2025 was all about “intentionality” for me.

• I learned to say “no” to certain activities which would drain and distract me from what I needed to do.
• I started understanding more what worked for me and even restructured my work system.
• I started writing my book (or should I say books).

In short, 2025 started very well for me, although it wasn’t perfect. Despite things not going according to how I envisioned it, the year was still filled with big wins especially with making new habits!

As we 2026 comes in, I would love to share my learnings with you. But before that, I’ve asked some of my friends to share about their habit tracking and forming journey, including their advices for those who want to be more successful in making new habits.

This is the first part of Building Better Habits for 2026 series, featuring my friends. I won’t be saying their real names but I will be sharing their current season and career to give you more context (just to help).

Friend #1 (Housewife)

Habit formed for 2025: Saving
Duration: More than 6 months
Methods used: Physical Tracking Journal
Biggest challenge faced when trying to maintain consistency:
Motherhood, since time is not hers anymore but also her child’s.

Friend #1 is one of the best accountability friend I have. She taught me about tracking the time I spent for every activity including getting me back on track with reading (starting with audiobooks). Recently, she became a mom, so when asked what was her biggest challenge in forming her habit this year, her answer was very understandable…

“Motherhood. It’s hard to keep a consistent schedule if you are taking care of another human being fully dependent on you and your time. In short, my time is not just mine but also my daughter’s.”

Habit Tracking Process

Start small. Start a weekly tracker then make it monthly and then quarterly and then annually. Start with 1 habit and then stack that habit with another habit and then another. But build 1 habit at a time.

Friend #1’s advise when forming habits

Start it now. Don’t overthink. Just do it.

Friend #2 (Sales Manager)

Habit formed for 2025: Keeping up with her set activities
Duration: 1-3 months
Methods used: Habit tracker applications, physical tracker journal, calendar/planner, spreadsheet
Biggest challenge faced when trying to maintain consistency:
When sudden changes in plans take place

Friend #2 is a working mom. She’s one of the people I go to when I need help learning about finance (more on how I manage money and keep track of it). Seeing how she’s able to juggle from managing a team, meeting clients, to being a mom and wife. How is she able to stay consistent in building habits?

Habit Tracking Process

I sit down and do focused deep work

Friend #2’s advise when forming habits

Start with knowing your ‘why’, so if in case you get lost, going back to your ‘why’ will help get you back on track fast.

Friend #3 (Copywriter)

Habit formed for 2025: Limit gaming time to 2 hours a day
Duration: 1-3 months
Methods used: Physical tracker journal, spreadsheet
Biggest challenge faced when trying to maintain consistency:
Losing track of time

Friend #3 is one of the people I admire when it comes to tracking stuff (especially work). I love her spreadsheets and from time to time I get ideas from her too when it comes to making sure all areas I need to do for the day gets done. She’s really “intentional” too when it comes to reflecting and making changes on how she does things — adjusting where adjustment is needed. How is she able to keep everything on track?

Habit Tracking Process

I set aside time to reflect on how my previous quarter has been. I reflect on the challenges I’ve encountered and try to determine whether they are caused by a lack of self-discipline or are simply the result of certain lifestyle changes. There is a lot of reflection on what I want to improve and how I want to address these challenges. Before I start creating my habit tracker, it’s very important to me that my goal—the why and the how—is clear. This helps me break the goal down into manageable pieces. I also set milestones and rewards to give myself something to look forward to and something to achieve. Once all the important parts are well thought out, I start thinking about how I want to present my tracker. Personally, I prioritize efficiency above all, which is why I use monthly trackers. This gives me a visual overview of my progress and the areas I can improve on during my monthly review. Analyzing my performance at the end of each month is crucial because it helps me identify what I need to troubleshoot when preparing for the next month. It’s also helpful for understanding what works and what doesn’t.

Friend #3’s advise when forming habits

Be intentional when setting your goals. Understanding why a goal matters to you gives you the motivation and strength to stick with it.

Friend #4 (Life and Leadership Coach)

Habit formed for 2025: Building flexibility in transitions
Duration: 1-3 months
Methods used: Physical tracker journal, calendar/planner
Biggest challenge faced when trying to maintain consistency:
Hormones

Friend #4 has helped me start 2025 soooo well. Back in 2024 I needed help and was at a lost. I was struggling and stressed despite it has affected both work and personal life. Friend #4 helped me get back on track through coaching. For this blog, I just have to ask her…

Habit Tracking Process

It’s making sure that it’s rooted on my values and the basic foundation for the habits to stand solid.

Friend #4’s advise when forming habits

It starts with mindset shift and values alignment, behavioral change will follow.

Building Better Habits

Habit building can be a challenge, but it’s worth it. It requires renewing your mind from reflecting to committing, and understanding that the process is what matters, especially as you get to know yourself more. It’s a daily (or weekly) “choice” to take a step — and in moments when you missed it and frustration creeps in, it becomes a “choice” to get back to it.

I am blessed I have friends who have helped me (whether knowingly or not) to find a system that works for me — and I’m still a work in progress although not as crazy nor frustrated as before. To be honest my habits has improved how I view and approach things.

Please stay tuned for the next part of building habits where I’ll be sharing my own journey and process as well. Hopefully I get to also share a photo of my friends’, and of course my, habit trackers to give you an idea.

For now, here’s a template taken from a monthly habit tracker I saw being shared and even used by some Instagram (I honestly forgot who was the original but I’ll update this blog post once I get the name). Please note this tracker only has two weeks for tracking instead of a whole month (I can’t minimize the table further).

Click below to download the printable habit tracker for FREE.

2-Week Habit Tracker

Have a BLESSED New Year! Soli Deo Gloria!