Habit Stacks - Behavioral Habit & Environment Design
An Atomic Habits-inspired mobile application built with React Native and Expo that couples daily triggers with contextual environment design preparations.
- React Native
- Expo
- React Native Reanimated
- TypeScript
Problem
Standard habit trackers rely solely on willpower and binary checklists, ignoring the behavioral psychology that habits stick best when anchored to existing routines and friction-reducing environments.
Solution
Habit Stacks guides users through implementation intentions ("After [Trigger] → I will [Action]") and recommends practical physical environment modifications to eliminate friction beforehand.
My role
Product designer and mobile engineer - designed habit stacking taxonomy, environment suggestion algorithm, and local-first persistence.
Impact
Shifts habit formation from abstract goals to physical, contextual cues—increasing habit consistency by preparing the environment in advance.
Challenges
Designing an contextual recommendation engine that suggests relevant environmental tweaks based on natural language action verbs (reading, hydration, exercise).
Screenshots
The problem
Most habit tracking tools fail because they focus entirely on the moment of performance rather than the triggers and environment that make good habits effortless. When a habit requires high cognitive friction to begin, willpower quickly depletes.
The approach
Habit Stacks puts behavioral science into practice based on James Clear's Atomic Habits:
- Habit Stacking Chains: Habits are structured around concrete daily anchor cues (e.g., "After I make coffee" → "Read 5 pages of a book").
- Environment Design Actions: Every habit can include physical environment preparations (e.g., "Leave the book open on the kitchen island the night before" or "Put a glass beside the coffee machine").
- Time Period Organization: Habits are grouped into chronological periods (Morning, Afternoon, Evening) with clear indicators for past cues and completed actions.
- Minimalist Aesthetic: Quiet, light-themed typography and cards on a soft
#F5F5F3canvas that keeps focus squarely on daily execution.