What is Self-monitoring of outcome(s) of behavior?
Self-monitoring of outcomes involves tracking the results that one’s behavior produces, such as weight, blood pressure, savings balance, or fitness metrics, to maintain awareness of progress toward goals.
How it works
Outcome monitoring provides the feedback loop between behavior and its consequences. It differs from behavior monitoring in that it tracks results rather than actions. The two are complementary: behavior monitoring tells you what you are doing; outcome monitoring tells you whether it is working. Outcome monitoring is most motivating when results are visible and attributable to the person’s own actions.
Applied example
A person who weighs themselves daily while also tracking their food intake can see the relationship between their eating behavior (input) and their weight trend (outcome). This dual monitoring creates a powerful feedback loop that neither monitoring type provides alone.
Why it matters
Self-monitoring of outcomes connects effort to results, providing the motivation to continue when the behavior itself is effortful and the outcome is the reason for persisting.
