Here are 1 Idea, 3 Actions, and 1 Question to consider this week.
Source Code: Watch the full video breakdown (~8 min)
1 Idea
When a habit fails, what do you blame first?
I ran a poll last week. 69% said "my discipline." Another 15% blamed motivation.
Here's the problem. When a bridge collapses, engineers don't blame the bridge for lacking discipline. They find the mechanical failure.
Your habits work the same way. You're not failing because you lack willpower. You're failing because your system runs on all-or-nothing logic.
Either execute perfectly, or do nothing.
That's not consistency. That's a design flaw.
Real consistency isn't perfection. It's survival. Most people only build one version of their habit - the ideal scenario. When that becomes impossible, they default to zero. The streak breaks, guilt compounds, and the identity fractures.
You need a system that survives your worst days. Here are the three protocols that make habits unbreakable.
84% are obsessed thinking they are the problem
3 Actions
1. Define Your Version 0.1
Most people only design the ideal version of their habit. When chaos hits, they do nothing.
The fix: Build two versions of every habit.
Version 1.0: The full thing (run 5 miles, write 1,000 words)
Version 0.1: The 60-second minimum (10 push-ups, one sentence)
On bad days, execute 0.1 without negotiation. It counts as a full win.
2. The Traffic Light Method
Binary tracking creates a guilt trap. You either win or lose. Anything less than perfect feels like failure.
The fix: Track in three colors.
Green: You did Version 1.0
Yellow: You did Version 0.1
Red: You did nothing
Yellow days are wins. They prove you show up when life falls apart.
3. The Identity Vote
Your brain doesn't track outcomes. It tracks patterns. Every action is a vote for who you're becoming.
The fix: Detach from results. Focus on the streak.
For instance, ten daily push-ups won't build muscle. But they prove you're still the person who shows up. Miss two weeks, and you rebuild trust from scratch. String together 90 days? The habit becomes who you are.
implement traffic light system for your habits
1 Question
Look at the one habit you're currently struggling to maintain.
What is the "stupidly easy" version (Version 0.1) that you could do in less than 60 seconds, even on your worst day?
Here's What This Actually Looks Like
I used these three protocols on my writing habit for the previous 12 months.
My results:
🟢180 Green days (Version 1.0 = Write 30 minutes daily)
🟡157 Yellow days (Version 0.1 = Write 2 minutes daily)
🔴28 Red days (Went to zero)
That's 337 out of 365 days showing up.
That’s not perfect. However, it’s unbreakable.
Here's what made it work:
The Tracker: A spreadsheet with Green/Yellow/Red cells. Takes 30 seconds to update each night. No app. No complexity. Just three colors.
The Sunday Review: 20-minute weekly ritual. Look at the patterns. Ask: "Is next week a growth week or a survival week?" Adjust expectations accordingly.
The Crash Protocol: When you disappear for 2 weeks (you will), there's a restart procedure. Mark the days "OFFLINE" (removes shame), do Version 0.1 for 2 days, back to normal by day 3.
I packaged this into the Annual Operating System.
Setup takes one Sunday. Then 30 seconds daily.
If you'd rather build your own version, the frameworks above will get you started.
Either way, reply and let me know what Version 0.1 of a habit you landed on. I read every response.
Ansh
Creator, Ideas To Thrive
P.P.S. I’m still refining this "1-3-1" format to make it as useful as possible for you. Did this feel too long? Too short? Just right? Hit reply and give me your honest critique.