Introduction
Keeping track of habits can feel like juggling too many balls at once. You want to exercise more, drink enough water, read daily, or maybe spend less time on social media. But keeping a mental note of these tasks?
Not so easy. That’s where a habit tracker comes in handy. It’s like a personal accountability partner that keeps you on track, and when paired with Notion, it becomes a powerful tool.
Notion isn’t just for managing tasks or taking notes—it can help you set up a habit tracker with progress bars that make your progress visual and encouraging.
This isn’t just about being productive; it’s about making small, meaningful changes to your daily life. And the best part? You don’t need to be tech-savvy to set it up.
In this post, I’ll walk you through how to build a habit tracker in Notion step-by-step, complete with progress bars to track how far you’ve come.
Let’s dive in!
Why Use a Habit Tracker?
A habit tracker is like a mirror—it reflects your progress and helps you see patterns in your behavior. Studies show that tracking habits can significantly improve the likelihood of success.
According to a study by Phillippa Lally at University College London, it takes an average of 66 days to form a new habit. A habit tracker helps you stay committed during that crucial period by making your progress visible.
Why Notion?
Notion is incredibly flexible and allows for customization that fits your style. Unlike traditional habit trackers on paper or apps with limited options, you can build a system that reflects exactly what you need.
Plus, Notion’s database functionality makes it easy to analyze your habits over time.
How Do I Build a Habit Tracker in Notion?
Step 1: Open a New Database
- Go to Notion and create a new page.
- Choose a table database. This will be the foundation for your habit tracker.
Step 2: Set Up Columns for Habits and Dates
- Create a column for each habit you want to track.
- Add a column for the date to mark when you completed the habit.
Step 3: Add Progress Bars
Progress bars are the fun part—they turn numbers into something visual and motivating. Here’s how to add one:
- Add a new column and select “Formula.”
- Use this formula to calculate progress:plaintext
"".repeat(floor(prop("Completed") / prop("Goal") * 10)) + "⬜".repeat(10 - floor(prop("Completed") / prop("Goal") * 10))
This creates a bar with green squares () for completed portions and white squares (⬜) for the remaining.
Step 4: Customize the Appearance
- Add emojis to make your tracker more engaging.
- Color-code your habits for clarity.
Step 5: Track Daily and Review Weekly
- Check off habits each day.
- At the end of the week, review your progress and adjust your goals if needed.
Tips for Staying Consistent
- Start Small: Don’t overwhelm yourself with too many habits. Focus on 2-3 to start.
- Be Honest: It’s okay to miss a day. Use it as feedback, not failure.
- Automate Reminders: Use Notion’s integration with apps like Google Calendar to remind yourself.
FAQs
Can I use templates for my habit tracker?
Absolutely. Notion has a range of free and paid templates for habit trackers. These can save you time if you don’t want to build one from scratch.
Do I need to pay for Notion to create a habit tracker?
Nope! The free version of Notion is enough for building a habit tracker with progress bars.
What if I don’t know how to use formulas in Notion?
Notion’s formula feature can seem tricky at first, but there are plenty of simple guides and communities online to help. Plus, the formula provided above is copy-and-paste ready!
Conclusion
Creating a habit tracker in Notion with a progress bar isn’t just about organizing your habits—it’s about making them stick. It’s a simple yet powerful tool to help you achieve your goals, one step at a time.
What habits would you like to track with your new Notion setup? Let me know!
GIPHY App Key not set. Please check settings