Never miss twice
One missed day is an accident; two is the start of a new habit
Missing once is noise. Missing twice is where habits actually die, so the only real commitment is to restart immediately: a recovery protocol rather than all-or-nothing thinking, which is what long-running habits need. Often paired with a scaled-down "minimum version" for bad days.
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.
- Arnold SchwarzeneggerRecommends
Bodybuilding champion, actor, former governor · Arnold's Pump Club
One of his four rules for a New Year resolution that lasts: never miss two days in a row. He contrasts a perfect three-week January with an imperfect year of 300 marked days, and asks which made more progress.
Source: Arnold's Pump Club newsletter: Arnold Schwarzenegger's 4 Rules for Lasting Change - James ClearRecommends
Author · Atomic Habits
Missing one day is an accident, missing two is the start of a new habit, and his recovery rule is to restart immediately.
Source: jamesclear.com: habit tracking - Sahil BloomRecommends
Author · The 5 Types of Wealth
He points readers at the Two Day Rule, which he found in a Matt D'Avella video: never take more than one day off in a row. He offers it as the realist's version of his own 30 straight days approach, which he admits is an idealist's.
Source: The Curiosity Chronicle: The Two Day Rule, Great Questions, & More
Aimed at the same thing
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Protocol 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.