Plant Habits
About the project
Don't Kill My Plant is a habit-tracking system that introduces emotional accountability by tying your habits to the life of a real, physical plant. While most habit trackers rely on positive reinforcement and are easy to ignore or bypass, our approach uses tangible consequences: if you don’t keep up your habits, your plant suffers. The system combines a smartphone app for tracking behavioral data (like screen time, location, and calls) with a smart plant enclosure that visually reflects your progress. Built around a microcontroller (ESP32), the enclosure can control light exposure and irrigation, effectively simulating the plant’s wellbeing in response to your daily actions.
This project explores the intersection of behavioral psychology, physical computing, and emotional design. By creating a system that links real-life consequences to digital habits, we challenge users to reflect on their behavior in a more visceral and personal way. It’s a darkly playful take on motivation, leveraging guilt and care, rather than badges or charts, to help people stay accountable.
