Week 3

October is all about Progress.

This week, learn the power of measurement. 

When it comes to achieving an end result, measuring progress is paramount.

The feeling of progressing on a path is motivating and powerful. But generating that feeling can only come from knowing that you truly are moving forward; the only way to verify your forward movement is through measurement.

What It Means to Measure

When we at One Drop consider the benefits to checking blood sugar, for instance, there is one truism that is consistently top of mind: you can only manage what you measure. Or, stated another way, the more you check, the more you know.

When it comes to our unique health progress, this motto continues to resonate.

From checking blood sugar to monitoring decreased dosages in medication; from daily weigh-ins on the scale to weekly try-ons with a favorite pair of pants—these measurements can show us how we’re progressing. 

With as much information we consume on a daily basis—from ads, news articles, TV shows, friends’ social posts—our minds are bombarded with a constant barrage of stimuli. Because we rarely (if ever) give ourselves time or space away from this constant influx of information, our memory simply can’t process or keep up with it all.

If we’re not keeping track of the information we are consuming—including our own health metrics—we forget.

So when it comes to reaching those goals that matter most, physically measuring progress can help you attain them.

Creating a visual representation of your progress can not only serve to keep you motivated, but it also highlights the very literal and discernible growth in numbers that you’ve already experienced.

When the Numbers Aren’t the Ones You Want to See

Maybe you’re tracking your progress with your One Drop app; perhaps you use a journal to log your progress. However you’re keeping track, there are certainly times when the numbers you’re logging aren’t the ones you want to see.

We often ascribe to a belief that these numbers indicate a sort of personal value and that if we can stay within certain numerical parameters we will achieve worthiness, happiness, and success.

While these numbers are important and valuable to our wellbeing, there is a fine line to how much value we give them.

These metrics are just that: numbers, calculations, statistics. They have no other sum or worth than that which we are willing to give them.

On those days when we get on the scale and see a number we don’t like, it’s important to remember that number on the scale is just one piece of the biological puzzle. It is a data point, one that can be used to see a much larger and richer picture of your health.

The same goes for blood sugar data: each number is a data point that adds up to a much broader pattern and trend that you can use to optimize your health.

Rather than shying away from checking blood sugars or getting on the scale out of fear of the number, use these numbers to your advantage. Use all the numbers you can to help and guide you on your wellness journey.

Remember: numbers are neutral. They are quite simply and literally one single data point. They mean nothing other than the emotions you are willing to give them.