How it works - Tipps and Tricks

So you are here because you just got your first Vanatracker and want to know how to use it best or you are simply curious to find out more about the concept of habit tracking. Just keep reading and we hope we can answer all your questions in the following!

1. Set your daily habit goal 

Whatever it is you want to change - start with something small, something you can do every day. This could be a new habit you want to build or an old one you want to get rid of.

Or maybe you just want to set yourself a personal goal or challenge and track it. Whatever it is you want to achieve - start by writing it down. If you can’t find anything right now, think what you have been postponing lately or what would help you the most right now.

Alternatively you can also check our blog posts for some inspiration! 

When you write down your habit goal, be precise and set a minimum time for every day, if possible. It can also help if you set some rules for yourself, like what happens if you miss a day, or what will you do if you go on a holiday. 

When it is about getting started, there will never be a better day than Today, but if you feel like you need some days to prepare, the next Monday could be a good option too, or the first of the month if that is not too far away. :)  

If you’ve got a 30-day Challenge Tracker and you start in the middle of a month, it can sometimes be easier to track if you start on the number of the actual date and then fill it up from there.

2. Integrate it into your home

Once have set your goal, place your tracker where it is always visible.

This could be in your bedroom where it reminds you right away when you get up in the morning and before you go to bed.

Or maybe you want to put it somewhere were others can see it too – like your living room or even your office. This way you might inspire your family and friends! Also, having other people to keep you accountable will increase your chances of success even more. 

PS: You can also hang your Vanatracker up on a wall, it has a little mount on the back!  

3. Track your progress

From here on it is pretty straight forward.

Reward yourself with a wooden pin for every day you have completed your new habit or have worked towards your goal/challenge and be honest to yourself on the days you haven’t.

Every day you will be able to visually see the work you have done towards your goal.

This will motivate you to keep going and keep you accountable if you have missed some days. 

 

ONCE YOUR TRACKER IS COMPLETE

YOU DID IT!

Why tracking your progress makes a difference

It increases accountability 

You’ve probably heard about the fact that writing down your goals increases your chances of achievement. This has everything to do with accountability. When we set a goal in our head, there is no accountability. It is just a part of our imagination. A thought that no one else knows about. And we have the power to make that goal go away in a blink of an eye. All we have to do is stop thinking about it and we can easily act like it never existed. This all changes when we write it down. All of a sudden, the goal takes a physical form, we can see it, touch it, and share it. There is proof of its existence and it is manifested into the world. And even though we can throw it in the garbage, we cannot deny it ever existed. 

Accountability accelerates our performance. It encourages us to act and keeps us from putting our goals aside when we don’t feel like acting. The best way to increase accountability is to put structures and systems in place to measure and record your progress. When you want to change your daily behaviour, habit trackers are the perfect fit. The best thing about them is that there’s no grey area. You either did or did not complete the task or item on the list. If you want to improve your chances of success, use the power of accountability of a habit tracker.

It is rewarding 

When it comes to building a habit, feedback and rewards are often delayed. It can be difficult to visualize the progress you are making with your habits. Perhaps you've been working out for a month, but you still don't see a change in your body. Or maybe you managed to read for 16 days straight, but you still do not feel significantly smarter. It often takes time for the desired results to appear. Successful habit development is a marathon, not a sprint. 

While you are waiting for the long-term rewards of your efforts to accumulate, you need a reason to stick with it on the short-term. You need some immediate feedback and positive reinforcement to remind you that you’re on track. This is where a habit tracker can help. Habit trackers give you instant, positive feedback that rewards you for your behaviour. It is satisfying to see your progress visualized and it can be even more motivating if you manage to grow a streak. Every day represents another step towards achieving your goals. 

It keeps you focused

It’s shocking to think about how much we forget. How many times have you forgotten the name of a person who introduced themselves to you only seconds ago? Or how many times have you lost sight of your new year’s resolutions? This brings us to our third point. One of the reasons why we fail to achieve our goals is due to an overall loss of focus. Even for people that are highly driven to succeed, losing focus is commonplace. There are all sorts of interruptions in life that can lead us to lose focus. The phrase you hear many times is: “life got in the way”. 

Remember, establishing a new habit is no easy task and requires continuous work and willpower. Whether you use one of our habit trackers, a mobile application or just a piece of paper, tracking your progress keeps you engaged, provides instantaneous feedback and keeps you from losing track.

 

Is there still something you are wondering about, then check our frequently asked questions or feel free to ask us directly, we're happy to help out! :)