By Sarah Fertsch
Staff Writer
This bestseller has been on my reading wishlist for years. I had heard countless Ted Talks and networking luncheons surrounding this book, but when my Crossfit gym recommended it as their ‘book of the month,’ I bought it. More than I initially expected, James Clear has changed my life. I have been thinking strategically about shaping my life with intention, now I feel like I can conquer the world. If you are always on the run, Spotify offers a free audiobook version of Atomic Habits available to everyone who uses their service. I highly recommend it. For now, here are my takeaways from the best nonfiction book of our time:
You Are What You Repeatedly Do
Your identity, according to Clear, is not something set in stone. Instead, it’s shaped by your habits, or the actions you consistently take. If you want to change your identity, you have to change your habits.
Need to Rid Yourself of a Bad Habit? Make It Unattractive
Attractiveness plays a big role in our choices. Clear writes about smokers reading prose describing the gross physiology and negative societal around nicotine, and almost all of the participants quit their cigarette habit. Do you want to eat more produce and less processed food? Watch a documentary about toxins in food and biases that exist in the food industry.
Try Habit-Stacking to Start a New Behavior
Pair a new habit with an existing habit to ensure success. For example, if you struggle to drink enough water, try sitting down with a glass when you check your email in the morning. You already browse your inbox, so triggering the new habit will be simple. If you want to meditate daily, incorporate it into your morning routine. After you make your bed every morning (solidified habit), you will meditate on the edge of your bed for five minutes (new habit).
Control Your Environment
If you want to stop eating cookies in the middle of the night, don’t buy cookies at the store! Your success is dependent on your environment, so make it easy for yourself. Keep books on your coffee table so you’ll pick one up when you have some free time. Delete social media apps on your phone so you won’t feel tempted to scroll for hours.
You Don’t Need to Be Perfect
Clear writes that life isn’t an all-or-nothing game one can ‘win.’ Every step in the right direction is one vote toward the life you want to live. If you screw up and sleep in instead of going to gym one day, shake off the failure and be intentional about choosing exercise tomorrow. One negative vote will not upset the entire system or goal.
Focus on the Process, Not the Goal
Everyone has goals, but few people reach them. Why? Setting a goal requires little effort and even imagining something positive in the future sends endorphins through your bloodstream. The hard work of accomplishing the goal requires sacrifice. Try to do ‘the next right thing,’ meaning that you decide to take one small step today and take your mind off the endgame. Maybe listen to ‘The Climb’ by Miley Cyrus for inspiration.
Small Changes Compound Into Big Results
Big overhauls of your lifestyle leads to burnout. By altering your daily routine a little each day, next year will be entirely different in a positive way. What can you do today to benefit your tomorrow?
