A simple, intentional life doesn’t happen by accident but instead through a series of small choices, actions and decisions. In this article I’m exploring how atomic habits help us make lasting changes to build a meaningful, balanced life we love.
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HOW HABITS CAN BRING ABOUT CHANGE
Change is something we all long for at various points in our lives. Whether it’s getting healthier, becoming more productive, or improving our relationships, the idea of transforming our lives for the better is incredibly appealing.
However, making lasting changes often feels overwhelming. We set big goals, but when the initial excitement fades, we struggle to keep up, and eventually, we fall back into old habits. Maybe this sounds familiar?!
This is where the concept of “atomic habits” comes in—a simple, yet powerful approach to making meaningful, sustainable changes in our lives. But, that’s easier and more realistic than diving straight in!
WHAT ARE ATOMIC HABITS?
Atomic habits are small, consistent actions that, over time, lead to significant change. The term “atomic” refers to something tiny, yet powerful. Just like atoms are the building blocks of matter, atomic habits are the foundation of change. They might seem small, even tiny, and insignificant on their own, but when compounded over time, they have the power to completely transform your life.
THE POWER OF ATOMIC HABITS
One of my all-time favourite books is “The Power of Atomic Habits” by James Clear. I love this book so much that it’s one of the reasons that I wanted to buy the house we live in now. Well, actually, it’s because when we first viewed the house before buying, the owner was reading the book and it was on their bedside table. Together with a love of elephants that I also shared with the owner, I got good vibes from the house and wanted it to become my home!
Click here to buy Atomic Habits by James Clear.
In this article I’m exploring some of the ideas covered in this brilliant book so you can see if you’d like to read it for yourself. I highly recommend it if you’re looking to simplify and live more intentionally. It will make it MUCH easier for you to make any changes you want to make!
1. What’s The Benefit Of Starting Small?
Well, starting small is less intimidating and more manageable. When you aim for tiny improvements, you’re more likely to stick with them because they don’t require huge shifts in your daily routine. This is the magic of atomic habits—they bypass the common barriers to change we often face by being easy to put in place.
2. The Power Of Improvement By Just 1%
Imagine if you could improve just 1% every day?! At first, a 1% change might seem too small to make a difference. But over time, these small improvements add up. In a year, those tiny changes add together, leading to massive transformation.
So the basic idea is simple. Focus on getting a little bit better each day, rather than trying to make drastic changes all at once. Much more sustainable and realistic for most of us I think!
To give you an example, let’s say you want to get healthier. Instead of overhauling your entire diet or signing yourself up to an intense workout program, start with something small. Maybe it’s drinking an extra glass of water each day or going for a 10-minute walk. These small changes are easy to maintain and, over time, they build up to create a healthier lifestyle without feeling overwhelming.
3. Building Habits That Stick
One of the biggest challenges with making changes is that new habits can be hard to maintain. How many times have you started something new with enthusiasm, only to find yourself slipping back into old routines a few weeks later? The key to building habits that stick is to focus on the process, not just the outcome.
4. Focus On Systems, Not Goals
Goals are important, but they can sometimes be discouraging if you don’t see immediate results. Instead of fixating on the goal itself, concentrate on the systems or habits that will get you there.
For instance, if your goal is to write a book, don’t just think about the finished product. Focus on building a daily writing habit, even if it’s just for 15 minutes a day. Over time, this habit will build up, and the book will write itself. Well, not quite, but you get the idea!
5. The Role Of Identity In Forming Habits
A crucial part of making lasting change is aligning your habits with your identity. It’s not just about what you want to achieve, but about who you want to become. When your habits align with your self-image, they become a natural part of who you are, rather than something you have to force yourself to do, be or think.
In other words, it’s no good forcing yourself to do things that take you in a direction, or become a person, that you don’t really want to be.
One approach to adapt to this could be to explore ways to shift your identity. Instead of saying, “I want to exercise more,” start thinking of yourself as someone who values fitness and well-being. When you identify as a healthy person, the actions that support that identity, like going to the gym or eating healthier foods, become easier to maintain because they’re consistent with how you see yourself.
