Atomic Habits: Tiny Changes, Remarkable Results by James Clear

Are you feeling disheartened and contemplating abandoning your 2024 resolutions because of a bad habit?

I used to have that feeling but this year I want to have a better strategy for achieving my goals by developing good habits.

All resolutions set for 2024 must be taken seriously and backed by good habits.

To gain a deeper understanding of habits, so I read James Clear’s “Atomic Habits.” This book has been on the Best Seller shelves for quite some time. However, it was only this year that I decided to grab it and read it, after waiting patiently for it to be released at the Singapore National Library. I believe that reading it now is timely, considering it’s the beginning of the year— a perfect way to start a good habit and achieve better results.

📖 Book I Read: 

Atomic Habits: Tiny Changes, Remarkable Results. An Easy & Proven Way To Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones by James Clear

🗂️ Type of Book:

  • Self Help
  • Productivity
  • Personal Development

🔑 Keywords:

  • With the same habits, you’ll end up with the same results. But with better habits, anything possible
  • Habits are the compound interest of self-improvement.
  • The Science of How Habits Work: Cue, Craving, Response, and Reward

🫱 Key Takeaways:

  • By understanding ourselves, our nature, and our environment, we can build more positive habits to make it consistent.
  • Building a habit must not be something that feels big and scary. The habit should come naturally, even if it’s small but consistent. Just remember the four laws of habit: make it obvious, attractive, easy, and satisfying.

👷 How I apply it:

  • There’s a tip from this book that will be beneficial in overcoming my anxious mind. By making a small mindset shift—acknowledging the feeling and reframing it more positively—I can experience much better results. This also can be strengthened by anchoring it to an activity that I love so my mind can associate it automatically to be more positive. 
  • For example, when I am nervous, I reframe my mind to feel excited and believe that this adrenaline rush can help me concentrate. Then I take three deep breaths. So the next time I am nervous, I take three deep breaths to switch my mind to a more positive state.
  • Let’s say, I want to lose weight by exercising. Instead of planning to run for 30 minutes every morning, which would make my legs sore, I choose activities that can be incorporated into my daily routine. For instance, opting to use stairs instead of the escalator or choosing to walk home rather than taking a cab. Small habit, but consistent!

📚 Other reference(s) I need to explore:

  • The Power of Habit by Charles Duhigg
  • Hooked by Nir Eyal
  • Easy Way to Stop Smoking by Allen Carr
  • Clear Thinking by Shane Parrish