What is personal governance?

Personal governance is the practice of applying the methods used to govern an organisation to your own life: a written strategy, clear goals, initiatives with targets, daily tracking and a regular report on how you're going.

The definition

Well-run organisations don't rely on good intentions. They agree a direction, break it into projects with measurable targets, track results and report to a board that asks direct questions. Personal governance borrows that structure. You become both the management team doing the work and the board reviewing it.

How it differs from a habit tracker or to-do list

• A to-do list captures tasks. It doesn't tell you whether those tasks add up to anything you care about.
• A habit tracker counts repetitions and streaks. It's good for building routines but rarely connects them to a bigger goal or asks whether the habit is still the right one.
• Personal governance starts with a strategy, measures each day against it and closes the loop with a monthly review where you decide what to keep, change or drop.

For a longer comparison, read personal governance vs habit trackers and OKR apps.

The five parts

1. Vision and mission

Your vision is where you want to be in a few years. Your mission is how you'll live day to day to get there. One or two sentences each is enough.

2. Objectives

Two to four broad areas you're focusing on this year, such as health, career, finances or study.

3. Initiatives

The specific things you'll do under each objective, like running, saving or a weekly study block.

4. Targets and KPIs

Each initiative gets a measure (kilometres, dollars, hours, yes/no) and a target over a period, such as 40 km a month. See personal KPI examples for ideas.

5. Monthly reporting

At the end of each month you compare results against targets, note what drove them and decide what to adjust. The monthly personal review template shows a simple layout.

A worked example

Objective: Improve my fitness this year.

You log each run and session as it happens. Halfway through the month you can see whether you're on pace. At month end, the report might show 34 km and 9 sessions. In the review you'd note why running fell short (perhaps a wet fortnight) and decide whether to keep the target, add an indoor option or shift effort to strength.

Who it suits

• People who already set goals but lose track of them by March.
• Professionals used to reports and reviews at work who want the same clarity at home.
• Students balancing study, work and health.
• Anyone who likes seeing numbers and wants an honest view of their progress.

It suits people less well if they want a simple checklist with no planning or review step.

How to start

1. Write a short vision and mission. The personal strategic plan template walks you through it.
2. Pick two to four objectives and one or two initiatives for each.
3. Give every initiative a measure and a modest monthly target.
4. Log daily. It should take a couple of minutes.
5. Hold a monthly review and adjust.

Personal Governance is a completely free web app — no card required, you only need an email to sign up — that handles the tracking and builds the monthly report for you. Create a free account or start from a template.

Frequently asked questions