Atomic Habits Changed My Life
It was Monday, two days ago, 11:36 pm, and I was sitting at my desk staring at my journal, feeling completely stuck. I knew I needed to change my life and my habits, but I had no idea where to start. I was getting so stressed out from my dental applications looming in the background, dealing with the conflicts that arose when I discovered hidden trauma this month, and felt guilty for neglecting my fitness in May. It felt overwhelming and impossible. I knew that I had to change my daily habits to make sure I can attack my applications effectively and improve my overall mood.
That's when I remembered the book Atomic Habits by James Clear. I had heard about it before but never really gave it much thought. But at that moment, I decided to give it a try. So I went to amazon and immediately bought the book and started to read it on my kindle and I couldn't stop. The more I read, the more I felt confident in how to approach life in a new way.
For the longest time, I had heard about the concept of Atomic Habits but never felt the need to dive deep into it as I thought it was just common sense and general information. However, when I finally picked up the book and read it thoroughly, it made so much more sense to me. I found ways to apply it immediately and it has truly changed my life. Here are 3 concepts that have changed my perspective so far.
1. Start very Small
For a while I have wanted to incorporate cold shower to my routine as it just feels amazing. However with every discomforting activity my brain was immediately reluctant. I remember just standing in front of the cold shower flowing down into the drain being completely wasted as I was paralyzed in fear of being slightly uncomfortable. However I told myself that I would only endure it for 5 seconds. Just 5 seconds. And guess what, I did it! It was so easy that I felt stupid for being scared in the first place. I did it again this morning and next week will extend it to 10 seconds and keep progressing.
“Habits are the compound interest of self-improvement.”
“They seem to make little difference on any given day and yet the impact they deliver over the months and years can be enormous. It is only when looking back two, five, or perhaps ten years later that the value of good habits and the cost of bad ones becomes strikingly apparent.”
2. Everything is Identity
Every habit we do is because of our identity. Our habits are closely linked to our identity. Every action we take is a reflection of who we believe we are. For example, if we believe ourselves to be someone who prioritizes health and wellness, we are more likely to make choices that align with those values, such as exercising regularly and eating nutritious foods. On the other hand, if we believe ourselves to be someone who is lazy or unhealthy, we are more likely to engage in habits that reinforce those beliefs, such as skipping workouts or indulging in unhealthy snacks. By understanding the link between our identity and our habits, we can begin to make intentional choices about who we want to be and the habits that align with that vision.
“Every belief, including those about yourself, is learned and conditioned through experience.”
“Each habit is like a suggestion: “Hey, maybe this is who I am.”
“Every action you take is a vote for the type of person you wish to become. No single instance will transform your beliefs, but as the votes build up, so does the evidence of your new identity.”
3. Patience is Key
While it may be tempting to want immediate results from our new habits, it's important to remember that all good habits take time to build and show results. We must keep doing them consistently, even if it doesn't seem like they're making a big difference in the short term. As James Clear writes in Atomic Habits, "Habits are the compound interest of self-improvement." Just like with investing, small daily actions eventually add up to big results over time. So, we must trust the process and have faith that our efforts will pay off in the future. Remember, every action we take is a vote for the type of person we wish to become, and each small habit is a step towards that vision.
“Small changes often appear to make no difference until you cross a critical threshold. The most powerful outcomes of any compounding process are delayed. You need to be patient.”
“Complaining about not achieving success despite working hard is like complaining about an ice cube not melting when you heated it from twenty-five to thirty-one degrees. Your work was not wasted; it is just being stored. All the action happens at thirty-two degrees.”
“Your outcomes are a lagging measure of your habits. Your net worth is a lagging measure of your financial habits. Your weight is a lagging measure of your eating habits. Your knowledge is a lagging measure of your learning habits. Your clutter is a lagging measure of your cleaning habits. You get what you repeat.”
Thank you for reading, let's grow together!