I used to do these four steps:

1. I used a password generator to create a massive, 100-character password.
2. Then I took a very important private photo, packed it into an archive file, and locked it with that new 100-character password. (This is a standard feature on most Linux and Windows machines). There was no backup of that private photo.
3. Here’s the interesting part: I used a self-destructing password service (like pwpush.com, it’s open source) and split my master password into four chunks of 25 characters each. I uploaded each chunk separately. For the “passphrase” to view each chunk, I used the exact same text every time: the content of a specific QR code posted on the wall at my gym. That QR code is a long hyperlink containing cryptic letters. The first link expires after one day, the second link after two days etc. Right after setting it up, I deleted the QR code’s text from my phone. The only way to get it back was to physically go to the gym and scan it again.
4. Every day, my routine was forced: Go to the gym, scan the QR code, use its content to unlock one 25-character chunk from pwpush.com. If I missed a single day, one piece of the password would be lost forever, and I’d never unlock my precious file. This image is AI generated since I don’t want to upload pictures of my actual gym.

Since I never took a picture of the QR code and I had no control over the pwpush server (which automatically deletes the chunks after time), I had absolutely no choice. I had to go. And since I was already there, 90% of the mental battle was won—so I ended up working out every time. Excuses like “I’m too tired” or “I don’t have time” were completely eliminated by the system.

Does this whole thing sound a little exaggerated? It absolutely is! But that’s the nature of a true commitment device. It’s designed to remove willpower from the equation.