Free and printed decks
What's the difference between the free deck and the printed deck?
The cards are the same. The free deck is a download: open it in the print studio and print it at home or save it as a PDF. The printed edition is professionally printed, front and back, with each card's QR code, so it's ready to pin up the day it arrives.
Is the free deck really free?
Yes. Every card in the library is free to read, print and use. No account, no email, no trial. The printed decks pay for the library.
Can I buy a printed deck right now?
Not yet. The original boxed decks are sold out, and the printed editions of the library decks are being prepared. Join the waitlist on any deck and we'll email you once when it's ready to order.
How much does a printed deck cost?
The original boxed decks were $39.99 USD for 120 cards. Prices for the library editions will be on each deck's page before orders open, and the waitlist email will say what it costs.
Which deck should I start with?
Start with the change you want most right now, not the one you think you should want. Pick a life area on the decks page and read who each deck is for. If two fit, take the one with the smaller first step.
Using the cards
Do I have to do a card every day?
No. You can pin one card and keep at it until it sticks, or draw a card a day for variety. Both work. The point is repeating something worthwhile at a moment you already have.
What if I miss a day?
Pick it up the next time the cue comes round. In the best-known study of habit formation, missing a single day didn't measurably set people back. Every card also says how the habit usually slips and what to do about it.
How long until a habit sticks?
Longer than 21 days, for most people. One study found a median of 66 days, with a range of 18 to 254 depending on the person and the habit. Small, well-cued habits got there faster.
Are Challenge cards required?
No. They're bounded missions with a clear finish, from one evening to a few weeks. Do one when you want a stretch, and skip any that don't fit your life or health.
What's the code and QR on each card?
Every card has a permanent code, like CD-F01. Scan the QR on a printed card, or type the code into the library search, to open the card's full page: the reasoning, the source and the tiny version.
Is there an app?
No, on purpose. The cards work because they live in the room where the habit happens, not behind a notification. The website is the companion: every card has its own page.
Can I use HabitSets with other habit systems?
Yes. The cards pair well with journals, planners, trackers and therapy or coaching. They're one action at a time, so they slot into whatever you already do.
Evidence and sources
What do the A, B and C grades mean?
These describe the evidence behind each card's underlying practice, not the quality of a deck. A means reviews of many studies, evidence-based guidelines or repeated findings. B means at least one well-run study. C means a practitioner's method or an editorial idea. A card's cue and starting version can be adapted; its source explains any important limits.
Do the people in the person decks endorse them?
No. Person decks are editorial studies of documented methods. They don't imply that the person made, approved or promises anything about the deck.
From the screen to the fridge
Put the card where the habit happens.
Every deck is free to download and print at home, then pin up: on the fridge, the mirror, beside the monitor. Or get the printed edition, ready to pin up the day it arrives.