The worst part about the DNT header was the requirement for the tracking companies to regulate themselves. Initially, the header was opt-in, but with the introduction of IE10, Microsoft decided that the option was going to be opt-out. Once the the DNT header was gaining traction and a not-so-small percentage of people began sending the header, the companies had no reason to comply, and the initiative sorta fell out of favor.
For blocking tracking, the most effective tools are browser extensions made to block ads. Ghostery provides comparisons on an non-biased website between the methods of blocking tracking through browser modifications [1]. According to the site, the Do Not Track header actually has an effect with a difference of 18% in cookie size when the header is set. AdBlock Edge and disabling third-party cookies results in a 59% and 40% decrease in cookie size respectively. It seems that the easiest thing you can do to lessen your internet footprint would be to disable third-party cookies and enable the DNT header, and the majority of tracking can be eliminated through the use of a browser extension. (But with the recent revelations [2], using a browser extension may actually reduce your browsing experience if you don't have the RAM to spare.)
[1] http://www.areweprivateyet.com/
[2] https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=8802424