Habit forming productivity tools

[Rabby]

When I'm conditioning myself to get things done, I'll make a page that has slots for "activity types I need to do" each day. This keeps me from doing the wrong things, or doing nothing, or doing too much of one thing, or task switching all day.

Recently, I've been using the app called Productive for iPhone. Basically, put in the things that you want as daily habits, or any other frequency (x times per week, monthly, every Monday, etc). When you complete a task, you swipe it off. It acts as a low-key task reward, so it reinforces the habit. Also comes with timer options, so you can put in timed tasks and it will time them.

 

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[scottmsul]

My strategy has been to draw a 4x7 grid on an index card, representing 4 weeks. Each day I complete the habit, I cross out one of the days. It takes about 4 weeks to fully ingrain a habit, to the point where it's automatic and takes very little willpower. It's low tech, but I feel the effort of drawing the grid by hand makes me identify more with the habit and want to succeed. I also post the index card on a bulletin board in the middle of my apartment so it's always visible and I won't forget.

I think I got the idea originally from a Seinfeld interview, where he did something similar for writing jokes every day.

 

[andyhaus44]

Thank you for sharing. Coach.me for the iPhone is pretty great, too. You get milestones, high fives to stay motivated plus there is a community and coaches available