When we started building BRF, we noticed something interesting about how people talk about their habits. Some people say "I want to start meditating" while others say "I want to stop smoking." These two types of habits require fundamentally different approaches, yet most habit trackers treat them the same.
The Problem with One-Size-Fits-All
Traditional habit trackers focus on streaks and completion rates. But what does "completing" a habit mean when your goal is to not do something? Marking "didn't smoke today" feels strange, and the psychology behind building a new behavior versus breaking an old one is completely different.
Introducing BUILD and BREAK
We designed a simple but powerful categorization system:
BUILD Habits
These are positive behaviors you want to add to your life. Examples: meditation, exercise, reading, drinking water, journaling. The goal is to increase frequency until they become automatic.
BREAK Habits
These are behaviors you want to eliminate. Examples: smoking, excessive social media, late-night snacking, nail biting. The goal is to reduce frequency until they're gone.
How It Works
When you create a habit in BRF, our AI (powered by AWS Bedrock) analyzes your input and automatically categorizes it. You can also explicitly tell it what you want:
- "I want to start running" - Categorized as BUILD
- "Stop checking my phone first thing" - Categorized as BREAK
- "Quit drinking soda" - Categorized as BREAK
- "Read for 30 minutes daily" - Categorized as BUILD
Different Tracking, Same Goal
Both BUILD and BREAK habits contribute to your overall progress, but we display them differently:
- BUILD habits show a
+indicator and green accents - BREAK habits show a
-indicator and red accents - Your daily challenge counts both types toward completion
- Streaks work the same way - consecutive days of success
The Psychology Behind It
Research shows that framing matters. When you're building a habit, you're adding something positive. When you're breaking one, you're removing something negative. Both are wins, but they feel different.
"Every action you take is a vote for the type of person you wish to become."
- James Clear, Atomic Habits
By separating BUILD and BREAK habits, we help you see your progress more clearly. You're not just "doing habits" - you're actively constructing a better version of yourself while dismantling the behaviors that hold you back.
Try It Today
The BUILD/BREAK system is available now in BRF for iOS. Create your first habit and let our AI help you categorize it, or choose the category yourself. Either way, you're taking the first step toward lasting change.