Habit trackers are fine. Streaks are a proven way to build consistency and it comes with free rudimentary data visualization.
But, they're also a tad heavyweight. The kinds of things I would want to track are the same kinds of things which I skip because they're too high effort, not because they're too hard to remember. I don't want to deal with a new app or printing/drawing out grids of squares.
I don't care about the long term statistics or building streaks, all I need is the guilt trip. Enough of a feedback loop that I know how long it's been, I don't just feel it.
Simple solution.
Each time I do the thing, I write down the date somewhere obvious.
When I do it again, I update it and notice the difference.
When I walk past for other things, I notice the difference.
Slower than crossing off a box, less reliable than reminders, but it's enough to flick that switch in my brain to do the thing. Handwriting the date keeps the passage of time visceral, and it's mentally low effort because it's not part of some grand system, it's the date.
I don't recommend this system in particular, it works for me but is literally higher effort. But if you've been failing to maintain a tracker, maybe this will help.
- Rew
Nightly Notes
My daily routine was broken by two schedule changes and I'm still trying to jam it back in place. I'm not sure how I even managed to cram in writing to begin with. Nonsensical commitment devices work well.
I don't have anything new to say today, it's the same stew of thoughts from the last week.
Tomorrow, then?
- Rew