The Seinfeld strategy is a simple but effective way to stay motivated, especially if you're starting a new habit in the first place.

The strategy comes from some advice comedian Jerry Seinfeld once gave someone to help them stay motivated and consistent at work.

He told me to get a big wall calendar, one page for the whole year, and hang it on a prominent wall. The next step is to get a big red magic mark. He said, "Every day I have a writing assignment, so I have to put a big red X on that day." "In a few days, you will have a chain. Just keep at it, and the chain will get longer every day. You'll like to see that chain, especially if you have a few weeks. Your only job then is not to break the bonds." "Don't break the leash," he reiterated. So the strategy itself is simple:

For any habit, task, or routine you want to stick to, plan a little each day. Each day you successfully complete a task, mark that day with a bright red (or another color) X on your calendar. Try to keep the streak going. If you do miss a day, note how long your streak has been next to the box. This is your new target. The Seinfeld strategy is a particularly effective way to stay motivated because it is dual motivation. A double motivator is someone who motivates in two different ways at the same time.

In this case, every successful day will give you a sense of accomplishment and satisfaction - positive.

But avoiding the pain of breaking the strip can also motivate you to keep going - negative reinforcement.

Finally, the big calendar on your desk or at work, filled with red Xs, really reminds you that you need to get things done. Memory enhancements can always help you stay motivated.