You're so right about these streaks and counts. Good for you to take a break from it. I was very upset with the Wordle app in December when for some reason it killed my 156 day streak. I was bummed. At some point I finally thought, why do I care? But then I have to admit that yesterday I took the dogs for a walk without my phone in my pocket and was disappointed because it might bring down my average # of steps. But wait, I still got in the exercise, which is really the point right? I clearly have more work to do on the streak-killing.
Thank you!! Definitely, it’s a double-edged sword. Streaks can motivate you to keep up a healthy habit, but they also obscure the habit and the point of the streak itself. Do you want to do the thing or have proof that you did it? Also, I’m a bit bothered by all strategies meant to keep me on my phone when it’s already such a struggle to limit THAT habit.
There definitely is a dopamine rush in seeing how many steps you’ve gotten… but I love a walk sans cellular phone even more!
No doubt these companies (DuoLingo, Peloton, so many others) have carefully studied and employed this approach, just to keep us coming back. It’s a science for them, but for us it’s our precious time and freedom! Better to have a “healthy” streak like either of these I suppose, but I’m proud of you for breaking the chains and pursuing self-care / self-improvement on your terms!
Omg the way you nailed Duolingo’s weird little characters 😂😂 Love this article! It made me feel a little better about accidentally letting my peloton streak lapse. I showed it to Arjun to see if it would make him rethink his crossword streak and he said “hmm” but added “she’s a very good writer!” So I think he’ll keep streaking but we both agree you’re so so talented ❤️
Perfectly put. Wordle randomly dropped my hundreds-of-days streak one day in December. Makes one wonder what the point ever was, if one can arbitrarily be kicked back to zero. Thanks for sharing your break up with streaks!
You're so right about these streaks and counts. Good for you to take a break from it. I was very upset with the Wordle app in December when for some reason it killed my 156 day streak. I was bummed. At some point I finally thought, why do I care? But then I have to admit that yesterday I took the dogs for a walk without my phone in my pocket and was disappointed because it might bring down my average # of steps. But wait, I still got in the exercise, which is really the point right? I clearly have more work to do on the streak-killing.
Great photo of you at In N Out!
Thank you!! Definitely, it’s a double-edged sword. Streaks can motivate you to keep up a healthy habit, but they also obscure the habit and the point of the streak itself. Do you want to do the thing or have proof that you did it? Also, I’m a bit bothered by all strategies meant to keep me on my phone when it’s already such a struggle to limit THAT habit.
There definitely is a dopamine rush in seeing how many steps you’ve gotten… but I love a walk sans cellular phone even more!
No doubt these companies (DuoLingo, Peloton, so many others) have carefully studied and employed this approach, just to keep us coming back. It’s a science for them, but for us it’s our precious time and freedom! Better to have a “healthy” streak like either of these I suppose, but I’m proud of you for breaking the chains and pursuing self-care / self-improvement on your terms!
Omg the way you nailed Duolingo’s weird little characters 😂😂 Love this article! It made me feel a little better about accidentally letting my peloton streak lapse. I showed it to Arjun to see if it would make him rethink his crossword streak and he said “hmm” but added “she’s a very good writer!” So I think he’ll keep streaking but we both agree you’re so so talented ❤️
letting your streak lapse to run a literal marathon is the ULTIMATE streak breaking QUEEN behavior! Thanks, Laura and Arjun!
Perfectly put. Wordle randomly dropped my hundreds-of-days streak one day in December. Makes one wonder what the point ever was, if one can arbitrarily be kicked back to zero. Thanks for sharing your break up with streaks!
oof!!! But YOU know you Wordled like a champ! And that's what matters!