When you're working on a Metric, you'll generally be doing so over time. Keep it in focus using Reminders: routine alerts that prompt you to track how your Metric is going. Without them, it's all too common to lose focus and or interest. With them, tracking your progress is easy and you'll have this goal front and center at convenient, useful intervals.
Both you and your coach can set or modify reminders for your Metrics.
When creating or editing a Metric, if you toggle Reminders on, you'll see the following options:
When deciding when to have a Reminder, think about how often you're tracking data. Sometimes you'll be tracking a Metric on a daily basis. Sometimes it will be appropriate only on weekdays. Some Metrics are longer-range, calling for a number on a weekly or even monthly basis.
Most commonly, you'll want a Reminder to be sent to you on the days when a data point is called for, which makes the "on days when a value should be entered" option perfect. In some instances (often when you're tracking a Metric on an arbitrary basis), the second option will be useful, to have the system to prompt you only every X days.
You can decide which time of day you would like the Reminder, and if you're in the United States, Canada, United Kingdom or Australia and have entered your cell phone into your profile, you have the option to receive Reminders via text (otherwise email is the default option).
Most commonly, you'll want a Reminder to be sent to you on the days when a data point is called for, which makes the "on days when a value should be entered" option perfect. In some instances (often when you're tracking a Metric on an arbitrary basis), the second option will be useful, to have the system to prompt you only every X days.
You can decide which time of day you would like the Reminder, and if you're in the United States, Canada, United Kingdom or Australia and have entered your cell phone into your profile, you have the option to receive Reminders via text (otherwise email is the default option).
Report Your Numbers via Email and Text
The real beauty of Reminders for your Metrics is that they afford you the opportunity to easily report your data--no logging in required.
Reporting via Email
If you opt for email Reminders, simply reply with the number for that date plus an optional comment about the result. Leaving a comment is highly recommended. Comments tell a story that complements the numbers you are putting in.
Reporting via Text
Reporting your numbers via text is very similar to replying to email reminders. Just respond with the number plus an optional comment:
There is one gotcha in responding via text: you can only reply to the most recent text that was sent to you. So if you have 3 metrics and the reminders all fire off to you via text at, say, 7pm, the system will think that any reply you send applies only to the third one.
To get around this you can stagger your reminders in time, sending at, say, 7pm, 7:10pm, and 7:20pm. If you've got quite a few Metrics to track, your best option may be to simply choose email reminders, allowing you the freedom to reply to each at your own pace and in any order.