Book Review: Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones by James Clear

Title:  Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones
Author: James Clear
Publisher: Avery
Page Count: 319
Publication Date: 2018
Category/Genre: Non Fiction, Pyschology, Mental Health, Health, Habits, Self-Help, Productivity, Business, Leadership
Good Reads Rating: ★★★★☆ (4.35)
My Rating: ★★★★★(4.5)

No matter your goals, Atomic Habits offers a proven framework for improving–every day. James Clear, one of the world’s leading experts on habit formation, reveals practical strategies that will teach you exactly how to form good habits, break bad ones, and master the tiny behaviors that lead to remarkable results.

If you’re having trouble changing your habits, the problem isn’t you. The problem is your system. Bad habits repeat themselves again and again not because you don’t want to change, but because you have the wrong system for change. You do not rise to the level of your goals. You fall to the level of your systems. Here, you’ll get a proven system that can take you to new heights.

Clear is known for his ability to distill complex topics into simple behaviors that can be easily applied to daily life and work. Here, he draws on the most proven ideas from biology, psychology, and neuroscience to create an easy-to-understand guide for making good habits inevitable and bad habits impossible. Along the way, readers will be inspired and entertained with true stories from Olympic gold medalists, award-winning artists, business leaders, life-saving physicians, and star comedians who have used the science of small habits to master their craft and vault to the top of their field.

Learn how to:
*  make time for new habits (even when life gets crazy);
*  overcome a lack of motivation and willpower;
*  design your environment to make success easier;
*  get back on track when you fall off course;
…and much more.

Atomic Habits will reshape the way you think about progress and success, and give you the tools and strategies you need to transform your habits–whether you are a team looking to win a championship, an organization hoping to redefine an industry, or simply an individual who wishes to quit smoking, lose weight, reduce stress, or achieve any other goal.

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I am a firm believer in habits, tracking and routines. That said, I still struggle with forming and sticking with certain habits ehem diets or working out consistently or sustaining period of time.

When I picked up Atomic Habits it was because I had heard so many good things and was at a time that I needed an extra dose of habit forming self talk. I have no regrets.

If you are like me, you most likely believe that habits are the cornerstone of your life but aren’t always sure of how to build or break them. James Clear does an amazing job laying down the framework of how habits are formed. While at first glance these may seem overly simplistic, Atomic Habits delves into each of these concepts in a way that packs a powerful punch. He starts each (or most) section with poignant anecdotes before delving into insightful strategies for building good habits and breaking bad ones.

“You do not rise to the level of your goals. You fall to the level of your systems.”

Quickly the reader learns that:

Motivation is over-rated.

Systems are the difference between making or breaking habits (and goals). One of the easiest ways to build a new habit is to attach it to an existing one, which is referred to as habit stacking. Anyone that has developed a routine (or runs errands on a daily basis) is familiar with this one and when reflecting upon it realizes just how powerful that indeed is.

You build fortunes from pennies by investing in very small changes one at a time that will pay dividends on itself sort of like compound interest Get 1% better each day and you will rarely notice a change on any given day, but by the end of a year you will be 38 times better than when you started (1.01^365 = 37.8)

A change in mindset or self-perception is paramount. The best way of building a habit is making it part of your identity So, you must experience a shift in identity for your habits to hold.

“All big things come from small beginnings. The seed of every habit is a single, tiny decision. But as that decision is repeated, a habit sprouts and grows stronger. Roots entrench themselves and branches grow. The task of breaking a bad habit is like uprooting a powerful oak within us. And the task of building a good habit is like cultivating a delicate flower one day at a time.”

The content is easily digestible and Clear has a fantastic flow from topic to topic and illustrating his points. I highly recommend this to anyone looking to learn how to stick with better habits, break bad ones, or discover what has been holding them back all this time.