Daily Log Tip: Boost Your Self-Awareness and Find Direction (Assalamu alaikum)

Assalamu alaikum - Life tip from me: keep a simple daily journal of what you did and what bothered you. It helps you spot what’s working, what needs fixing, and gives direction for the future. Context: I have a lot of regrets. Little things kept piling up. Like when a friend asked to stay at my place for two weeks and I said yes even though it made me uncomfortable. Like drinking coffee in the afternoon and then not being able to sleep at midnight. Like quitting to learn programming the moment I hit a stubborn bug. I didn’t even realize I’d been living with those problems. Last October my husband and I had a long late-night talk about me quitting programming again (seventh time). I told him debugging feels like guessing a number in a black box - it’s so frustrating. Then it hit me: I’ve been giving up on learning things for a long time. In high school my physics teacher was strict, so I stopped studying physics and told myself, “I choose not to study physics.” In college I wasn’t into my major and played a lot of video games; when friends suggested internships I said no, thinking “I’ll do a graduate program, so internships don’t matter.” Now that I live with my husband, I never bothered to learn simple home fixes like changing a bulb or unclogging a drain. I told myself, “As long as I do other chores, it’s fine.” I knew physics could get me into a better school, internships would give me experience, and programming could boost my career - but I kept quitting. I repeat this pattern over and over. Then one night it felt like a ray of sunlight broke through: I could finally see my true self. I am my habits, what I choose to do or not do. My life had become a loop of the same problems showing up again and again. That realization hit me hard, so I looked for a way to stay aware and actually work on things. What I tried: the KPT method. I made a weekly log with 7 entries. Each day has three main parts: Keep, Problem, Try/Solve. I also add small subsections like Morning, Noon, Afternoon, Night, Health, Skills, Mood, etc. Every morning I fill it in and review: what will I keep today? What should I work on? What issues need attention? Example bits I write down: things I did well (kept studying a hard project, said no kindly to someone moving in because I value my space), health wins (no coffee, went for a walk, quick swim), problems (I agreed to a family-arranged date without saying no even though I didn’t want to, don’t know how to fix a toilet that won’t stop flushing), and concrete tries (watch a tutorial or hire someone and learn what they did). I also look back at old logs. Seeing small past wins gives me confidence - like when I finally went to the dentist after procrastinating and it wasn’t that bad, I immediately booked another appointment for a different tooth. Comparing logs helps me see whether I’m moving toward my goals. It’s doable, but it takes effort. Like a quote I like: “Every day it gets a little easier. But you gotta do it every day - that’s the hard part.” Keeping a log feels like directing a river: I choose what I do today and tomorrow, instead of letting time carry me without notice. Give it a try - start small, write something each morning, and be honest with yourself. May Allah make it beneficial.