## The Life Tracker System [(00:00:00)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NVXTcNYbs_Q&t=0s) - The Life Tracker System is a journaling method designed to help track habits and goals, capture thoughts and ideas, and facilitate reflection on life's highlights [(00:00:01)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NVXTcNYbs_Q&t=1s). - This method is not primarily focused on planning, productivity, or complex spreads, but rather is a simple and sustainable form of journaling that takes only a few minutes to set up [(00:00:10)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NVXTcNYbs_Q&t=10s). - The Life Tracker System has been found to be a consistent and effective way to analyze and improve life on a monthly or daily basis, making it a valuable tool for achieving goals and developing habits [(00:00:42)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NVXTcNYbs_Q&t=42s). - The system is segmented into four parts: track, reflect, apply, and (an unnamed fourth part, likely 'review' or similar, though not explicitly stated in the provided text) [(00:00:58)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NVXTcNYbs_Q&t=58s). - The system has been used personally for six years, with a new journal started every year on the user's birthday, allowing for easy reflection on past thoughts and experiences [(00:00:23)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NVXTcNYbs_Q&t=23s). - Using the Life Tracker System has helped the user become more consistent with their habits and achieve their goals, and is considered a fulfilling way to look back on past experiences [(00:00:35)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NVXTcNYbs_Q&t=35s). ## Quick Overview of the System [(00:01:01)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NVXTcNYbs_Q&t=61s) - The Life Tracker System consists of a monthly page, which is two pages long, and journal entries. [(00:01:01)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NVXTcNYbs_Q&t=61s) - The monthly page has a section on the left for writing down daily highlights and tracking habits, with the option to focus on three or four important habits per month. [(00:01:06)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NVXTcNYbs_Q&t=66s) - The habit tracking section is customizable, allowing users to check off habits or draw a line to fill out a number, such as a sleep score or weight. [(00:01:09)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NVXTcNYbs_Q&t=69s) - The right side of the monthly page is used for writing monthly goals at the top and reflections on the previous month at the bottom. [(00:01:36)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NVXTcNYbs_Q&t=96s) - Journal entries follow a simple format, including the date, day of the week, time, and a prompt or question to answer, which can be used for reflections, goal planning, or brainstorming ideas. [(00:01:48)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NVXTcNYbs_Q&t=108s) - Journal entries can be tailored to individual interests and needs, and can also include doodles, graphs, or notes, allowing users to be creative and flexible in their approach. [(00:02:06)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NVXTcNYbs_Q&t=126s) - The system is designed to help users think clearly, reduce anxiety, and gain clarity on their goals and habits. [(00:02:16)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NVXTcNYbs_Q&t=136s) ## Best notebook brand [(00:02:51)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NVXTcNYbs_Q&t=171s) - The preferred notebook brand is Loy, a German notebook, due to its suitable size and weight for the Life Tracker System [(00:02:51)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NVXTcNYbs_Q&t=171s). - The ideal notebook has 260 pages, which is sufficient for one year of use, with one notebook used per year [(00:02:56)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NVXTcNYbs_Q&t=176s). - The notebook's specifications make it a perfect fit for the Life Tracker System [(00:02:54)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NVXTcNYbs_Q&t=174s). ## Track: How to track your highlights, habits, and goals [(00:03:05)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NVXTcNYbs_Q&t=185s) - The Life Tracker System has a monthly page, which is two pages long, used to track highlights, habits, and goals, differing from the [[Bullet journal | Bullet Journaling]] system, which is primarily a productivity system to plan for future events or to-dos [(00:03:05)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NVXTcNYbs_Q&t=185s). - The monthly page is divided into sections, with the days of the week and dates on the left, daily highlights in the middle, and habits on the right [(00:03:40)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NVXTcNYbs_Q&t=220s). - Daily highlights are used to reflect on memorable events or experiences, making it easy to recall what made a day remarkable [(00:03:45)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NVXTcNYbs_Q&t=225s). - Habits are tracked, with a focus on three or four habits at a time, allowing for a balance between focus and ease of tracking [(00:03:57)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NVXTcNYbs_Q&t=237s). - Habits can include daily habits, habits to avoid, or habits to track frequency, such as caffeine or alcohol consumption, to identify correlations with other aspects of life, like weight or sleep [(00:04:09)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NVXTcNYbs_Q&t=249s). - The right side of the page is used for goals and reflection, with goals written in a checkbox format to make them specific, realistic, and achievable, following the SMART goal framework [(00:04:52)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NVXTcNYbs_Q&t=292s). - Monthly goals are preferred over yearly goals, as they break down larger goals into smaller, more attainable parts, making them more realistic and achievable [(00:05:24)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NVXTcNYbs_Q&t=324s). - A reflection section is included below the goals, allowing for review and evaluation of progress and experiences throughout the month [(00:05:36)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NVXTcNYbs_Q&t=336s). ## Reflect: Looking back on your previous month [(00:05:42)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NVXTcNYbs_Q&t=342s) - Reflecting on the previous month is an essential step after tracking highlights, habits, and goals, allowing for identification of areas for improvement and potential changes for the next month [(00:05:42)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NVXTcNYbs_Q&t=342s). - This reflection process can be fulfilling, providing an opportunity to look back on past activities and assess consistency with habits and goals [(00:05:53)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NVXTcNYbs_Q&t=353s). - The reflection section is used to create a game plan for the upcoming month, typically consisting of one or two paragraphs outlining the main focus or priorities [(00:06:03)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NVXTcNYbs_Q&t=363s). - The reflection process is not limited to productivity-oriented goals and can be tailored to individual focus and personality type [(00:06:13)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NVXTcNYbs_Q&t=373s). - Viewing life as a video game can be a fun way to approach reflection, identifying areas for improvement and optimization [(00:06:19)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NVXTcNYbs_Q&t=379s). - The reflection process results in a concise, one-page summary of the month's focus and goals, providing a valuable record that can be referenced at any time [(00:06:28)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NVXTcNYbs_Q&t=388s). - Reflecting on the previous month helps to increase mindfulness of daily life, allowing for better tracking of progress toward goals and reducing blind spots [(00:06:53)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NVXTcNYbs_Q&t=413s). - The reflection section can be expanded upon in subsequent journal pages, and additional journaling prompts can be used to further explore thoughts and goals [(00:07:00)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NVXTcNYbs_Q&t=420s). ## Apply: Applying changes based on the things you learned [(00:07:10)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NVXTcNYbs_Q&t=430s) - The third part of the Life Tracker System is to apply changes based on reflections from previous entries and habits, which can involve new habits and goals or implementing a new system to achieve existing goals better [(00:07:13)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NVXTcNYbs_Q&t=433s). - The Life Tracker System is adaptable and can be used to focus on various aspects of life, such as productivity, optimization, or personal relationships, like using the Habit tracking template to remind oneself to call parents or hang out with friends more often [(00:07:36)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NVXTcNYbs_Q&t=456s). - Tracking and applying changes can be motivating, as it provides empirical data to show improvement over time, such as learning 10 new words daily to achieve fluency in a language [(00:07:52)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NVXTcNYbs_Q&t=472s). - It's essential to find a sustainable balance in setting habits and goals, as being too ambitious or too lax can hinder progress, and dialing back until finding a sweet spot is recommended [(00:08:27)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NVXTcNYbs_Q&t=507s). - The book "Atomic Habits" by [[James Clear]] discusses a habit-setting framework, suggesting that setting smaller, achievable habits can lead to a positive spiral upwards, such as putting on running shoes daily instead of setting a goal to run every day [(00:08:42)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NVXTcNYbs_Q&t=522s). - The