How I'm Changing My Habit Tracking in 2026: From Quantity to Intentional Quality

Dominic Hart

Reflecting on Past Habit Tracking [0:00]

The creator found his 2025 habit tracking method, which involved tracking numerous habits daily, to be effective for achieving goals like an ultramarathon and fundraising.

• While successful and impactful on others, he felt a lack of deeper intention by the end of the year.
• He admitted to "chucking in habits for the sake of habit tracking" rather than focusing on personal transformation.

  

Embracing a New Intention for 2026 [1:10]

For 2026, the creator is shifting to a new philosophy for habit tracking, prioritizing quality and intentionality over quantity.

• The core intention is "not doing more things, but doing more of the right things."
• The new method involves hyper-focusing on a single habit each month to integrate it deeply into his desired identity.
• He aims to ask "who do I want to be?" and "what habits does that person do every day?" to live that lifestyle.

2026 Reset Exercises [2:03]

Before diving into the new habit tracking system, the creator outlines a series of introspective exercises in his journal designed for self-reflection and goal setting.

• My Eulogy [2:43]
  • This activity encourages reflection on one's legacy and desired impact.
  • Prompts guide the writing process:
    • What were your core values?
    • What did your family look like?
    • What was your job?
    • How did you show up every day?
    • What were you known for?
    • What is the legacy you leave behind?

      

• Look at the Trends [3:08]
  • After writing the eulogy, identify recurring positive themes or desired qualities.
  • Examples from his own eulogy include passion, enthusiasm, and curiosity.

    

• Limiting Beliefs [3:37]
  • Confront and articulate self-imposed limitations or negative thought patterns.
  • He shared his own limiting belief: "it could all crumble apart through my fingertips."

    

• Your Priorities [4:00]
  • Visually represent current life priorities using a pie chart and then illustrate desired changes.
  • Categories can be customized, but he suggests areas like learning and work.

    

• Five Vulnerable Questions & 2026 Goals [4:20]
  • Answer five hard-hitting questions for deep self-reflection during transitional times.
  • Define clear goals for the year.
  • Anti-Goals [4:37]: List things you explicitly don't want to give up or do.
    • Examples: quality time with loved ones, not chasing what others want, creating what he wants.

      

• Letter to Your Future Self & Vision Board [5:02]
  • Write a personal letter to be opened at a later date, providing a future message or reward.
  • Create a vision board, which is a collage of visual representations of goals.

    

My Habit Tracker Set Up [5:40]

The new habit tracker focuses on intentionality and understanding the impact of habits, rather than just checking them off.

• It moves away from the previous high-quantity tracking.
• The system combines daily reflections, core habits, and deep dives into one monthly focus habit.

  

What You Need [7:26]

To set up this new habit tracker, you will need simple stationery.

• A multi-colored pen for distinguishing different graphs and data.
• A ruler for drawing straight lines and structured layouts.
• A gridded journal (a "must-have" for organization).

  

How to Set it Up [7:54]

A step-by-step guide to creating the monthly spread in the journal.

• Page 1: Daily Tracking
  • Write the month title (e.g., "January").
  • List the days of the month vertically.
  • Include a "Memorable Moments" section for a single, one-line entry each day.
• Page 2: Baseline Habits & Focus Habit Graphs
  • Create vertical columns for "baseline habits" – essential non-negotiables.
    • Examples: Exercise, Creatine, Speak to a stranger.
  • Implement multiple graphs for the month's single hyper-focused habit.
    • The main focus habit is stated (e.g., "Reading 30 pages a day" or "Screen time").
    • Additional graphs track related metrics and feelings.
      • Example: For "reading," track "pages read," "mood," and "stress."
      • Example: For "getting off social media," track "screen time," "phone pickups," and "deep work."
  • This allows for a "science experiment" approach, observing how one variable (the focus habit) affects others (mood, stress, productivity).

    

• Daily Logging Example [10:02]
  • Each morning, reflect on the previous day.
  • Write down a memorable moment.
  • Tick off completed baseline habits.
  • Log data for the focus habit and its correlated metrics (e.g., screen time, mood, deep work hours).

2026 is Your Year! [11:05]

The creator encourages viewers to adopt this intentional approach to habit tracking.

• The goal is to avoid life becoming "one big optimization" that leads to exhaustion and stress.
• By being intentional and designing the life you want, personal transformation is well within reach.