How to Use HabitChart: From First Visit to Long-Term Success

Step 1: Start in Guest Mode

When you first visit HabitChart, click "Start Now" to jump right into guest mode. No email required, no password to remember—just instant access to the full projection engine.

You'll see a gallery of preset habits. These are carefully chosen micro-habits with realistic daily amounts:

• 📚 Read: 10 pages/day
• 🧘 Meditate: 10 minutes/day
• 💻 Code practice: 60 minutes/day
• 🚶 Daily walk: 8,000 steps/day

Pick one that resonates with you, or click "Create custom habit" to build your own.

Step 2: View Your Projection

Once you've chosen a habit, you'll see the projection chart. This shows two lines:

• Adopter (solid blue): That's you if you stick with this habit
• Non-adopter (dashed gray): That's you if you skip it

Use the horizon selector to see different time scales:

• 1 month: Quick wins to build momentum
• 1 year: See real transformation
• 10 years: Visualize life-changing results

Below the chart, you'll see outcome cards that translate your effort into tangible results. For example, 10 pages/day becomes "12 extra books read" in one year.

Step 3: Add More Habits (Optional)

Click "Add another habit" to see how multiple habits compound together. This is where HabitChart gets really powerful—you can visualize your entire daily routine and see how it shapes your future.

But be careful: free users are limited to 3 habits. This is intentional. It's better to nail 3 micro-habits than to spread yourself thin across 10.

Step 4: Use the Tweak Wizard

Once you've added a few habits, you might notice your time budget getting tight. That's where the Tweak Wizard comes in.

Click the time budget bar in your dashboard, then enter your available daily time (e.g., 30 minutes). Our AI will redistribute your habits to fit your schedule while maximizing long-term gains.

You'll see suggestions like:

Reading: 10 pages → 7 pages (-3)
Exercise: 30 mins → 20 mins (-10)
Meditation: 10 mins → 10 mins (no change)

Accept the changes with one click, or adjust manually.

Step 5: Sign In to Save Your Progress

When you're ready to commit, click "Send magic link" to create a free account. We'll send you an email with a login link—no password needed.

All your guest mode data automatically migrates to your account. Nothing is lost.

Step 6: Log Your Habits Daily

In your dashboard, you'll see today's and yesterday's checkboxes for each habit. Tap to log completion. That's it.

Your streak counter updates automatically. Aim for consistency, not perfection. Missing one day doesn't break your progress—missing two weeks does.

Step 7: Watch for Plateau Alerts

If your completion rate drops below 50% over two weeks, HabitChart's plateau detector will flag the habit and suggest:

• Reducing the daily amount
• Breaking it into smaller steps
• Focusing on consistency over intensity

Don't ignore these alerts. They're designed to help you succeed, not shame you for struggling.

Step 8: Upgrade When You're Ready

Free users get 3 habits and 30-day projections. If you want unlimited habits, all horizons (up to 50 years), and export capabilities, upgrade for a one-time payment of $4.99.

No subscription. No recurring charges. Just lifetime access.

Pro Tips

• Install the PWA (Add to Home Screen) for offline access and faster loading
• Check your weekly digest email for AI-generated motivation and stats
• Export your chart as PNG to share your progress with friends
• Start with one habit and nail it before adding more