My Book Review: Atomic Habits by James Clear

My initial reaction to picking up Atomic Habits by James Clear was that it was another self-help book full of good concepts I will soon forget. However, after reading page after page I was aware that this is not just any book. It has nothing to do with short-term solutions or grandiose. It is on the strength of small steps, taken in daily life, which gradually but surely mould the type of person we are. The author reveals to us how habits operate, how they are created, and most importantly, how we can make a change in them. The most impressive aspect to me is the practical and relatable lessons. It is not such much reading theory and more of learning tools that I can really apply in my daily life. The concept of how habits are the compound interest of self-improvement is one of the largest lessons of the book. As money increases with our little by little investments, so do our actions increase to results when we repeat them in time. This caused me to look back on my life. To illustrate, I did not need to dream about reading 50 books a year but I could see that I still needed to read 10 minutes per day. But that little gesture might not seem like a big thing in the time, but over time it accumulates to become a big thing. The book helped me not to forget that it is not about taking huge strides but about making small steps regularly. The four-step pattern of habits, i.e. cue, craving, response, and reward is another significant lesson. James Clear describes the process that all habits, whether good or bad, go through. This realization has changed my perception of my own routines. An example is that I used to pick up my phone immediately when I got up in the morning.  The stimulus is the rising, the desire is the need to be stimulated, the action is looking at my phone and the reinforcement is the momentary rush of adrenaline. After learning this I realized that I could either break the habit or make a habit by modifying the cue or by modifying the reward. I began leaving a book on my bedside table, rather than picking up my phone. Now when I get up, I read a few pages instead, the cue. The little switch has transformed my mornings and put me and the day on a relaxing note. I also learnt through the book that setting goals is not an end in itself but rather systems that we establish. This idea hit me hard. On numerous occasions, I have been saying things to myself such as I want to lose weight or I want to be more productive. I would lose concentration, however, after the first excitement. James clear explains that systems help us to keep moving, goals provide the direction. To illustrate, rather than just trying to lose weight, I created one that included preparing healthy meals in the house four days in a week and strolling 20 minutes a day in the evening. The goal is nearly unavoidable with these systems. One of the most practical and life changing lessons to me was this change of goals to systems. It is one of my favorite chapters that discusses identity-based habits. According to the author, the real behavior change is not about what you desire to accomplish, but who you wish to be. This was eye-opening. And when I want to be a fit person, I cannot just make myself exercise every now and then. I need to begin to view myself as a person who would never skip exercises. Identity makes habits stick. I have been attempting to reform my speech to myself since reading this. I do not say, I am trying to write, I say, I am a writer. This minor modification of identity prompts me to behave in accordance to the ideology. It is a strong one since we instinctively desire to realize our identity in our deeds. The other lesson that was prominent is the influence of environment in our behavior. In explaining how we do not always become what we aim to be but become what our systems and environments make us, James Clear explains this. This is so true. With cookies on my desk, I would go ahead and eat them, regardless of my strength of will. But when I have fruit on the desk I will eat that. I understood that it is more prudent to create the environment I want than to use discipline alone. To illustrate this point, I have put my workout shoes in a prominent place in my living room such that I would constantly see them and be reminded that I need to get exercising. This is a trick that really works instead of simply being motivated. The book goes on to discuss the necessity of habit monitoring. What gets measured improves. I also realized that I felt so motivated not to break the chain when I began to mark an X on the calendar every time I wrote a page. It became a little game. This was a lesson to me that we can feel progress more when we can see it. In some cases, it does not matter how big the progress is but how we feel that we are going in the right direction. That small bit of momentum is what keeps us on. This is one of the applications that fill Atomic Habits. The lessons are not challenging or complicated. They are plain, and they should be regular. The book made me realize that I do not need to transform my life in a short period of time. Rather, I am able to commit minor improvements on a daily basis and they will ultimately define my future. It also taught me to be patient with myself since change is not rapid, but also to trust and have faith since the smallest push never goes to waste. Summing up, I can state that Atomic Habits is not only a book I have read, but also a book I revisit. It helps me to consider what a person I would like to become is and it teaches me how to make that happen step by step. The best thing is that it makes hope a reality. It does not make me wait until I feel inspired to do something big, but encourages me to do little things in everyday life. And that is actually what life is about. ### Images Made With Canva