Blog
Writing on building habits gently, calm productivity, and the small choices that shape a life.
- Reflection·
Quiet seasons: what koi teach us about rest
Real koi spend the winter in a near-motionless state called torpor, doing almost nothing for months. They are not failing. They are doing exactly what the season asks of them. There is something to learn from this.
- Habit Science·
How long does it take to form a habit? What the research actually says
The 21-day rule is a myth from a 1960 plastic surgery book. The real research, including a 2024 systematic review of more than 2,600 people, puts the answer between 18 and 335 days, with a median around two months. Here is what the science actually shows and why the answer matters.
- Symbolism·
The legend of the koi and the dragon gate
A two-thousand-year-old Chinese legend about a fish, a waterfall, and the long quiet work of becoming. We named our app Koi for a reason.
- Philosophy·
Why slow change beats fast change (almost every time)
Fast change feels good for a week. Slow change is what is still there in a year. Here is why the steady approach almost always wins, and why most apps push the wrong one.
- Philosophy·
The case for a habit tracker without streaks
Streak counters make missing one day feel like failing entirely. The research and the lived experience both suggest a gentler model works better. Here is the case for a habit tracker without streaks.
- Category·
Apps like Finch: the rise of the self-care pet
Self-care pet apps turn looking after yourself into looking after a virtual companion. The category started with Finch in 2021 and has quietly become one of the most interesting corners of the wellness app space. Here is how it emerged, why it works, and where it is going.
- Brand·
Why we named the app Koi
A short note on the thinking behind the name, the symbolism that drew us to it, and a small word play in Japanese that sealed it.
- Comparisons·
Koi vs Habitica: which habit tracker is right for you?
Habitica gamifies habits with HP, gold, and a leveling RPG. Koi pauses gently when you miss a day and never punishes you. Both work, but for very different people.