The first mistake is never the one that ruins you. It is the spiral of repeated mistakes that follows. Missing one day in keeping a habit is an accident. Missing twice is the start of a new habit.

When your habits break down

Is a simple and effective thing to do if you want to stick with a habit for good. No matter the format (calendar, journal, app), it provides immediate evidence whether you are making progress or need to change course.

Habit tracking

<ol>
<li>It creates a visual cue that can remind you to act.</li>
<li>It is motivating to see the progress you are making. You don't want to break your streak.</li>
<li>It feels satisfying to record your success in the moment.</li></ol>

The power of habit tracking:

<ol><li>Manual tracking should be limited to your most important habits.  </li><li>Record each measurement immediately after the habit occurs.  </li></ol>

To make habit tracking easier:

This article includes an excerpt from Atomic Habits, my New York Times bestselling book. If you want to stick with a habit for good, one simple and effective thing you can do is keep a habit tracker. Here's why: Elite performers will often measure, quantify, and track their progress in various ways.

To make habit tracking easier:

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