Field notes
What actually makes a habit stick, and what only looks like it does.
August 12, 2026 · 5 min read
What to look for in a habit tracker app for iPhone
Five criteria that predict whether a habit tracker survives past week two: logging friction, reward timing, missed days, app blocking, and privacy.
August 5, 2026 · 4 min read
Why most to-do apps fail by Friday
A checkbox is a deferred, abstract reward, so a to-do app runs on Monday's willpower alone; here's the mechanism, and what instant rewards change.
July 29, 2026 · 5 min read
Why habit streaks work, and when they backfire
Streaks turn habits into something you can see and lose. Why that works, how it goes wrong, and how to restart after a missed day.
July 22, 2026 · 5 min read
How long does it really take to form a habit?
The 21-day rule comes from a 1960 book about cosmetic surgery. The research points to about 66 days, with a range from 18 to 254.
July 15, 2026 · 5 min read
Gamified habit tracking: what actually changes behaviour
Why most habit gamification fades after two weeks, and the specific properties a reward needs before it changes what you do.
July 8, 2026 · 5 min read
Habit stacking: anchoring a new habit to one you already have
How to attach a new habit to a reliable daily cue, what makes a good anchor, and what to do when your routine falls apart.
July 1, 2026 · 4 min read
Screen time limits that actually stick
Why App Limits get ignored, and how override cost, category blocks, timed windows, and goal-gated blocking make a limit hold.
June 24, 2026 · 5 min read
A morning routine that survives your phone
What phone-first mornings cost, why resolve fails, and a realistic routine built on one verifiable action and a phone that earns its way back.
June 17, 2026 · 4 min read
The checkbox problem: why proof beats self-report
Why marking a goal done stops meaning anything, and when a photo proof step is worth the extra friction.
June 10, 2026 · 4 min read
Digital wellbeing without deleting your apps
Deleting apps rarely lasts. Change when and how you can reach them instead, with tactics that survive a bad week.