I discovered this method some weeks ago. I started by trying it on 2 habits : stop smoking and go running 3 times a week. Results are relatively efficient : I achieved my goals respectively at 69% and 90%. Now I continue these two habits and I added others.

If you don’t know the X effect method, I suggest you to read information on the subreddit : https://www.reddit.com/r/theXeffect/wiki/index.

How I started

I used two different apps that make clearly the job. But I wasn’t satisfied by statistics. Actually none of the both satisfied me.

Mobile Applications

7 weeks is the app that is more comfortable to use. I used it daily, it was my main tool, the UX is quite good and not complex. The problem is it doesn’t provide many signifiant stats about your habit. When you finished a set of cards it’s useful to analyze when you did the best streak and other information to improve your behaviour.

7 weeks app screenshots

I also bought a second app : HabitHub. Compared to 7 weeks, the UX is not very easy but I have to admit it gives you more features (you can archive past habits), rewards management seems interesting but I didn’t achieve to use it easily. It provides a lot of stats but some are not correctly calculated and there are a lot a bugs. Sometimes your percents change without any modification anywhere else.

HabitHub app screenshots

Paper sheets

So I decided to try simple paper sheets. This way provides satisfaction by marking the X symbol on your cards table each day with a pen. I think it’s a very good way to get started with the X effect method. But there are inconvenients: you don’t get automatically stats. That was my first point of interest to get better daily routine.

My simple paper sheets

How came the idea of the Excel templates

And then I fell into the famous behavior: “I’m gonna make it by myself”.

Before writing lines of code by developing an umpteenth mobile application, I remembered suddenly that Excel provides graphics easily. In my daily life, I never work with Excel but I tried and it was quite ok for my needs. (Actually I used https://onedrive.live.com/)

So I created 2 different templates that I think are easy to use and enough simple to get understandable graphics. I shared it if people want to use these.

Daily template

Use it to get a daily habit. You can start at any date you want, just change the dates properly and let’s get started. Graphics are updated automatically. Stats are calculated for 7 weeks (49 days).

̶D̶o̶w̶n̶l̶o̶a̶d̶ ̶i̶t̶ ̶h̶e̶r̶e̶:̶ ̶h̶t̶t̶p̶:̶/̶/̶b̶i̶t̶.̶l̶y̶/̶x̶e̶f̶f̶e̶c̶t̶-̶d̶a̶i̶l̶y̶

Edit: reddit users helped me to add a dropdown list, download the new template here: http://bit.ly/xfx-day-dropdown

Weekly template

Use it if you wanna get an habit X times a week. Just change the number in the cell to choose the numbers of days per week you want, modify dates properly and let’s get started. Graphics are updated automatically. Stats are calculated for 7 weeks : a week is considered “done” when its goal is reached. Extra days on a week don’t offset a failed week.

̶D̶o̶w̶n̶l̶o̶a̶d̶ ̶i̶t̶ ̶h̶e̶r̶e̶ ̶:̶ ̶h̶t̶t̶p̶:̶/̶/̶b̶i̶t̶.̶l̶y̶/̶x̶e̶f̶f̶e̶c̶t̶-̶w̶e̶e̶k̶l̶y̶

Edit: reddit users helped me to add a dropdown list, download the new template here: http://bit.ly/xfx-wk-dropdown

Examples from my last habits

The X-Effect Method to running regularly (weekly)