7 Habit Tracking Mistakes and How to Fix Them

The most common habit tracking mistakes are tracking too many habits, setting goals that are too big, chasing perfect streaks, and not planning for misses. Each has a simple fix.

1. Tracking too many habits

Start with one to three. Every habit you add competes for the same attention.

2. Setting goals that are too big

“Run 5 km daily” fails on a bad day. “Put on running shoes” does not.

3. Chasing a perfect streak

Perfection is fragile. Allow for the occasional miss, as in Leeway’s leeway days.

4. No plan for misses

Decide in advance what you do after a missed day. Read what to do when you miss a day.

5. Vague habits

“Be healthier” cannot be checked off. “Walk 8,000 steps” can.

6. Tracking without a cue

Attach the habit to something you already do. See habit stacking.

7. Never reviewing

Look at your heatmap once a week. Notice which days fail and why, then adjust the schedule or the size of the habit. A calendar heatmap makes patterns easy to see.