Tracking habits:
3 methods compared

Three methods

• Paper sticker chart — you see the boxes fill up and sticking is fun. More goals means more charts.
• X’s on a calendar — you keep going so the chain of X’s isn’t broken. One calendar per goal.
• Habit app — several goals in one place, with stats kept for you.

Paper sticker chart

Stickers go on a chart with a fixed number of boxes, like a bunch of grapes; fill it and you get a reward, so there is a clear finish. Its best feature is sitting on the fridge where you see it daily; its weakness is that you can’t add a sticker when you’re out.

X’s on a calendar

Cross off each day you did it and try not to break the chain. Great for streaks, but many people lose motivation entirely once the chain breaks. See when a habit streak breaks.

Stamp board app

These are real screens from the Android app "My Praise Stamp Board", which moves the "fill one chart" idea to your phone. Goal names in the screenshots are Korean sample data; the app itself runs in English.

1

Create a goal and a board

Tap Add goal and enter a goal name, a reward for finishing a board and an optional group, then pick a board shape: Grapes, Tree, Cake, Stars or Stairs. One board has 10 boxes.

2

Stamp the days you do it

Tap Add stamp to fill a box and see progress like "5 / 10". Stamped by mistake? The undo button removes the last stamp.

Side by side

FAQ

Related guides

• How to size a habit goalInstant yes/no · starts in 5 minutes · works on bad days
• How to set rules for a kids’ reward chartOne goal · 10 boxes · never take stickers off · agreed reward
• What to do when a habit streak breaksTotals over streaks · rules for filling missed days · never miss twice
• All Stamp Board guides10 guides in one place