2019 began differently than normal for me. The beginning of the year is the time where I set goals for the year and set priorities, for example 2017 Goals. This year, I didn’t set goals. I pushed that task off week after week. Laziness, overtime at work, and a dive into my video game addiction – thanks, Paradox – all got in the way of my usual productivity habit. In fact, I delayed my way right into a convenient new strategy. No more goals!!! At least, no more yearly goals. This bold, new strategy comes from reading Atomic Habits by James Clear.
Pre-Finish Review
In Atomic Habits, Mr. Clear presents a practical system for creating change in your life. He pulls “ideas from a wide range of disciplines including biology, neuroscience, psychology, philosophy, and more.1” The writing exceeds my expectations for a self-help book. I enjoy the various examples and stories that he uses to convey his ideas; they feel natural interesting without overshadowing his point. But what really hooked me on this book is his focus on process. It appeals to my engineer’s sensibility. Often, we focus on the product, but manufacturing studies found that concentrating on process creates a quality product. Mr. Clear believes that changing the processes of your life will change your habits.
Instead of setting goals, he recommends changing yourself, not your outcomes. Outcomes and habits spring from how we view ourselves. This simple yet powerful notion fills the book. Mr. Clear lays out four laws to create a new habit AND an inverse of each law to break a bad habit. Each of these four laws are easy to understand and make sense. He uses principles of psychology to break down what a habit is. I find the system clear and compelling. I’ve only finished part one of the book, but I put a few of the ideas into action. Here’s the changes that I’m making.
My New Habits
- Read a self-improvement book during lunch at work
- Journal daily using the bullet journal system
- Meditate before bed
- Take vitamins daily
Small Changes
The book’s sub-title is Tiny Changes, Remarkable Results, and the process really does focus on making small, manageable changes in life. Atomic Habits is helping me, and I highly recommend it for anyone looking to improve themselves.
- Quoted from his website.