Image: Paperlike’s Digital Planner / Screenshot by Lindsay Armstrong / Paperlike
Lindsay’s productivity spotlight: Don’t Break the Chain
Being productive is hard. There are so many things I’d rather be doing than what I’m supposed to do. (Netflix keeps tempting me to be lazy.) That's why I'm on a mission this year to test-drive some fresh productivity methods.
Each month, I'll dive into a different approach, give it a spin for a few weeks, and spill all the details of my experience.
About Don’t Break the Chain
So, this month, I’m trying out the "Don't Break the Chain" method, which I first saw on ToDoist and then again on Lifehacker. (Yeah, productivity concepts stalk me on the internet.)
The "Don't Break the Chain" method is a simple but powerful productivity technique that aims to build consistency in your daily habits.
The concept: Create a visual representation of your progress by marking off each day on a calendar when you successfully complete a specific task or goal.
The goal: Create an unbroken chain of successes, which motivates you to maintain your streak.
It’s kind of perfect for starting new habits and trying to stay on track with those New Year’s resolutions, which is why I chose it for this month.
My rollercoaster ride with the chain
I decided to give this method a whirl to amp up my writing game. (I’d like to write a novel someday.)
What was I aiming for? At least 30 minutes daily for my personal writing projects.
Now, let me spill the real tea. When I first started, just marking the calendar didn't quite light the motivational fire I anticipated. Sure, there was a sense of accomplishment, but I needed that extra oomph.
That's when I went on a quest to find some mobile apps that might help me out. I found Don’t Break the Chain, Momentum, and Streaks, which were all great at helping me track my habits and even giving me notifications and reminders throughout the day. I found these did increase my success, but I still wasn’t terribly upset if I missed a day. 😬
I started thinking about it, and what I really needed was an app like Duolingo, but for goals.
What I like about Duolingo (a great language learning app) is that it gamifies everything. You have your streak (I’m at 1344 days! 🔥), but you get rewards when you reach X number of days in a row. You can also add your friends and give each other high fives for achievements, which adds some fun and some accountability to it.
All this to say: I wanted something like that. After some research and general searching around, I tried out Habitica and Bounty Tasker. I personally liked Habitica, and it wasn’t long before my writing habit became more than a routine. It turned into a fun game and a challenge I looked forward to conquering daily.
Now, I’ve got a couple of weeks' worth of Xs on my calendar, and I’m still going strong. In fact, I've found myself extending those initial 30 minutes more often than not. The momentum and excitement have grown with each passing day.
The "Don't Break the Chain" method, coupled with a gamified app like Habitica, has turned my writing routine into a genuine passion project. The visual representation of my progress, coupled with rewards and a bit of friendly competition, has been a game-changer.
While I can't speak for everyone, I believe this method might be less effective for tasks that are less structured or lack clear daily goals. It thrives when there's a specific, measurable target to hit regularly.
You can use this for any type of new habit, from exercise or drinking more water to journaling, meditating, or learning something new.
If you’re looking for something to help keep you motivated as you work towards your goals, the “Don’t Break the Chain” method might be just what you need.
