Habit Trackers
Using my hate of notifications to make sure I’m doing my daily habits.
I hate having notifications on my phone with a fiery passion. I don’t know how some people can have thirty-seven thousand unread texts and emails. The same goes for my inbox.
On the other hand, I love checking things off of lists. I’m very old school and hand-write just about everything. But I have a tendency to forget my lists at home.
This poses a problem when I’m trying to make changes in my life and want to start new habits.
I started using an app call Streaks over two years ago (closer to three). It’s a cute little workhorse, very bare bones. I can sync it to my health app, so some of my tasks auto-complete. It keeps track of how many days in a row I’ve done each task and gives me a star if I’m on my longest streak. It keeps me competitive with myself.
The biggest downside is it only tracks 12 tasks (it was 6 when I started). I have more things I want to track and accomplish each day than that. Recently, I added another app, but I don’t want to lose my 1,000+ vitamin streak so I still keep it around.
I added Habitica and it allows me way more tasks each day. It also makes tracking habits into a game because you are leveling your character and going on quests. I plays to my gamer side while allowing me to keep up with habits I’m building.
You can even use it to break bad habits and build good ones that you complete multiple times a day (I track how many half hour increments of writing I do). I think it’s my new favorite, but that might just be my little 32 bit avatar talking.
It’s downside is it uses the internet to update your tasks and I haven’t figured out if I can connect it to my health app. The internet thing wouldn’t be a problem, but I work in a warehouse where I get zero signal. So I have to wait until after work to get rid of the notifications.
Both apps put up a notification of how many tasks I have left to complete. Which bugs the hell out of me. I know I can shut off notifications on them, but then, but that’s sort of the point. I use my desire to have a clean screen to my benefit. Having notifications spurs me into action to get them all done.
I also use my notes app to keep track of my weekly to-do list. I can clear the check marks at the beginning of the week so I can recycle my list. I miss the ability to see how often I actually complete everything on my weekly list, but I’m sure I’ll find something to track that for me.
What do you do to trick yourself into doing the tasks you know you should?
Weekly Goals
Write 7K words: Failure. I’m grinding out a big dice bag order and it seems like either writing or sewing goes out the window. I’m starting a new afternoon routine that should help this. I hope.
Sew 10 dice bags: Success and then some. This order is over 200, so I’m grinding them out like crazy.
Read one book: Success. I finished Desperate Duchesses by Eloisa James.
Go to the gym twice: Success. I’m on my second try of Couch to 5K. Hoping to complete it this time.
Go to class: Success.
