X Effect

I’m not sure where this originated, but the internet has decided that streaks of X’s on cards are the most effective way to start or break habits. The effect seems to work similarly for starting new habits.

This method has also been credited to Jerry Seinfeld according to this article from 2007.

He said for each day that I do my task of writing, I get to put a big red X over that day. “After a few days you’ll have a chain. Just keep at it and the chain will grow longer every day. You’ll like seeing that chain, especially when you get a few weeks under your belt. Your only job next is to not break the chain.” - Brad Isaac

Android App Employing The Method

Habits is a good Android App I would recommend.

It works well, is maintained, and has perfectly simple visualizations. Whether you are tracking Habits, Tasks, Goals, Activities or Achievements (e.g. clean house, take medicine, shave, exercise, don’t drink/smoke etc.) this “X” chain or streak method.

Simulating The X Effect in Google Calendar

  • add recurring To Dos (e.g. pay bills) in Google Calendar
  • add Goals (e.g. workout) in Google Calendar
  • use Google Keep to manage lists of single-occurrence tasks (e.g. fix this) and associate a reminder in Google Calendar

The UI of Google Calendar does not provide the best view of tracking X’s over time, but it does offer Goals and To Dos in addition to normal events and crosses out those that have been marked as done, and reschedules those that have been dismissed.

Time Tracking

Time tracking is another effective way to keep yourself on task and make sure to get the important things done before diverging down a rabbit hole of internet links.

Toggle is a popular tool that offers Google Calendar integration and beautiful reports

Automation

Automation is a great way to simply collect data on background activities.

If This Then That is a good app for automating tasks and organizing your life. For example, I use it to log an entry in Google Calendar every time I enter or exit the office.