Thu, August 28 at 2:36 pm GMT
Hello everyone,
How are you?
I just finished reading Chapter 8 of Atomic Habits and wow, it's got me thinking. The main idea is about making your habits so obvious they are impossible to ignore, which James Clear calls "The Law of Make It Obvious." He talks about using a technique called Habit Stacking, which is a brilliant way to build new habits by linking them to old ones.
The formula is super simple: "After [CURRENT HABIT], I will [NEW HABIT]." For example, "After I pour my morning coffee, I will meditate for one minute." This is a game changer because it takes advantage of routines you already have. Instead of relying on willpower, you are tying the new behavior to something you are already doing automatically. I am going to try this with my workout routine: "After I get home from work, I will immediately change into my gym clothes."
Clear also emphasizes the importance of designing your environment to support your goals. He calls this "the cue of location." For instance, if you want to eat healthier, you should put healthy snacks on the counter where they're visible and easy to grab. If you want to read more, put a book on your pillow. The whole idea is to make the cues for good habits more prominent and the cues for bad ones less visible. This reminds me of how I always end up eating junk food because it's right there in the pantry I need to get better at hiding it!
Another cool tip is to use implementation intentions, which are basically plans that specify when and where you're going to act. The formula is: "I will [BEHAVIOR] at [TIME] in [LOCATION]." This takes the guesswork out of what you need to do. It’s a lot more effective than just saying "I'm going to exercise more." Instead, you say, "I will exercise for 30 minutes at 6 a.m. in the living room." It gives your brain a clear signal and reduces procrastination.
It all boils down to making the cues for good habits impossible to miss. It is not about being disciplined 24/7 but about setting up a system where good habits are the path of least resistance. It is like turning your environment into a supportive partner instead of an obstacle. I am excited to put these ideas into practice!
have a nice moment
neema
