In a world where attention is a scarce commodity, developing virtuous habits has become an essential quest for anyone aspiring to increased productivity and lasting well-being. But how do you maintain this persistence, day after day, in the face of distractions and discouragement? That's where "streaks" come in.

What is a streak?

A "streak" is an uninterrupted chain of days (or any other period) during which a person performs a specific activity. This could be: running 3 miles every day, meditating for 10 minutes, reading a chapter of a book, writing 500 words, etc.

Origins: from Beeminder to Duolingo

The concept isn't new, but it has been popularized and gamified by platforms like Beeminder, which promises to charge you if you break your streak, and especially Duolingo, the language learning app that proudly displays your number of consecutive learning days. These successes have highlighted the psychological power of streaks.