Keep a "Why I Started" Note Visible

What is it?

This step involves writing down your original motivation—the reason you started a project, goal, or habit—and placing it somewhere you'll see it every day. It's a physical or digital reminder that reconnects you with your initial spark when motivation fades or obstacles feel insurmountable.

Instead of letting your "why" become buried under daily stress, you make it visible and accessible. This could be a sticky note on your monitor, a phone wallpaper, a note pinned to your task manager, or even a card in your wallet.

How does it work?

When you first start something, you're fueled by excitement, vision, and purpose. But as time passes and challenges arise, that initial energy gets overshadowed by frustration, fatigue, and doubt. Your brain focuses on the immediate pain rather than the long-term reason.

By externalizing your "why," you create a cognitive anchor—a trigger that pulls your attention back to your original intention. Seeing your reason regularly reinforces its importance and reactivates the emotional connection that first drove you to begin. It shifts your focus from "this is hard" to "this is worth it."

Why adopt it?

Prevents mid-journey dropout. Most goals fail not because they're impossible, but because people forget why they mattered in the first place.

Rekindles motivation instantly. A quick glance at your "why" can reignite commitment during low-energy moments.

Provides emotional resilience. When setbacks hit, your reminder serves as proof that your goal has deeper meaning than temporary discomfort.

Clarifies priorities. Seeing your reason daily helps you say no to distractions and yes to what truly matters.

Costs almost nothing. This is one of the simplest interventions with disproportionately high returns.

How to adopt it (First steps)?

Write your "why" in one sentence. Be honest and specific. "I started learning Spanish to connect with my partner's family" is stronger than "to be better." Capture the emotion, not just the logic.

Choose a high-visibility location. Pick a spot you encounter multiple times daily: your desk, bathroom mirror, phone lock screen, or laptop lid. The key is unavoidable exposure.

Make it visually distinct. Use color, bold text, or a unique format so it doesn't blend into the background. Your brain needs to register it as important.

Update it if your "why" evolves. If your reason shifts or deepens over time, rewrite it. The note should always reflect your current truth.

Pair it with a ritual. Read your note aloud every morning or before starting work on the goal. Speaking it reinforces the commitment.

Challenges and how to overcome them

Your "why" feels vague or unclear. If you struggle to articulate it, ask yourself: "What would I lose if I quit?" or "What will change in my life if I succeed?" The answers often reveal your real motivation.

The note becomes invisible over time. Your brain adapts to static stimuli. Combat this by moving the note weekly, changing its color, or rotating between multiple reminders.

Your "why" doesn't feel motivating anymore. This might mean your goal needs reassessment. Take time to reflect—has your reason genuinely changed, or are you just tired? If it's the former, adjust your goal. If it's the latter, rest and revisit the note.

You feel embarrassed by the reminder. If others seeing it makes you uncomfortable, use a coded phrase only you understand, or place it somewhere private like a journal you open daily.

Supporting apps/tools

Sticky Notes (analog). The classic—cheap, flexible, and impossible to ignore when placed strategically.

Notion or Obsidian. Pin your "why" note to the top of your dashboard or daily page template.

Widgetsmith or KWGT. Create a custom phone widget displaying your reason on your home screen.

Daylio or Journey. Journaling apps where you can set a recurring prompt to review your "why."

Post-it Plus. Digitize physical sticky notes and set them as reminders or wallpapers.

Habitica or Todoist. Add your "why" as a pinned comment or project description so it appears whenever you check tasks.