Until now, if there was something that I wanted to stop doing, I would just start counting how many days it has been since I had done the unwanted activity. The problem is once I slipped, then my count would end. So if I slipped once I would do the action several more times before I got back on the wagon. After all I had already failed in my last attempt and my day count has been reset.
I changed that. Now I count the number of slips and the number of tries. It goes something like this. I want to cut out an unwanted action so I go a week with out doing something and then I slip and I do that thing. Instead of saying 'dang it, I failed,' I say I have only done that thing once in a week. Let's see how long I can stay at only one time. I found by making this one little change I am doing a lot better in my personal goals.
This tactic will also work with positive goals. Reading your scriptures 18 out of 20 days is not as good as 20 out of twenty bet it is better than stopping after day six because that is the first day you forgot to read them.
Let me know of anything you have tried that has really helped you improving yourself.