The Beginnings of My Journey to Transform Habits
I’ve read countless books about building habits, eager to find the best way to create lasting change. After all that reading, I turned to the App Store, hoping to find an app that would help me put what I had learned into action. But every app I found focused only on tracking habits. Tracking motivated me to some degree — seeing habit streaks grow gave me a small boost — but with a hectic lifestyle, kids, and daily distractions, I would still forget to do my habits.
This article is about how I created the world’s first habit-building app that uses smart Bluetooth beacons for effective habit formation. You’ll discover how this innovative app can transform your life by helping you build better habits every day.
I tried many habit apps that sent reminders, but they all had the same flaw. They would remind me at a fixed time, like 1 PM. But what if I was on a call that ran late? What if I was stuck in traffic or running errands? If I wasn’t in the right place at the right time, I missed the reminder. That got me thinking — what if I could create an app that sends habit reminders at the perfect place and time?
So, I started researching. I needed something cheap, practical, and easy to use. After a lot of searching, I discovered Bluetooth beacons. These small devices don’t need Wi-Fi, don’t transfer data, and only send out a simple Bluetooth signal. iPhones and Android phones have built-in sensors that detect these signals, making it possible to know when you are near a beacon. It’s a proximity-based solution — exactly what I was looking for.
After extensive research and development, I created Habit Location — an app designed to connect with Bluetooth beacons and leverage location awareness. By using the iPhone’s built-in sensors to detect beacon signals, the app knows exactly where you are and delivers reminders at the perfect moment. But I didn’t want it to be just another habit tracker — I wanted it to be an app that doesn’t give up on the user after a single reminder. That’s why I designed the time window concept, allowing users to pick a timeframe, such as 1 PM to 3 PM, when they are most likely to complete a habit. However, the reminder will only trigger if they are at the chosen location within that time window, ensuring they receive it when they can actually take action.
After a lot of hard work, I launched Habit Location on the App Store, and you can install it for free. To use it, you’ll need a Bluetooth beacon, which costs around $15-$20 on Amazon. But if this small investment helps you build habits that transform your life — whether it’s exercising more, studying better, or improving your health — then the benefits far outweigh the cost. Try Habit Location today and take control of your habits like never before.
How It Works
Setting up a habit reminder with a beacon is simple. You can buy a beacon from Amazon, turn it on, and place it in a specific room — like your kitchen or living room. Then, in the app, you set a habit linked to that location and a time window when you’re most likely to do it. For example, you can set a reminder to eat healthy if you’re in the kitchen between 6 PM and 9 PM, complete with a motivational picture of yourself. The app will detect when you’re in the kitchen and send the reminder only at the right time.
You can do the same for any habit — set a meditation habit if you’re in your living room between 1 PM and 2 PM. It’s all about getting the right reminder at the right time in the right place.
Unlike traditional reminders, which only go off at a fixed time, this app lets you set a flexible time window. Maybe you’re free between 12 PM and 3 PM — within that window, the app will wait until you’re in the correct location before reminding you. This prevents interruptions when you’re busy and makes it much more likely that you’ll follow through.
Features That Make This App a Game-Changer
- Location-Based Habit Cues — Your phone detects when you’re near a beacon and triggers the reminder only when you’re in the right spot. Example: Place a beacon in your kitchen and set a habit to drink water. The app will remind you only when you enter the kitchen, ensuring you hydrate regularly.
- Time Window Flexibility — Choose when you want reminders, so you get them only at the most relevant time. Example: If you want to stretch between 7 AM and 9 AM, the reminder will only appear if you’re in your home gym during that time window — so you never get a reminder when you’re too busy to act on it.
- Multiple Reminders — Struggling with a habit? Set up multiple reminders instead of just one so you never miss it.
- Powerful Visual Habit Cues — Attach your own picture to each reminder to make it more effective. Images engage the right side of your brain, making habits stick better.
- Super Simple Setup — Just turn on a beacon, find its ID using the manufacturer’s app, enter it into this habit app, and you’re good to go.
- Affordable Beacons — Beacons cost only $15-$20 on Amazon and are much easier to use than Bluetooth headphones or speakers. They don’t require pairing — your phone simply detects them when you’re nearby.
The Big Mistake: Habit Tracking Alone Doesn’t Work
Most habit apps focus on tracking. They count how many times you did a habit and give you streaks. But that’s where they got it wrong. Tracking might motivate you a little, but it doesn’t help you take action in the moment. What you really need is a perfect reminder at the right time and place. That’s what actually builds habits, and that’s where Habit Location app excels.
