# Build a habit

Canonical: https://godspeedmissioncontrol.com/guide/habits

## Start a habit

Say the habit, what counts as done, and on which days:

```text
New habit for my health: ten minutes of stretching every evening. Done means ten minutes on the mat, every day.
```

It confirms all three, and asks once for anything you left out. Pick every day or chosen weekdays: "three times a week" is not counted as a streak. Up to five habits can be active at once.

## Mark it done

Say `did stretching`, `stretching done` or `track stretching`. For another day: `did stretching yesterday`.

```text
Tracked: stretching, done today.
```

## Answer the evening habit check

At 21:00, it asks once about each habit planned for that day with nothing tracked yet. Reply:

- `yes` if you did it
- `no` if you did not
- `skip` if today should not count, for example because you were ill

With several habits, answer in the order listed, such as `yes no`. No reply is fine: the day stays blank.

On the [one-line server](/guide/glossary#one-line-server) the check comes in Telegram. On your own computer it is a note in the notebook's folder **From your routines**, and you answer in the notebook's chat.

The check starts with the routines your [first goal](/guide/first-goal) sets up. Until then, nothing asks in the evening.

## Take a day back

Say `delete the last stretching`, `undo that` or `that was a mistake`. You see "Taken back: stretching, today."

## The habit page

In the notebook, open **Collections**. Each habit has a card on the **Trackers** shelf. Open it:

- **I did it** marks today as done.
- **Add or correct a day** fixes any day as **Done**, **Not done** or **Excused day**.
- **Pauses and display** pauses the habit, excuses a break, or hides streaks for a calm view.
- **Recorded days from the last year** changes any day's answer, or takes it back with **Undo latest entry**.


## How the streak forgives

- Every day you did it stays in the lifetime total, even after a break.
- Two missed days in any 30 days are covered automatically.
- A day with no answer stays open for 48 hours, in case you track it late.
- Holidays and illness can be excused afterwards, and `skip` days count neither way.