Being productive is tough. There’s always something else I’d rather be doing (looking at you, Netflix).
That’s why I decided to experiment with different productivity methods this year, starting with one that’s all about consistency: Don’t Break the Chain.
Here’s how it works and what happened when I gave it a shot.
What is the Don’t Break the Chain method?
I first learned about this productivity method in a blog on Todoist and then again on Lifehacker. (Yeah, productivity concepts stalk me on the internet.)
At its core, the Don’t Break the Chain method is a simple but powerful productivity technique. It’s all about consistency and turning daily tasks into a habit.
The concept: Create a visual representation of your progress by marking off each day on a calendar when you successfully complete a specific task or goal.
The goal: Create an unbroken chain of successes that motivates you to keep going.
It’s like turning your to-do list into a streak that you don’t want to break. Pretty genius, right?
It’s often used for habit-building and can be especially useful when you’re trying to stick to a New Year’s resolution, build good habits, or stay consistent with a long-term goal.
Chain reaction: the highs and lows of streak-based productivity
I decided to give this method a whirl to amp up my writing game. (I’d like to write a novel someday.)
Getting started
My goal? To write for at least 30 minutes a day on my personal projects. Sounds easy, right?
Now, let me spill the real tea. When I first started, just marking the calendar didn't quite light the motivational fire I anticipated. I mean, sure, I felt a small sense of accomplishment every time I checked off a day, but it wasn’t enough to make me excited to stick to my goal.
The challenges
I needed more motivation. More fun. More oomph. So, I turned to mobile apps like Don’t Break the Chain, Momentum, and Streaks to track my progress and remind me when to write.
While these were useful in helping me stay on track (giving me notifications and reminders throughout the day), I still wasn’t as committed as I wanted to be. I realized I needed something a little more gamified.
The answer
I started thinking about it, and what I really needed was an app like Duolingo, but for goals.
What I like about Duolingo (a great language learning app) is that it gamifies everything. You have your streak (I’m at 1760 days! 🔥), but you get rewards when you reach X number of days in a row. You can also add your friends and give each other high-fives for achievements, which adds some fun and accountability to it.
All this to say: I wanted something like that. After some research and general searching, I tried Habitica, which lets you complete tasks, gain points, level up, and even battle monsters by hitting your daily targets.
Habitica made my writing routine fun. I was no longer just marking off days on a calendar; I was fighting to maintain my streak, earning rewards, and seeing my progress in a new way. Writing became a challenge that I actually looked forward to.
What worked and what didn’t
What worked? The Don’t Break the Chain method, coupled with a gamified app like Habitica, has turned my writing routine into a genuine passion project.
I went from just trying to complete a task to actually wanting to hit my writing target each day. The visual representation of my progress, combined with the sense of achievement and the game-like rewards, kept me motivated to push beyond the initial 30-minute goal. On average, I was churning out 600–700 words per session, which is proof that consistency really does add up.
But what didn’t work? Well, if your task lacks a clear structure or isn’t something you can easily track on a daily basis, this method might not be as effective. The Don’t Break the Chain technique thrives with measurable, repeatable actions—things you can do every day (like exercise, journaling, or even reading).
Final thoughts
You can use this for any type of new habit, from exercise or drinking more water to journaling, meditating, or learning something new.
If you’re looking to build new habits like these or stay consistent with your goals, the Don’t Break the Chain method could be the perfect tool.
The visual progress, combined with a little friendly competition (thanks, Habitica), might just be the motivation you need to stick with it.
So, grab your calendar or planner, pick a goal, and don’t break the chain! The momentum could be the secret to finally achieving that goal you’ve been putting off.
And don’t forget that Paperlike can help you when you’re on the go. Our Screen Protector makes it easy to mark up your digital calendar, giving you the texture and resistance you need to keep your handwriting looking neat and clean.
