Watch yourself: Monitoring thy self

“I will do it tomorrow, the deadline is not for another two days.”

“Just one more episode, I will sleep after that.”

Self-regulation is being your own parent, your own teacher, and your own monitor.

Think of self-monitoring as a system of surveillance cameras in your head. It is there to alert you of any thefts you are making with your own self.

These cameras are meant to help you deliberately observe your emotions, thoughts and behaviours. Observing your present feelings and actions is the first step to transforming them into your desired state.

The monitor is a Latin-derived word meaning ‘to warn.’ So, once the cameras in your head start working smoothly, they automatically get upgraded to a full-blown alarm system.

Your warning system now not only observes everything but also warns you when something that shouldn’t happen, is happening.

Self-monitoring requires you to be accepting. Nobody is perfect and everyone can improve by regulating themselves. But first, we honestly need to know where we stand.

While clicking the “play next episode” button, you should at least be aware of doing it and accept it. You may not know how to do things right yet but at least you know what are you doing wrong.

Self-monitoring should be started in a tangible form. Make a journal or a chart to map out your emotions, cognitions and actions. Even if you think it’s not important, jot it down and move on.

What does this do?

Suppose you got irritated when your sibling didn’t listen to you. At the moment you wrote this down and proceeded with the day. Towards the end of the day, you can go back to the situation and reflect on the situation with a calmer state of mind.

Not only this, but a written record also facilitates a drive to be better and change the things that you identify as not ideal.

All in all, you need to watch yourself.

Watch, reflect and improve.