Habit tracking
Mark the calendar every day you do it, then protect the chain
Paper calendar, app or wall chart, keeping a visible record of whether a habit happened each day. It works because marking it is immediately satisfying, and because a visible streak becomes something you do not want to break. The failure mode is tracking so many habits that the tracking itself becomes the chore.
People on record
Sorted by strength of stance
Does it: documented as part of their own routine. Recommends: explicitly advises other people to do it. Discusses: covered it substantively without clear personal adoption; this can include criticism or disagreement.
- Ali AbdaalDoes it
Doctor turned YouTuber · author of Feel-Good Productivity
Habits stay visible in Streaks on an Apple Watch, with targets such as four gym sessions a week.
Source: aliabdaal.com: 15 tools to manage and achieve your goals - Arnold SchwarzeneggerDoes it
Bodybuilding champion, actor, former governor · Arnold's Pump Club
He writes tally marks on his speeches, one for each practice run. It started with chalk. In his first weightlifting gym every rep got a line, so nobody could cheat themselves on sets.
Source: The Tim Ferriss Show #216 transcript: Arnold Schwarzenegger Part 2 - James ClearDoes it
Author · Atomic Habits
Shades in the cells on his own habit tracker and keeps it to three or four habits, because marking it is satisfying and a streak is something you protect.
Source: jamesclear.com: habit tracking
Aimed at the same thing
Other entries filed under productivity.
- HabitFREE, no cost
Daily reading
A fixed daily reading block, usually books rather than feeds
On record from 25 of 62 tracked people: 23 do it, 2 recommend it - HabitFREE, no cost
Journaling
Writing to unload the mind, usually first thing or last thing
On record from 14 of 62 tracked people: 13 do it, 1 recommends it - HabitFREE, no cost
Early rising
A fixed, early wake time, often before anyone else is awake
On record from 11 of 62 tracked people: 10 do it, 1 has discussed it - HabitFREE, no cost
Daily writing
Write something every day, published or not
On record from 10 of 62 tracked people: 8 do it, 2 recommend it - HabitFREE, no cost
Daily minimum workout
A floor you never drop below: 20 minutes of movement and recovery on your worst day
On record from 6 of 62 tracked people: 2 do it, 4 recommend it - HabitFREE, no cost
Phone-free first hour
No email, news or social media until you have done something of your own
On record from 6 of 62 tracked people: 4 do it, 2 recommend it
Habit entry · notes paraphrased from cited sources, quoted excerpts copied from the transcript they link to. Not medical advice. Not affiliated with, endorsed by, or reviewed by anyone listed. How this works.