The start of the school year is one of the best resets we get all year. Routines come back, schedules tighten up, and there’s a natural sense of starting fresh. If you’ve been meaning to build a new habit or get back on track with an old one, this is a great time to do it.
This isn’t really about habit setting. It’s about the piece most people skip: accountability. Here are three ways to actually stick to the habits you’re setting.
1. Track Inputs, Not Outcomes
My number one piece of advice is to get a habit tracker. I paid for a lifetime subscription to mine, and it’s been worth every penny. Being able to log what I’m doing every single day lets me adjust in real time instead of waiting until something’s gone off track.
The key is what you track. Don’t track outcomes. Track inputs.
Set a cap of three to four numbers you actually care about, the ones that translate directly to your goal. We get overwhelmed by data all the time. It’s easy to end up tracking hundreds of numbers that mean nothing. Pick three that will actually move the needle.
For my nutrition, for example, the three I track are:
- Protein servings
- Carb servings
- Fat servings
Not grams. Just servings. Simple enough to stick to, specific enough to matter.
2. Get a Coach
Even coaches have coaches. Especially when there’s a short term goal on the line, because you can’t read the label from inside the jar.
I’ve used both apps and coaches over the years, especially for short term goals, because I know how important outside accountability is. After my hamstring tear, I needed an objective way to increase load without doing too much too soon and re-injuring myself. Having someone else making that call worked out. I’ve been playing on it pain free for months now.
Accountability doesn’t mean you’re not capable of doing it yourself. It means having something outside of you keeping the process honest.
3. Fill the Bucket, Then Chill Out
Once you’ve hit your two to three measurables for the day, you’re done. You’ve already checked the box.
It’s easy to obsess over a goal to the point where chasing it becomes the only thing you do. Instead of asking what else you can do today, trust that checking the box is what makes the difference. Most goals take time, so patience matters just as much as effort.
Hyperfixating on one more thing, and one more thing after that, is usually how we end up doing too much or getting stuck altogether.
Bottom Line
Track a few inputs that matter. Get someone in your corner. Do the work, then let it be enough for the day. That’s how new habits actually survive past September.
Share this with someone who’s trying to reset their routine this fall, and follow along on social media for more.
Questions? Reach out anytime at [email protected]
Ian Smith
Owner/Lead Trainer, Mountain Speed Strength & Fitness
Evergreen, CO