Another approach is using the power of “I am” statements. This means using positive affirmations that reflect the identity you want to cultivate. For example, “I am a reader” encourages you to read more, while “I am an organised person” motivates you to keep your space tidy. These simple statements help reinforce the habits you’re trying to build by aligning them with your self-image and reminding yourself of what you want to achieve and why.
6. The Importance Of Environment
Your environment plays a significant role in habit formation. The people, spaces, and objects around you can either support or hinder your efforts to make positive changes. By designing your environment to make good habits easier and bad habits harder, you set yourself up for success.
There are many examples of how to make good habits easier. If you want to eat healthier, keep fresh fruits and vegetables within easy reach. If your goal is to read more, place a book next to your bed or on the coffee table. By making the desired behaviour more accessible, you reduce the friction that can prevent you from sticking to a habit.
You can also make bad habits harder too so it’s more difficult to engage in habits you want to break. If you’re trying to cut down on screen time, remove distracting apps from your phone or put your devices in another room during certain hours. By increasing the friction for bad habits, you’re less likely to fall back into them.
7. Tracking Progress And Celebrating Wins
Tracking your progress is essential for staying motivated. It helps you see how far you’ve come and shows you the benefits of sticking with your habits, even though it may feel tough. Celebrating small wins along the way keeps up your motivation and makes the journey more enjoyable.
One way of tracking your progress is to use a habit tracker. A habit tracker is a simple tool that allows you to mark off each day you complete your habit. Seeing a visual representation of your progress, like a streak of consecutive days, can be really motivating. It also gives you a sense of accomplishment, even if the habit itself is small.
You can get your own printable habit tracker at the end of this article to track your habits and see how well you’re sticking to them!
Make sure that you celebrate small wins whenever you can. Don’t wait until you’ve achieved your big goal to celebrate. Acknowledge and reward yourself for the small milestones along the way. Whether it’s a week of consistent workouts, finishing a chapter of your book, keeping your paperwork organised, or simply drinking enough water every day, these small celebrations keep your momentum going.
8. The Compound Effect Of Small Habits For Big Changes
The beauty of atomic habits lies in their compounding effect. Just like money in a savings account earns interest over time, your small habits accumulate and grow, leading to significant change. This compound effect means that even if you don’t see immediate results, your consistent efforts are making a difference.
You’re going to have to trust the process though! Change doesn’t happen overnight. It’s the result of consistent, small actions repeated over time. Trust that your atomic habits are working, even when progress seems slow. Remember, the results of your efforts might not be visible right away, but they’re building beneath the surface.
Patience is key when adopting new habits. It’s easy to get discouraged if you don’t see immediate results, but remember that meaningful change takes time. Keep showing up, and eventually, you’ll see the fruits of your hard work and commitment.
CONCLUSION
Atomic habits are the building blocks of lasting change. By focusing on small, consistent actions, you can create significant improvements in your life without feeling overwhelmed.
Start small, be patient, and celebrate your progress along the way. With time, these tiny habits will add up to big changes, helping you become the person you want to be and create a life you love.
Remember, it’s not about making huge leaps; it’s about making small steps every day. That’s the power of atomic habits.
What about you? Do you have any atomic habits that you’re currently working on? If you’d like to share your thoughts, I’d love to hear from you. Please leave a comment at the end of the article.
MORE RESOURCES ON BUILDING HABITS FOR A SIMPLER LIFE
- 7 Productive Habits to Help You Get More Done Each Day
- 6 Self-Care Habits for Your Daily Routine
- 10 Minimalist Habits and Routines for a Calmer Life
- 15 Helpful Habits for Positive Thinking
GET YOUR FREE PRINTABLE
Atomic habits take time and perseverance to build up. I’ve created a free printable habit tracker to help you track your progress. Pop your details in the box below to get your copy…