Askesis

CHOOSING YOUR TOOL

How to choose a challenge with community accountability

Choose a challenge with one clear action, a realistic duration and a check-in you are comfortable sharing. A community can provide a place to return and people to check in with; it cannot do the action for you.

Before joiningYour decision
ActionOne observable thing you can do
DurationA period you can realistically commit to
VisibilityInformation you are comfortable sharing
ReviewWhen you will decide what to change

Make the commitment specific

“Get fitter” is an intention. “Take a walk each day for 14 days” is something you can check in on. Decide what counts as completion before starting. Choose an action that fits an ordinary busy day, not only a day when everything goes to plan.

Choose the right kind of support

Some people want to track privately; others prefer checking in with participants working on similar commitments. Askesis for iPhone is the personal challenge product. Askesis Community at goaskesis.com is the separate web product for shared participation. If an ongoing solo routine is all you need, consider HabitSet instead.

Know what you are sharing

Review the current privacy policy and challenge visibility before joining or posting. Keep a public check-in short: the action, whether you completed it and an observation you want to share. Avoid posting medical details, contact information or other information you would not want participants to see.

Decide what happens after a missed day

A missed day is a useful signal to review the commitment. Was the action too large, the timing unsuitable or the reminder easy to overlook? Choose the next practical action. The community and tracker can make participation visible, but neither guarantees adherence or a particular health or productivity outcome.

Review before repeating

At the end of the period, compare the commitment with what actually happened. Keep the parts that fitted your life, change the parts that did not and choose whether another challenge makes sense. For a product or business execution problem, a conversation about the bottleneck may be more useful than another personal challenge.

Product information

These are separate products. Check their pages for current features, terms and purchase options.