Life Tracker System incorporates various habit and goal-setting frameworks naturally, making it a versatile tool for tracking and optimizing one's life [(00:09:13)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NVXTcNYbs_Q&t=553s). ## Capture: Capturing your thoughts, ideas, and growth over time [(00:09:19)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NVXTcNYbs_Q&t=559s) - The "Capture" section of the Life Tracker System is dedicated to capturing thoughts, ideas, and creativity throughout the month, making up the majority of the journal's content [(00:09:20)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NVXTcNYbs_Q&t=560s). - A 260-page journal is used, with the monthly page taking up only 24 pages, leaving around 230 pages for reflections and random bursts of creativity [(00:09:31)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NVXTcNYbs_Q&t=571s). - Filling up an entire journal may seem daunting, but it's approximately 15-20 pages per month, making it achievable even with weekly journaling [(00:09:45)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NVXTcNYbs_Q&t=585s). - Ideas, debates, random creativity, doodles, and other personal expressions are encouraged to be captured in the journal, making it a personal and creative outlet [(00:09:56)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NVXTcNYbs_Q&t=596s). - Incorporating memorabilia like Polaroids and concert tickets can make reflection more engaging and enjoyable [(00:10:17)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NVXTcNYbs_Q&t=617s). - Journaling with pencil and paper forces clear thinking and structuring of thoughts, as it doesn't allow for easy deletion or reorganization of content [(00:10:26)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NVXTcNYbs_Q&t=626s). - This method of journaling also helps develop writing skills, making entries more readable over time [(00:10:37)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NVXTcNYbs_Q&t=637s). - Reflecting on past journals can be insightful, showing how views and perspectives have changed over time, capturing the human experience in a personal and unique way [(00:10:42)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NVXTcNYbs_Q&t=642s). ## Finishing your first journal [(00:11:00)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NVXTcNYbs_Q&t=660s) - Finishing your first journal can be a fulfilling experience, allowing you to look back and reflect on your thoughts, focus, and life highlights from a particular year [(00:11:01)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NVXTcNYbs_Q&t=661s). - Having a collection of journals, one for each year of your life, can be a prized possession, especially when you're older, and can serve as a reminder of your past experiences and accomplishments [(00:11:07)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NVXTcNYbs_Q&t=667s). - The Life Tracker System journal has a pocket on the back for storing items like letters, concert tickets, receipts, or Polaroids, making it easy to capture and hold onto memories [(00:11:24)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NVXTcNYbs_Q&t=684s). - Starting a journaling habit at a young age is recommended, as it can lead to a lifelong practice of reflection and personal growth [(00:11:43)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NVXTcNYbs_Q&t=703s). - To begin journaling, it's suggested to simply buy a notebook, place it on your desk, and start writing, as having the notebook present can encourage you to journal more often [(00:11:45)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NVXTcNYbs_Q&t=705s). - With consistent journaling, you can fill a journal with ideas, thoughts, and highlights from your entire year, creating a valuable keepsake [(00:11:59)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NVXTcNYbs_Q&t=719s). ## My personal templates and scans [(00:12:05)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NVXTcNYbs_Q&t=725s) - [[Ebook | The Life Tracker System eBook]] is available and contains detailed scans of personal journals, tips for habit and goal tracking, and various templates that can be used in a journal [(00:12:05)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NVXTcNYbs_Q&t=725s). - The eBook is on sale until the end of the month and purchasing it helps support the channel and enables the creation of better videos [(00:12:06)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NVXTcNYbs_Q&t=726s). - The eBook provides resources for journaling, including habit tracking, goal tracking, and different templates [(00:12:13)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NVXTcNYbs_Q&t=733s). - Viewers are encouraged to leave comments with questions or feedback about journaling, and every single comment will be replied to [(00:12:26)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NVXTcNYbs_Q&t=746s). ## Sources - [website](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NVXTcNYbs_Q?si=TsktRwuMwfHIvtcY)