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Welcome to another edition of the 1% Habits Newsletter!

This is where you’ll get up-to-date information on small wins to improve your habits, productivity, and life satisfaction. 

Let’s get to it.

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📈 The Hidden Trap of Habit Streaks (and How to Escape It)

Have you ever been so committed to a daily streak that it started to feel like a burden rather than a boost?

Let me tell you a quick story. For over 500 days—yes, that’s more than a year and a half—I had a perfect Wordle streak. Every single day, without fail, I’d open up the game, stare at those five blank squares, and puzzle out the day’s word. Some days I’d get it in three guesses, other days it took all six. But I always solved it.

Until last week.

I simply forgot. No dramatic reason. No technical glitch. Just life happening, and Wordle slipping through the cracks. When I realized my streak was broken, I was crushed—for about five minutes. Then, something strange happened: I felt a huge sense of relief.

Why? Because I realized I had been spending 10 to 15 minutes every day on Wordle, not because I loved the puzzle, but because I was chasing the streak. The pressure to keep the streak alive had quietly become a mini source of stress. Suddenly, I was free. I could move on with my life, no longer tethered to the daily ritual of five-letter words.

This little episode got me thinking: What’s the real value of a streak? And when is it okay—maybe even healthy—to let one go?

When the Streak Becomes the Goal

We all know why we start streaks. They’re a powerful way to build habits. You want to journal every day, meditate, walk 10,000 steps, or learn a new language. At first, the streak is a motivator. You don’t want to “break the chain,” as Jerry Seinfeld famously put it.

But something happens along the way. The streak itself starts to matter more than the habit you wanted to build in the first place.

I also realized this in a big way with Duolingo.

I had a streak of over 1,000 days. That’s nearly three years of opening the app every single day. But if I’m honest, I stopped really learning Spanish a long time ago. My daily practice devolved into tapping through the easiest lessons just to keep the streak alive. I wasn’t learning—I was clocking in.

So, after my Wordle streak broke, I did something radical: I purposefully ended my Duolingo streak. No reminders. No “streak freeze.” I just stopped.

It felt weird, but also…liberating.

Are You Chasing the Habit or the Streak?

Take a moment to think about your own streaks. Maybe you’ve got a step counter that buzzes if you don’t hit 10,000 steps. Maybe you journal every day, meditate, or try to read at least one page of a book. These are all great habits! But sometimes, the streak can start to overshadow the original purpose.

Here are some questions to ask yourself:

● Am I still enjoying this activity, or am I just doing it to keep the streak alive?

● Is this habit still serving my goals, or have I lost sight of why I started?

● Would missing a day actually matter, or am I just afraid of breaking the chain?

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When to Keep a Streak

Let’s be clear: streaks are powerful. They can help you build momentum, overcome inertia, and make a new habit stick. Here’s when it makes sense to keep your streak going:

1. The Habit Is Still Meaningful:

If your daily journaling, meditation, or language practice is genuinely adding value to your life, keep going! The streak is a bonus, not a burden.

2. You’re Still Challenging Yourself:

If you’re growing, learning, or pushing your limits—even a little—then the streak is helping you become better.

3. The Streak Motivates You:

If seeing that unbroken chain inspires you to show up, especially on tough days, then it’s working as intended.

When to Break a Streak

But sometimes, it’s better to let go. Here’s when you might want to break your streak:

1. The Habit Has Become Mindless:

If you’re just going through the motions (like me with Duolingo), you’re not really benefiting from the habit anymore.

2. It’s Causing Stress or Guilt:

If you feel anxious, guilty, or trapped by the need to “keep the streak alive,” it might be time to take a break.

3. Your Goals Have Changed:

Maybe what mattered to you a year ago isn’t as important today. That’s okay! Let your habits evolve with your life.

4. You Need Rest or Flexibility:

Life happens. Sometimes you need a day off, a change of pace, or just a little grace for yourself.

How to Decide: A Simple Checklist

If you’re wondering whether to keep or break a streak, try this quick exercise:

1. Write down why you started the streak. What was your original goal?

2. Ask yourself: Am I still getting that benefit? Or has the habit become a box to check?

3. Imagine breaking the streak. Does it feel like relief, or do you genuinely want to keep going?

4. Decide what matters more—the number, or the impact?

There’s no shame in breaking a streak. In fact, sometimes it’s the healthiest thing you can do. The point of a habit is to make your life better, not to add another source of stress.

Final Thoughts (and a Few Questions for You)

So, here’s my challenge: Take a fresh look at your streaks. Are they serving you, or are you serving them?

● What habits are you tracking right now?

● Are you excited to do them, or just afraid to break the chain?

● If you took a day off, what would really happen?

Remember, habits are tools, not chains. Use them to build a life you love—but don’t be afraid to set them down when they no longer serve you.

Here’s to doing what matters, not just what’s counted.

Talk soon,

Steve

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