In this episode, we talked about:
- Why tracking numbers helps improve different areas of life
- Financial awareness without shame or obsession
- Using metrics to support physical, mental, and spiritual health
- The importance of social health and relationship maintenance
- Treating content creation and home life as intentional systems
- Redefining success beyond money and productivity
Listen to the full episode now:
“Whatever you measure grows.”
Timestamp:
- 0:00 intro
- 2:36 personal finance/money
- 6:02 physical health/fitness
- 12:04 mental/spiritual health
- 13:36 social wellbeing
- 15:50 social media/podcast growth
- 19:09 home
- 21:26 beauty/fashion
- 22:59 summary
- 25:39 download my list of metrics for free!
- 26:17 outro
“I’m not sprinting for short-term excitement—I’m running a marathon for a good life.”
Download the List of Numbers and Metrics that Improved My Life here: https://bit.ly/listofmetrics
Detailed Summary:
Introduction
Growth doesn’t always come from big, dramatic changes. Sometimes, it starts with simply paying attention. On this episode of Small Girl Big Talk, Wendy shares how tracking numbers and metrics across different areas of her life helped her feel more grounded, fulfilled, and intentional. What started as a habit borrowed from business eventually became a personal system for living better—not just working harder.
Why Measuring Your Life Matters
Wendy opens the episode by explaining a principle she learned from business: what you measure, you can improve. While this idea is commonly applied to KPIs and performance metrics at work, she realized it’s just as powerful when applied to personal life. By tracking different aspects of her day-to-day routines, she became more aware of where her time, energy, and attention were actually going—and where adjustments were needed.
This weekly review ritual became a way to slow down, reflect, and intentionally design her life rather than running on autopilot.
Tracking Money Without Obsession
One of the main areas Wendy tracks is finances—specifically income, expenses, savings, and debt. After experiencing credit card debt from investing in self-improvement programs, she began tracking every expense line by line. This helped her notice patterns she wasn’t aware of before, like spending more on gifts than expected, and allowed her to create realistic budgets and sinking funds.
Instead of stressing over debt, Wendy approaches it calmly and intentionally, paying it off steadily while trusting her ability to increase income in the long run. At the same time, she reflects on how tracking expenses is something she’s mastered—while income growth is an area she wants to focus on more in this season.
Measuring Physical Health for Better Energy
Beyond money, Wendy tracks metrics related to her physical health, starting with sleep. Using a simple fitness band, she monitors sleep duration and quality, realizing that rest has become non-negotiable in her 30s. Tracking sleep helped her function better overall and respect her body’s limits.
She also tracks movement—whether through workouts, stretching, yoga, or daily steps—and practices intermittent fasting several times a week. Rather than being rigid, she allows flexibility based on her energy levels, health, and menstrual cycle, emphasizing sustainability over perfection.
Honoring Mental, Spiritual, and Emotional Health
Wendy places strong emphasis on mental and spiritual well-being. She tracks how often she meditates, prays, and creates space for rest and creativity. Meditation has become a daily anchor for her, while spiritual practices remain an area she wants to be more consistent with.
She also highlights the importance of doing things purely for joy—writing, painting, reading, or singing—without tying them to productivity or financial gain. These moments of play and rest are tracked intentionally because they contribute to long-term mental health.
Social Health and Relationship Metrics
Another key area Wendy measures is social health. She pays attention to how often she connects with family, spends quality time with Kevin, and reaches out to friends. This includes tracking birthdays, important dates, and making sure relationships don’t get neglected amid busy schedules.
By being mindful of relationship rhythms—date nights, conversations, shared meals—she ensures that closeness doesn’t fade into complacency.
Treating Content Creation Like a Long-Term System
As someone building Small Girl Big Talk into a future income stream, Wendy also tracks content and platform metrics. She monitors listens, views, engagement, and posting frequency—not out of pressure, but to understand what’s working and how to grow sustainably.
She shares her posting goals across platforms and her long-term vision of building a community centered around soft living and intentional growth, all while balancing a full-time job.
Home, Beauty, and Everyday Systems
Wendy also tracks household systems like groceries, cleaning schedules, bills, plant care, skincare routines, and even fashion usage. These systems reduce mental load and help her feel put together and presentable—not for others, but for herself.
What may sound excessive to some is, for Wendy, a form of self-respect and care.
Redefining Success Through Balance
Toward the end of the episode, Wendy reflects on how her definition of success has evolved. While she once measured success purely through financial numbers, she now values balance—being able to enjoy friendships, health, creativity, and quiet moments alongside ambition.
Tracking these metrics helped her realize that while she’s still working toward financial freedom, she’s already living a full, meaningful life along the way.
Conclusion
This episode is a reminder that improvement doesn’t require intensity—it requires awareness. By measuring what truly matters to you, you create space for intentional growth without burning out. Wendy’s approach shows that success isn’t just about sprinting toward goals, but building systems that support a happy, sustainable life while you get there.
