I have a late ADHD diagnosis. For years I tracked my habits. I read get shit done and many habit books in my 20s. I obsessed over my tracking, believing on some level it would elevate my life.
Around 5 years ago, during covid I stopped. Looking back I can comfortably say that habit tracking caused me considerable distress and the benefits are mostly not there.
I now use obsidian and a digital peice of paper style. I use lists that have no timing or deadlines of any kind. When I am able, I pickup the list and do something.
This still causes me distress but the low effort, low maintainability method I find is just as effective and considerably reduces self punishment.
I also apply the same low effort style to journalling (also in obsidian). Journal entries are 'if I am motivated'.
After 20 years I found the best journal entries have 3 questions:
Comments
I have a late ADHD diagnosis. For years I tracked my habits. I read get shit done and many habit books in my 20s. I obsessed over my tracking, believing on some level it would elevate my life.
Around 5 years ago, during covid I stopped. Looking back I can comfortably say that habit tracking caused me considerable distress and the benefits are mostly not there.
I now use obsidian and a digital peice of paper style. I use lists that have no timing or deadlines of any kind. When I am able, I pickup the list and do something.
This still causes me distress but the low effort, low maintainability method I find is just as effective and considerably reduces self punishment.
I also apply the same low effort style to journalling (also in obsidian). Journal entries are 'if I am motivated'.
After 20 years I found the best journal entries have 3 questions:
1. What's not going well
2. What's going well
3. What one thing will make a difference today
Great that you finally found what's working for you!