The Biggest Misconception About Habit Building
Many people think just tracking their progress will help them build a habit. But research shows that awareness of location is crucial to habit formation. When habits are tied to specific places, they become automatic. Without location-based cues, people struggle to make habits stick.
Studies also show that most people fail to reach their New Year’s resolutionsand abandon their goals. One major reason? They don’t have the right system in place. Without the right reminder, at the right place and time, it’s easy to forget or ignore a new habit.
Why Location is the Key to Building Habits
Most habits are naturally tied to specific locations. You brush your teeth in the bathroom, cook in the kitchen, and work in your office. Location triggers action. That’s why trying to build habits without location-based reminders makes things much harder than they need to be.
Why Smart Location-Based Habit Cues Work
This app gives you powerful habit cues exactly when and where you need them. Each reminder is not just a notification — it includes a picture you chose, making it much more powerful. That’s because images engage the right side of your brain, which is responsible for creativity and visual processing. This makes the habit cue far stronger than just a text notification.
Why a Single Fixed Reminder Won’t Work
Life is full of distractions. If you set a reminder for 1 PM but you’re in a meeting or talking to someone, you’ll miss it. That’s why a time window is essential. Instead of a single reminder, this app lets you set a window, like 12 PM — 3 PM. If you’re in the right location within that time frame, you’ll get the reminder. If you’re not, you won’t.
Example: You want to meditate in the living room between 1 PM and 3 PM. If you’re in the living room at 2 PM, you get the reminder. If you’re in your home office, you won’t. This is why location-based cues are a game changer.
Imagine Your Life with Strong Habits
What if you could finally exercise consistently, eat healthier, or drink more water? How would that improve your health, energy, and confidence? When you build good habits, every part of your life improves. You feel better, look better, and perform better.
If you’re single, being healthier and more confident makes you more attractive. If you’re working, having more energy and discipline helps you get ahead. Everything improves when your habits improve.
30 Positive Habits You Can Start
- Exercise
- Eat healthy
- Drink water
- Meditate
- Journal
- Read
- Stretch
- Walk more
- Sleep early
- Wake up early
- Practice gratitude
- Learn a new skill
- Study a new language
- Plan your day
- Take deep breaths
- Limit social media
- Practice mindfulness
- Write down goals
- Meal prep
- Call family or friends
- Declutter your space
- Save money
- Take breaks from screens
- Smile more
- Compliment others
- Do acts of kindness
- Reduce sugar intake
- Spend time outdoors
- Listen to educational content
- Track mood and energy levels
Negative Habits You Can Stop with Smart Location-Based Cues
- Procrastination
- Unhealthy snacking
- Skipping workouts
- Staying up too late
- Spending too much time on social media
- Smoking
- Drinking too much alcohol
- Overspending
- Overeating
- Nail biting
- Negative self-talk
- Watching too much TV
- Gossiping
- Impulse shopping
- Poor posture
- Wasting time on unimportant tasks
- Eating junk food
- Ignoring self-care
- Being late
- Avoiding important tasks
Setting Up Your Beacons
- Buy a beacon from Amazon (small and cheap, around $15-$20).
- Turn it on and place it in the room where you want to build a habit.
- Use the manufacturer’s app to find its ID number.
- Copy that ID number into this habit app.
- Set your habit, choose a time window, and select how many reminders you want.
That’s it! No complicated setup — just powerful habit-building reminders exactly when and where you need them.
Read this article to learn more about Bluetooth beacons — small, inexpensive devices that can transform your life by enabling the Habit Location app to send you the perfect habit reminders at just the right time and place.
The High Cost of Not Taking Action
What happens if you don’t build the right habits?
- Health costs: Gym memberships and healthy food are much cheaper than medical bills. Poor habits lead to high healthcare costs later in life.
- Personal trainer costs: Hiring a trainer can cost hundreds of dollars per month.
- Mental health costs: Bad habits can lead to stress, anxiety, and even depression. Therapy and mental health treatments can be expensive.
- Lost opportunities: Not learning new skills, not advancing in your career, and not feeling your best can cost you money, time, and happiness.
Start Your Transformation Now
The sooner you start, the sooner you’ll see results. Don’t wait — start building the habits that will change your life today. Every day you wait is a missed opportunity to become a better, healthier, and happier version of yourself.
Make the change now, and start seeing the benefits in your health, confidence, and success!
Download the HabitLocation iOS app and try for Free!
Read this article to find out why your old habit apps didn’t work — and what to use instead!