Adding to this, it’s hard to know if you are actually getting “better” because it’s so hard to measure. My approach is to try to get better between reflection periods while also scheduling days for self reflection on that goal.
I am 50/50 on if a conscious self-reflection will give you the birds-eye view. For some it might work, for me it doesn't.
Meditation definitely achieves that for me however.
And paying a bit more attention to each moment is less harsh than than trying to increase numeric metrics of “good” or “evil” each day. Paying attention is simple enough you can tell if you are having trouble with it or not without numbers. Although people are good at fooling themselves, they are also able to see thru a brick wall given enough time and stillness.
I want to be better but I've dropped the "every day" trope. That's a meaningless and toxic hustling that only works when you are in your 20s.
Progress is not linear. We are not machines.
Even a machine can't make a linear progress if it doesn't get a steady (or an ever-increasing) energy input or if it can't internalize its previous experience and transform it to a more efficient algorithm.
To me, like you, the most important is the never-ending intention. I'm a pre-diabetic and I have very bad days during which the only thing I could do is eat, poop, drink water, nap, repeat 3-4 times, and the day is gone. But I don't lose sight of my goals and when my energy is back I am catching up on a few important items from my mental backlog, almost every time.
That's the important thing IMO: have a vision, never forget your vision, act on it when you're able. Don't guilt-trip yourself, ever.