Tracking Successes: What Good Have I Done Today?

“After all is said and done, more is said than done.”— Anonymous

If you Google “procrastination,” you'll get over 11.5 million results. It's a problem just about everybody encounters from time to time. Many people agonize over never seeming to get anything done or only finishing projects at the last minute. Not only does procrastination cause a lot of stress, but it can also deplete one's self-esteem and confidence.

It’s not all doom and gloom though. The truth is we DO usually (finally) accomplish things. But often we've put ourselves through so much emotional or mental tension that we only see that we've procrastinated once again. Most chronic procrastinators keep to-do lists with the hope that somehow it will change things this time; often they've put things off so long that the list is so long they'll never manage to finish it.

“Nothing builds self-esteem and self-confidence like accomplishment.”—Thomas Carlyle

Regardless of whether you make a habit of procrastinating or not, it’s important to keep track of the things you've accomplished. Your successes—both large and small—can make you feel that your efforts meant something.

Start today! The method of keeping track isn't important.

• You can use a spreadsheet, a notebook, post-it notes on your wall, a folder filled with photos of finished jobs, an app on your phone, the task list on your calendar, or even an email folder that you save those “good job!” emails in.
• Whenever you've completed a project, received recognition, or achieved a goal of any sort, add it to your list.
• If you'd like, jot down a few extra comments as well, such as how long it took you to accomplish the goal or how difficult it was. In addition, note how this success could help you in the future.
• Add how you felt about finishing the project. If you think it can motivate you in the future, write it down!

Not only will a list of accomplishments and successes give you a pick-me-up when you are feeling down or when a bout of the dreaded inertia comes over you, but you might even find it useful to be armed with this information if you're creating a new proposal or making a pitch for a new potential customer.

Keep track of your accomplishments, and see if you don't find that the old adage is true—success breeds success!