more focused at work.

The thing is, I can't just hope my habits will stick. I need something that keeps me motivated and accountable. For me, that's tracking them. And that's exactly what I started doing at the beginning of last year when I finally set up a habit tracker that actually works for me.

If you joined recently, hi 👋 I'm Hailley. I've always created systems for my work (as a Marketing leader at Buffer) and life (as a remote worker and mom of two) where I can stay productive, calm, and organized.

Why habit tracking works

Years ago I read James Clear's Atomic Habits, which has to be the top book on habits. In it, he talks about the four steps to creating a new habit, and the last one is the reward — the thing that's satisfying and makes your brain want to do it again.

For me, that reward is checking something off a list and maintaining a streak. If that sounds like you too, habit tracking might work for you as well.

I've struggled with habit tracking over the years. I didn't want another app (I try to keep the tools I use minimal), and a notebook just hasn't worked for me long term. But just over a year ago, I finally set up a habit tracking database in Notion, and it's been a game-changer.

The days when I feel healthiest are the ones where I've made these five choices. So instead of just hoping I'll do them, I'm tracking them — a step that is motivating to me in itself.

How to set up your own habit tracker

If you want to try this system, here's how to get started, with the exact habit tracker I use in Notion included as a template.

1. Choose your habits

Pick habits that will make a real difference in how you feel. They can relate to any part of life — relationships, work, health, exercise. Usually in my regular reflections I'll be able to pull out key areas I want to improve on and build habits from there. Try to choose habits that feel motivating, worth your time, and still possible to achieve.

Here's what made my list:

• Drink water
• Move
• Stretch
• Journal
• 10 pm Bed

2. Set up the tracker

I use a Notion database for this, but you could adapt this to whatever tool works for you. The reason I love Notion is that my habit tracker automatically creates a new entry each day and calculates my streaks for me.

→ Here's my habit tracker template, complete with a quick video tutorial

I know this part can feel a bit technical, but once it's set up, it takes just seconds each day to check off your habits.

3. Make it visible

The tracker only works if you actually see it. I've linked mine to my daily journal, so every morning when I open my journal to set my intention for the day, my habits are right there. I also review my habit tracker during my monthly reflections to see how I'm doing overall.

If you use a physical notebook, keep it somewhere where you'll see your habits being tracked regularly.

Whatever system you use, the goal is to make the tracker work for you — not the other way around.

The power of the streak

In Atomic Habits, James Clear mentions that you can cross days off a calendar if you're trying to do something daily, and then the concept becomes that you don't want to break the chain. It's both satisfying to check it off and satisfying to see the habit increase.

My habit tracker does both. I love the immediate satisfaction of checking off a habit, and I also have a view that shows my longest streak and my current streak for each habit. Seeing that I'm on a 12-day water-drinking streak is surprisingly motivating — I don't want to break it!

This tracking has helped me stay consistent. I've found that staying on top of my habits is one of the best ways to keep myself operating at my best, showing up well for my family, and doing my best work.

Your turn

If setting up a habit tracker feels like it will support you in this season, I hope you give it a whirl and let me know what you think.

I hope you have a lovely week ahead — maybe even a 100% day. As always, feel free to reply if this sparks any thoughts or questions. ✨

See you next week,

Hailley

• We’re hiring a Senior Community Manager to join my team at Buffer, you have time to apply if this is up your alley. If you are applying, here’s advice from Sabreen Haziq, Buffer's Senior Brand and Community Manager.
• A writer I love working with — Rochi Zalani — wrote this excellent piece on how to rest without derailing your day and was kind enough to include advice from me.
• Every now and again I browse Kevin Kelly’s 99 Pieces of Additional Advice. Lots to learn in his advice, he has a whole book on Excellent Advice for Living.

The consistency of your endeavors (exercise, companionship, work) is more important than the quantity. Nothing beats small things done every day, which is way more important than what you do occasionally. - Kevin Kelly

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