Motivation Hack: Why streaks are important

Mike Collette • August 20, 2020

We love it when we gain, but we really hate it when we lose. How streaks can hack your motivation.

By: Mike Collette

A poster that says hack your motivation on it

This week’s theme at Prototype Training Systems has been around Motivation. Today, we are talking about something that might hack your motivation. This can work for ANYONE, whether you are doing our CrossFit classes or working with one of our Personal Trainers , it all applies!

 

We often think that the best form of motivation is purely based on the goals we set.

 

“Right now I’m motivated to lose 20lbs!”

 

But I have to tell you that we as human beings are far more motivated by what we have to lose than what we have to gain.

 

Yesterday I put a post up in our private Prototype Training Community Facebook group about streaks. I asked the question “what are your current streaks and what are you most proud of that you’ve consistently done?”.

 

This didn’t have to be a long streak, it could be a few days, a week, or even two.

 

We got several responses ranging from “no caffeine for 4 days” to “8 months of Keto with no cheating!” They were all awesome AND they were all current PR’s.

 

Streaks keep us motivated because we don’t want to start over again OR disappoint ourselves for LOSING the streak. Why do you think some of these apps and games are so addicting? Well, they hook you in on your playing streaks. It drives you to do it more.

 

I love streaks. Remember, I’m a checklist guy!

 

Currently, I have a few streaks going on:

 

  • 233 days straight of cold showers (Every day since Jan 1)
  • 81 weeks straight of 5 workouts a week (Every week since Feb 2019)
  • 16 weeks straight with over a 10,000 step avg (Since May 1)
  • 157 days I’ve sent an email to our member’s (March 16th, the day we closed due to COVID-19)
A graph showing the number of steps taken on a phone

 

I don’t want to lose these streaks. Candidly, I’d be incredibly disappointed in myself if I did!

 

As my mentor Chris Cooper ( Founder of Two Brain Business )  said, “we’re wired to avoid loss more than we’re motivated to seek gain” and it’s incredibly true.

 

We can use streaks in our daily lives to develop habits that align with our personal goals. 

 

My Fitness Pal (MFP) does this in their app and notifies you of how many times you’ve logged in a row. There is no surprise why Coach Jon has been so successful with his nutrition, he’s logged his food 1435 days in a row! That’s just under 4 years straight, every day. Epic streak. 

Jonmc89 has logged in for 1435 days in a row !

 

Streaks keep us going and they’re STRATEGIES that can be really, really good OR not so good. 

 

They can even save our lives.

 

So, what streaks are you currently most proud of?

 

What is something that you want to start and keep doing that will drive you closer to your goals?

 

Previous Blogs

By Mike Collette February 3, 2026
Sharang is a standout part of the Prototype community—steady, positive, and always putting in the work—and his commitment to consistency, camaraderie, and long-term progress makes him a perfect example of what PTS is all about. Below he answers some questions and shares his experience. Share your experience at Prototype—favorite memories, moments, or stories or what’s your favorite part/what do you look forward to? What stands out most about Prototype is the camaraderie. The members, especially in the 7AM and Noon classes, create a great balance of fun and focus. Everyone is friendly and supportive, but when it’s time to work, people take the WODs seriously and push themselves to improve. That combination can be hard to find. All the coaches play a huge role in setting that tone. My favorite moments are the everyday ones i.e. showing up, putting in the work together, leaving class feeling accomplished. What I look forward to most is continuing to train alongside people who genuinely enjoy the process and want to get better. “Because summer’s coming.” Who at Prototype has made the biggest impact on you and why? As a dad of two young daughters, the people who’ve made the biggest impact on me at Prototype are the women in the gym. They all train with confidence, strength, consistency and set a powerful example. It’s the kind of environment I hope my daughters grow up seeing where strength is normal and earned. What are your hobbies and activities outside the gym? I dabble a bit in photography, star gazing and love to travel. Playing atrocious golf. How has Prototype helped you or solved a problem for you? Prototype has helped me stay active. There’s a real sense of happiness and accomplishment after each workout, and that feeling has become addictive in the best way. Knowing I’ll leave class feeling stronger, physically and mentally, keeps me coming back. Prototype has turned working out from something I should do into something I genuinely want to do, which has made a huge difference in maintaining a sustainable fitness routine. What are your current fitness goals? Steady progress and longevity. If I can keep lifting, moving well, and feeling good years from now, I’ll consider that a win. I hope my future self will thank my present self. Favorite Quote If you can’t explain it simply you don't understand it well enough.
By Mike Collette December 30, 2025
Greg is an amazing part of our community — consistent, encouraging, and ready to get after it. He truly represents what the PTS community is all about. Prototype of the Month is well deserved! Below, he answers a few questions about his time at PTS. Share your experience at Prototype—favorite memories, moments, or stories or what’s your favorite part/what do you look forward to? I definitely look forward to that feeling of clarity after finishing up a workout. I feel ready to tackle the rest of the day. Sometimes I have trouble getting mentally ready for a tough looking metcon, but I always feel better afterwards. Who at Prototype has made the biggest impact on you and why? All the coaches and members are great, I look forward to seeing everyone when I am there, but the person who has made the biggest impact is Bridget Owens. She is my motivation and always pushes me to keep going and push myself to get better. What are your hobbies and activities outside the gym? I love cycling and mountain biking, the workouts at prototype have definitely helped improve my fitness so that I can do better on the bike even though I don’t get out as often as I would like. Also spending time with my family, grilling and BBQing when the weather is nice and getting to the beach in the summer. How has Prototype helped you or solved a problem for you? Prototype has helped enormously with my level of anxiety, I was really struggling when we first moved into town, the community and workouts at Prototype have been a life saver for my mental health. What are your current fitness goals? I want to get better at gymnastics, maybe get some toes to the bar. Favorite Quote Two Quotes: “Bone on bone, stack it” -Jon “Activate the lower half” -Brian
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Prototype Training Systems at Westborough High School Winter Sports Meeting
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