How do you know your life is on track - the philosophy behind Good Work
How do you know you're living a good life? Discover how one simple question led to the creation of Good Work - a life tracking app designed to help you measure what matters, find balance, and see progress over time.
A Quiet Question That Changed Everything
"What does a good life look like - and how would I know if I'm living it?"
This question first struck me in 2017, and I haven't stopped thinking about it since. I began reflecting more deeply on what I wanted from life - not just vague career goals or a bucket list, but a more grounded, day-to-day vision.
What would a perfect day look like for me? What would I be doing, who would I be with, how would I feel? And most importantly: how could I build toward that kind of life without drifting?
My early vision looked something like this: wake up early, meditate, exercise, read, write, and spend time with my family. I wanted work-life balance, financial stability, and a sense of purpose. I wanted to build a family, nurture a home, and create something that would last.
From Thoughts to Numbers
Naturally, the next step was to track it.
I started with bullet journals. This daily writing routine was comforting at first, but over time it became a burden. I wanted something simpler.
So I moved to Google Sheets. I built spreadsheets full of metrics: hours of sleep, exercise, reading, screen time, mood, writing sessions. Daily tracking became easier, and the setup was quick.
Some days I logged everything. Other weeks, I forgot. But eventually, patterns emerged.
Building for Myself (As a Software Engineer)
As the months passed, I realized no existing app gave me what I truly needed:
- Custom metrics that reflected my life - not generic goals
- Multiple dimensions tracked side-by-side (not just habits or health)
- Long-term insights, not just streak counters
So I built my own tool - just for me. It wasn't beautiful, but it worked. And for the first time, I felt like I had a personal mission control: a single place to track what mattered most.
The Big Realization: Life Is Not a Straight Line
As I gathered data, my perspective shifted.
I stopped expecting every metric to move “up and to the right.” I began valuing trends, not perfect days.
- Had a baby? Of course your sleep drops - and that's okay.
- Busy at work? Maybe workouts decrease, but family time increases.
Zooming out revealed not failure, but resilience.
This wasn't about control. It was about perspective - seeing the bigger picture and giving myself grace.
Why I Built Good Work
This approach quietly changed my life.
I was no longer guessing whether I was “doing okay.” I could see progress, balance, and trade-offs clearly. I could spot when I was veering off track - and adjust without guilt.
That's why I created Good Work: to help others build their own “life dashboard.” Not another habit tracker, but a calm space to measure what matters, reflect with honesty, and make decisions based on data that feels human.
Want to Try This Yourself?
If this resonates, you don't need to wait for any tool. Start small today:
- Write down 2–3 aspects of life you care about (sleep, family time, exercise).
- Track them daily using the Daily Review feature in Good Work.
- Review them after a month - look for trends, not perfection.
If you'd like a system that makes this easier (and more insightful), try Good Work. It's free to start, and built with exactly this purpose in mind.
What's Next
This is just the first in a series. In upcoming posts, I'll share:
- How to set meaningful, realistic goals
- Which metrics actually help - and which can hurt
- How to reflect consistently without burning out
- Real examples of how I use Good Work personally
If you've ever wanted a calmer, clearer way to see your life - and make sure it's heading where you want - I hope you'll join me.
Thanks for being here,
Henrique