Tracking habits with daily check-ins
A habit tracker turns a vague intention, I should read more, into a visible daily record. Ticking a box each day gives a small sense of progress, and a growing streak becomes its own motivation not to break the chain.
Add the habits you want to build, check in once a day when you have done them, and watch the current and longest streak for each. Everything is stored in your browser, with no account and no app to install.
How to use it
- Add a habit with a clear, small action, such as walk 20 minutes or read 10 pages.
- Each day you do it, tap to check in for today.
- Watch the Current streak, consecutive days up to today or yesterday, and the Longest streak you have reached.
- Delete habits you have dropped, or use Clear all to start over.
Example: how streaks are counted
Check-ins on 1, 2, 3, 5, 6 October
Longest streak: 3 days
The gap on 4 October ends the first run of three days; 5 and 6 October start a new run of two.
Make habits small and specific
Habits stick when they are easy to start and clearly defined. Exercise more cannot be checked off; ten push-ups after brushing my teeth can. Tying a new habit to an existing routine, a technique BJ Fogg and James Clear both describe, gives it a reliable trigger. Start with one or two habits rather than ten, and make them bigger only once they feel automatic.
Missing a day is normal
Research on habit formation, such as a 2009 study by Phillippa Lally at University College London, found that it took participants anywhere from 18 to 254 days for a behaviour to become automatic, with a median of 66 days, and that missing a single day did not significantly set them back. The useful rule is never to miss twice in a row: the current streak here still counts if you check in today after missing only today so far.
Your data stays on this device
Habits and check-ins are saved in your browser's local storage. Nothing is uploaded, which keeps your routines private, but it also means the tracker does not sync between devices, and clearing your browser data erases it. Days are counted by your local calendar date.
Questions
Can I check in for a day I forgot?
Check-ins are for today only, which keeps the record honest.
Why did my current streak not reset this morning?
A streak counts up to yesterday until the day is over, so you still have today to check in and keep it going.
Can others see my habits?
No. They never leave your browser.