Buzz
New Year's Eve tops my list of favorite holidays. It’s the perfect occasion to both look ahead and reflect on the past, preferably while enjoying a drink with friends. The start of a new year also reminds me how thankful I am for my habit of recording every tiny detail—not just in a journal, but in a comprehensive way. I mean tracking every book I’ve read, every mile I’ve run, and every beer I’ve enjoyed (roughly). If you’re into documenting your life—and you really should be!—I strongly suggest using a meticulously detailed spreadsheet.
This isn’t about bullet journaling (which can be impressive, but feels too artistically challenging for me). Instead, I use a Google sheet filled with color-coded tabs to monitor countless ways to quantify a year. From detailed travel itineraries to intricate task lists, if you have a goal, it deserves its own spreadsheet tab.
It’s an enjoyable, slightly geeky method that lets me see my life in a way traditional journaling never could. Here’s why I believe this year, you should create your own spreadsheet to keep track of all the small but meaningful aspects of your life.
How to transform anything into a measurable accomplishment
The spreadsheet journal is ideal for those of us who love blending sentiment with data. No matter what metrics you decide to record, you can frame them as achievements. While your smartwatch can count your steps, a spreadsheet journal lets you celebrate how many steps you’ve truly accomplished. From there, you can play with the numbers—convert steps into miles, identify trends over time, or explore whatever excites your analytical mind.
Go all out. Design separate tabs for various aspects of your life to fully appreciate how much you’re juggling. I’ll share some suggestions in the next section, but ultimately, a spreadsheet is a simple yet highly effective way to avoid relying solely on words. Don’t overthink it—this method is about finding meaning in every small number that shapes your life.
How to build your tracking spreadsheet
Start by selecting your spreadsheet tool. I prefer Google Sheets for its simplicity, though I understand if privacy is a concern for you. Or perhaps you’re a pro at Excel. For formatting inspiration, take a look at this guide on crafting the ultimate travel spreadsheet. The key is to create one main file with multiple tabs tailored to your needs. Include sections for health and fitness goals, books, movies, and TV shows you’ve enjoyed, financial planning, and anything else that matters to you:
Hours slept
Miles walked
Concerts attended
Movies watched
Books started
Books finished
Dates gone on
Places traveled
Gifts given
Thank you notes sent
Time spent in traffic
Playlists created
Ensure you add a notes column to your entries—personal insights to bring life to the numbers.
I’ve prepared a sample template available for download here. It demonstrates the drop-down menus and color-coding I use to monitor my travels, books I’ve read, and marathon preparation.
How to get the most out of your spreadsheet
You can allocate a column in each tab for miscellaneous notes, but keep it concise to maintain clarity. Consistency in formatting is key—for example, bold the headers for each metric. I use color coding intuitively. As a stand-up comedian, I track my performances with specific colors to reflect my feelings: green shades indicate a great show, while red shades mean it was...less than stellar. When everything seems red, it’s comforting to focus on the green moments too. Perspective matters!
By year’s end, you’ll have a wealth of data to map out both the significant and minor details of your life over the past 12 months. With just a quick look, you can congratulate yourself on reducing caffeine intake, spending more time outside, or boosting your ratio of books started to books finished. In the end, my spreadsheet is all about valuing the small moments in life, even if I do it in what might be the geekiest way possible.
