Why exactly three daily goals?

Limiting daily commitments to exactly three prevents cognitive fatigue and task hoarding. By forcing prioritization, you concentrate energy on the high-leverage activities that move the needle, rather than hiding behind a massive, uncompleted TODO list.

What is the 10:00 AM lock-in?

You must write and commit to your daily three tasks before 10:00 AM. After 10:00 AM, the app locks edits. This enforces early planning and guarantees you start your day with intention instead of reacting to inbound notifications.

How does the zero-forgiveness streak reset work?

If you don't check off all three daily commitments by midnight, your active streak resets to zero. There is no partial credit, no edits after lock-in, and no excuses. This strict boundary build deep psychological commitment.

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Behavior Design5 min read

Commitment Contracts: Harnessing Financial & Social Stakes for Unbreakable Discipline

Scientific background: Ayres, I. (2010). Carrots and Sticks: Unlock the Power of Incentives to Get Things Done. Bantam.

When execution is hard, relying purely on self-discipline often fails because there are no immediate negative consequences for skipping a day. Commitment contracts introduce explicit external stakes that align short-term incentives with long-term goals.

Implementation Protocol

Specify an Unnegotiable Binary Target

Define an exact goal with unambiguous completion criteria (e.g. 'Lock Daily 3 in Pip before 10 AM every weekday').

Designate an Independent Referee

Appoint a trusted friend, partner, or accountability partner who will verify your binary proof without making excuses for you.

Attach a Loss-Aversive Stake

Agree to a non-negotiable financial or social penalty for missing a target (e.g. sending $50 to an anti-charity or rival organization).

Establish a Zero-Forgiveness Boundary

Do not allow custom concessions, roll-overs, or streak pauses. Keeping rules rigid prevents cognitive negotiation.

Summary Protocol

Commitment contracts eliminate the internal debate of whether to execute today. Set your stakes, empower your referee, and lock in your goals.

Stop Procrastinating. Start Planning.

Build routines that stick

Ditch the complicated todo boards. Download Pip to set exactly three morning commitments, seal them before 10 AM, and build streaks grounded in human biology.

Download on iOS App Store