We’re freaks for streaks

Healthy habits can make us more productive. They can strengthen our teeth and bones. Help us overcome temptation. 

But for free spirits who try to live mindfully, habitual behavior can feel like a trap. A maddening loop of repetition and automation.

So here’s a dirty little secret: Some nights I’m all tucked into my cozy bed. The show I’m watching is over. I rethink self care and basic hygiene, and I shut the light.

Just like that, my teeth-brushing streak is broken. But who’s counting?

A habit becomes a streak when we start tracking and charting our progress. The longer a streak goes on, the greater the perceived gain of continuing. And on the flip side, the greater the perceived loss of quitting.

Marketers know this!

In early high school, my son maintained Snapchat streaks with something like 200 friends. Every time I looked at him he was taking a selfie of himself rolling his eyes—and robotically hitting send. That look on his face drove me mad!

Some streaks can be fun. Others can suck us into guilt, pride, even fear. The meditation app Waking Up actually removed the streak feature because it was freaking people out. It helped some people maintain their daily practice. But for others, it created the kind of pressure that ran counter to mindfulness and self compassion.

Which brings me to Wordle. It’s a fun game, sure. But do we need to play it every day? The minute we open our eyes? And then gloat or commiserate over our results in group texts and on social media? 

My current streak on Wordle is 41 days, which means I solved the puzzle that many days in a row. The question is why do I care. Why do you?

How about we take a peek at our streaks? Let’s be sure they’re serving us well. Maybe give ourselves a break.

Shoot for consistency not perfection. My teeth are pretty clean. I try to post a blog twice a month. When I swear off dairy, I’ll still have a nip of cheese if I want it. If our skin can sag, why can’t our motivation flag?  

Let your streaks unfold naturally. The Shabbat She-Zoom Friday-night streak of 100 weeks snuck up on us. Only after nearly two years did we look back and count—and suddenly a streak was born. A streak might be as simple as noticing the ease you feel in a new friend’s company. Every time you see him or her.

Think about why. There are good reasons to quit an addiction or start a healthy habit. Keeping count can serve a purpose. Create accountability. But before starting or continuing a streak, let’s be sure our rationale is rational. 

Solving Wordle every day doesn’t make us smart. But sharing our results keeps us connected. If we skip a day, our friends or family may worry. They might even call the police.

So for now, I’ll keep playing the game before I have my coffee. Because my why makes sense.

But one of these days, if I wake up in someone else’s bed I might just skip the puzzle.