the habit tracking applications

We all need to improve our working methods, no matter what field we’re in. You could be a drummer, an athlete, a writer — what you need first of all is an accurate record of the time spent with your drums, your weights, or your text editor. This is where a habit-tracking app proves useful.

what does a habit-tracking app not help with?

First of all, you can end up doing an activity just for the sake of ticking it off, or circling a new date on the calendar. But the activity should be done with focus and seriousness, with the desire to grow — not just to know it’s done. I repeat: if you’re a drummer, you need to practice to play better than you did last time. If you’re lifting weights, you need to train to exhaustion, not just to feel like you’re doing something. If you’re writing, obviously, you need to bring your own voice to the page. You’re not comparing yourself with anyone else — only with the person you were the day before. You’re not adding to what others have done, but investing in your own development.

Using the timer is good in principle, but efficiency is what really counts: that is what should be ticked off, not merely the activity itself. Checking off an activity should only happen when something meaningful has actually been done. Otherwise, there’s a danger of working just to ease your conscience.

For example, if your daily goal is to walk ten thousand steps and you only manage nine thousand, you should not mark it as completed. You may have done your best, but unfortunately, you didn’t reach your goal.

what are the downsides of an app like a habit-tracking app?

It can become stressful to feel like you must mark the date as “done.” Even if the stress isn’t harmful, somewhere deep down it creates a sense of obligation to be proactive.

what does a habit-tracking app bring?

A huge gain in self-knowledge — by giving you the ability to measure, in numbers, the time you’ve spent in each area you’re tracking. Vague impressions of productivity are replaced with concrete figures, which, more often than not, turn out to be lower than we expected.

Another great benefit is the insight into the time not spent in a certain area. We can find out how many days it’s been since we last did something.

A habit-tracking app can also be helpful when a significant distraction disrupts someone’s usual routine. We all know how difficult it is to restart an effective schedule after a holiday or even a short trip. That’s why habit-tracking applications serve as good and consistent reminders of the main projects we need to pursue.