Habit Science
The Science of Rewards and Habit Motivation
How rewards shape habits: dopamine and wanting, immediate vs delayed rewards, intrinsic vs extrinsic motivation, and how to design rewards that last.
11 min readThe archive
A journal for
showing up.
192 articles on the small actions that shape a day. Browse the archive or find a specific topic.
Habit Science
Variable Reward Schedules (Why Habits Are Addictive)
Discover why slot machines, social media, and certain habits are impossible to quit. Learn how variable rewards hijack your brain and how to use them for good.
12 min read Accountability
Accountability Without a Partner: 5 Ways That Work
No accountability partner? Five ways to get accountability on your own or with strangers, from public tracking to camera-free group sessions, and how to choose.
9 min read Tools & Resources
Best Accountability Apps: 10 Picks by Type (Free & Paid)
Compare 10 accountability apps by how they keep you on track: partners, groups, co-working sessions, and money on the line. Free options for each type.
10 min read Tools & Resources
How Cohorty Focus Sessions Work, Minute by Minute
What happens before, during and after a 30-minute Cohorty session: entering the room, one-line notes, applause, Done, and Finished or Showed up.
7 min read Tools & Resources
Cohorty Free vs Plus: Which Plan Do You Need?
Compare Cohorty Free and Plus ($3/month): what each includes, who should upgrade, and a quick test to tell whether the daily session times fit your habit.
5 min read Tools & Resources
Cohorty Plus: Open Your Own Times and Repeat Bookings
How Cohorty Plus works: open a session at any half hour, repeat it on the days you choose, and let others join you. Setup steps, limits and pricing.
7 min read Tools & Resources
Cohorty vs Focusmate: Camera-Free Rooms or 1:1 Video?
Cohorty vs Focusmate compared: one-to-one video with a matched partner, or a camera-free shared room at a set time. Format, price and who each suits.
7 min read Tools & Resources
Focusmate Alternatives: 8 Body Doubling Options Compared
Compare 8 Focusmate alternatives for body doubling: hosted groups, camera-free sessions, free study rooms, and more, with pricing and camera rules.
10 min read Tools & Resources
How to Use Cohorty: Book, Show Up, and Track Your Habit
A step-by-step guide to Cohorty: add a habit, book a 30-minute session, work alongside others with no camera, and see your rhythm on your private page.
8 min read Focus & Routines
Virtual Body Doubling: How to Do It Online, Even Camera-Free
How virtual body doubling works, the main online formats (1:1 video, hosted groups, camera-free sessions), and how to run your first session.
11 min read
Accountability
How to Restart After Your Accountability Partner Ghosts
When an accountability partner stops replying, choose a clear follow-up boundary, keep your own routine going, and decide whether to find a new arrangement.
8 min read