10 Things You Should Track How Long It Has Been Since

Quick — when was your last dentist appointment? Your last oil change? The last time you called your best friend?

If you had to think hard about any of those, you are not alone. We all have things we know we should do more often but somehow let slip. The days pass, and suddenly it has been six months since that thing you meant to do "next week."

A days since tracker like Lapsed turns vague guilt into clear, visual information. Here are ten categories of things worth tracking — and how to set them up so nothing important drifts too far.

1. Social Catch-Ups

How long has it been since you called your parents? Had coffee with that friend? Met up with your sibling? Social connections are the number one predictor of happiness, yet they are the easiest things to let slide.

Set up a "Social" category in Lapsed and add the people who matter most. When you see their dots drifting away from today's line, you will know it is time to text, call, or meet up. No more "I keep meaning to call…" guilt.

2. Health Check-Ups

Dentist every 6 months. Eye test every 2 years. Blood pressure check annually. Skin check yearly. Blood work as recommended. These are easy to forget because the intervals are so long.

A day counter app keeps these visible so nothing falls through the cracks. Set your threshold to the recommended interval and let Lapsed remind you when it is time.

3. Household Maintenance

When did you last change the air filter? Clean the oven? Rotate the mattress? Descale the kettle? Replace the water filter? These small chores prevent bigger and more expensive problems down the line.

Track them in a "Chores" category and set threshold reminders. Your future self (and your landlord) will thank you.

4. Car Maintenance

Oil change, tyre rotation, brake inspection, air filter replacement — your car has its own schedule of recurring maintenance that is easy to ignore until something breaks.

Create a dedicated category or add car items to Chores. Set thresholds based on your manufacturer's recommendations. Preventive maintenance is always cheaper than repairs.

5. Exercise and Wellness

Rather than tracking streaks (which feel punishing when broken), track how long it has been since your last workout, meditation session, yoga class, or long walk. The mindset shifts from "never miss a day" to "do not let it drift too far" — much healthier and more sustainable.

6. Things You Are Quitting

Whether it is smoking, sugary drinks, excessive social media, or nail biting — seeing the days count up since you last indulged is genuinely motivating. Lapsed's inverted categories flip the visual so items rising away from today feel like progress.

7. Pet Care

When was your pet's last vet visit? Last flea treatment? Last teeth cleaning? When did you last wash their bed or replace their toothbrush? Pets cannot remind you — a tracker can.

Set thresholds based on your vet's recommendations. Flea treatments are usually monthly, vet check-ups annual, and teeth cleaning as recommended.

8. Creative Projects

How long since you last worked on that novel? Picked up your guitar? Painted? Worked on your side project? Creative pursuits are often the first things to be pushed aside by "real life."

Tracking the days since your last creative session makes the drift visible. A threshold of 7 days means you are committing to weekly creative time — achievable and meaningful.

9. Self-Care and Wellbeing

When did you last take a proper lunch break? Have a bath instead of a shower? Read a book for pleasure? Go for a walk without your phone?

Self-care items are perfect for Lapsed because the threshold mindset removes guilt. You are not trying to meditate every single day — you are trying not to let it drift beyond a week.

10. Goals and Milestones

Track milestones differently. When did you last review your goals? Update your CV? Check your savings progress? Have a career conversation with your manager?

These higher-level items benefit from longer thresholds — quarterly or monthly — but they are exactly the kind of things that slip to "I will do it next month" indefinitely.

How to Set Up Your Tracking

The pattern is simple: anything where "how long has it been?" is a useful question deserves a spot in your days since tracker.

Start with the categories above, or invent your own. The free tier gives you 3 items — enough to try the system with your most important tasks. If you find yourself wanting more, Lapsed Pro unlocks unlimited items and categories.

Want to understand why visual tracking works so well? Read about the power of visual tracking and why Lapsed is different from other day counter apps.