5 Habit Tracking Methods to Help You Build Good Habits

Tracking your habits is a great way to stick to them long-term! By using these approaches, you can keep track of habits and develop new ones.

Growing a new habit involves performing the same task time and again. For most people, it becomes difficult to form new habits without tracking how often they perform the tasks or meet the goals.

However, there are different techniques of tracking habits that help you measure the commitment towards the goal. Check out the habit tracking methods you can use to move in the right direction.

1. Bullet Journal Method

It’s one of the most common habit tracking methods. If you’re involved in planning and fine arts, you’ll find it useful. You can use different ways to incorporate a habit tracker within the bullet journal.

Here are a few layouts you can use to track habits in the following manner:

• Standard Journal Layouts: This grid-based layout format includes 30/31 spaces, depending on the number of days in a month. If you’re a beginner or want to track a lot of habits, go for this layout.
• Personalized Layout: This format is ideal for tracking only a few habits. It shows individual habit progress through a neat visual. You can create it in various styles, but make sure you don't get lost in the artistic aspect.

If you want to try digital bullet journaling, Elisi will be helpful. This online habit tracker and planner offers a digital version of the traditional offline method named Bullet Journaling.

The app automatically creates recurring tasks and calendars for each month. Thus, it saves you from the manual labor of drawing and formatting the journal. It offers statistics on the progress of the habits you're trying to form. Moreover, the app motivates you to keep your habit streak going.

Download: Elisi for Windows | macOS | Android | iOS (Free)

2. Computerized Habit Tracking

If you don't prefer the manual method of tracking habits, you can always opt for the computerized method. You can use spreadsheets such as Microsoft Excel or Google Sheets if you have a knack for data and statistics.

While forming habits, the streak isn’t the only key performance indicator (KPI). There are many other metrics, such as completion time, completion rate, comparison between different habit formations, etc.

These spreadsheets can automatically calculate and provide these statistics in numbers, charts, graphs, and percentages. So, you can review the stats to understand your progress towards achieving the goal.

You can adjust your habits anytime, according to the statistics. If you find something irrelevant, you can delete it quickly. Moreover, you can add new habits if necessary.

Related: Android Apps That Will Help You Quit Bad Habits

You’ll never run out of space here, as you can use numerous cells and tabs. A smooth scrolling system also provides ease of navigation.

However, you always have to open your computer to enter your progress. If you’re trying to form habits without computer access, this might not be the best option.

If you’re a spreadsheet pro, create your own habit tracking sheet on Excel or Google Sheets. You can also download these templates for Excel and Google Sheets habit tracker.

3. The Notebook Method

It’s another manual method of habit tracking but, this doesn’t need you to draw and fill bullet journals. Here, it requires you to track your goals on a printable template.

If you like the traditional pen and paper method, this will require less time and effort than Bullet Journaling. Having the notebook habit tracker might also need you to carry it when you’re out. Moreover, storing the tracker papers for many months can be a hassle.

To prevent yourself from forgetting to track your daily habits, stick the printed templates to a commonplace in your home, instead of your notebook. If you put it on your fridge, desk, front door, you’ll see it every day and remember to mark the habits.

4. Pre-Dated Planners

Do you keep a paper-based personal planner or agenda? Then, add the habit tracker in that journal system to avoid managing additional papers or notebooks.

Since the planner has a fixed space for agendas and monthly overviews, you don't have the privilege to add new pages. However, utilizing the planner sidebar to track habits can be a cool hack.

There are various planners available in the market that offer extra sidebar space in the weekly sections. You can add habits there and track the progress.

Related: Custom Planners You Can Easily Make With Google Drive

You can also purchase sidebar habit tracker stickers. Here, you can add the habit and mark the seven checkboxes for the activity of each day.

Apart from that, you can use the page designated for the monthly overview for tracking habits. Choose a color for a particular habit and add a checkmark with that color on each day when you perform that habit.

5. Habit Tracking Apps

The most sophisticated and automated way of habit tracking is to use a smartphone or browser-based apps. These apps are simple to use so that you don't have to invest much time in creating templates.

All you need to do is to provide input about your habits. Most of the habit-tracking apps these days come with features like accessibility, an easy-to-use user interface (UI), full automation, and visual statistics. Here are some popular habit tracking apps that you can try out:

1. Streaks

This is an iOS-based app that helps you build new habits. Its reminder feature also alerts you if you fail to achieve any goal. Besides having an extremely customizable interface, it keeps you motivated to maintain a 12-day streak of a good habit.

Download: Streaks for iOS (Price: $4.99)

2. Habitica

This fun-filled app derives its inspiration from RPG video games. It lets you track and maintain good habits. You’ll get rewards after completing tasks and missions in this app while building habits simultaneously.

Download: Habitica for iOS | Android (Free)

3. Habitbull

You can build positive habits like reading, writing, meditation, etc., with Habitbull. The smartphone app comes with advanced features like graphical trackers, reminders, widgets, and multi-device syncing. You can create habit tracking charts using the app to export them as CSV files.

Download: Habitbull for iOS | Android (Free)

Choose the Habit Tracking Method You Love Most

Now that you’re familiar with the common types of habit tracking methods, you can use any of them to form healthy habits.

As different approaches suit different people, choose your favorite based on your personality and working style. Good habits can help you overcome procrastination.

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