This is the 30th essay of my 30-day essay writing challenge!

For a large portion of my life I was consistent at almost nothing.

While self-teaching my way to becoming a software engineer, I learned a couple of strategies, and I wanted to share them here.

Streak Based Consistency

Do X for Y days.

It's a good formula.

This sort of consistency is good for rocketing through an initial learning curve, though I wouldn't recommend it as a long term strategy.

Here are my three rules for being successful with it:

Couple the action to something that happens every day.

As soon as I put my infant down to sleep I sit at my computer to write my essay.

The biggest struggle is arriving at a place to do your work.

Put aside expectations about the quality of your output

Streaks are built by doing the minimum and being surprised at what it adds up to.

Do not push hard

You know that feeling when you strain near the finish line?

Don't do that.

My unscientific explanation is that your subconscious remembers "Doing this thing hurts." and creates greater drag next time you try to do that activity.

Project Based Consistency

This is consistency for the long haul.

There is a skill you want to master or a body of work you want to complete, and you know that being consistent is the key to accomplishing your goal.

But, since there is no exact expectation of how you'll get there, you'll need some structure.

Begin with failure in mind: A ritual and net for beginning again.

I believe you can't form a habit without falling off of it three or four times.

The only question is: will you get back on track?

You need systems to catch that you've stopped, and a way to welcome yourself back without punishment.

Time Tracking

Being able to see how consistent you are breeds consistency.

Counterintuitively, you don't need to analyze it past "did I do this most days?".

For me, close to every day is easiest, but we are all different, and finding what makes you most productive is the most powerful strategy of all.