I skipped Atomic Habits because I assumed a book that popular couldn’t be that good. I was wrong.
The idea I actually used is to change your identity first, then the habits. I made a table called “my wished identity” and listed everything I want to be (AI sorted the list into groups). Next to each item I added a column with the habits or actions that would make that version of me real. That’s how I picked my new habits.
Smaller things I took from it
- I was surprised to read that about 40% of what we do each day is habit. I never realized it, but it might be true.
- Do a tiny bit every day, however small it looks. A habit isn’t built in one day, and it’s normal for it to change form, easy first and harder later.
- I think we plan so much because planning lets us postpone failing. Doing a small part regularly removes the reason to wait.
- Placement matters more than I thought. Objects in a room can work as a trainer, so I put the things for a new habit where I can see them.
- If I miss a habit, I try to miss it only once. A second miss can become a new habit.