Small steps towards Big change- An 'Atomic Habits' Review

By Kirby Edwards
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I recently re-read the book Atomic Habits by James Clear. I have read this book before and find myself re reading it when I need a little motivation. It was such a great reminder that we can make small sustainable changes to help improve our lives, namely our health.

In an attempt to try to keep hip and up with the times, I enlisted my new AI friend bard to help me write a blog about it.
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The book focuses on the power of small, incremental changes and how to get 1% better each day. James Clear argues that we can achieve significant results by making small changes on a consistent basis. This approach is particularly well-suited for improving our health, as it allows us to make changes that are sustainable and that we can stick with over time.

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Here are some of the key principles of Atomic Habits that can be applied to improving our health:
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• Make it obvious. The first step to changing a habit is to make it obvious what you want to do. This means creating a clear and specific plan for how you will achieve your goal. For example, if you want to start exercising more, you might make a plan to go for a walk every day after work.
• Make it attractive. Once you know what you want to do, you need to make it attractive to do it. This means finding ways to make your new habit enjoyable and rewarding. For example, you might listen to your favorite music while you walk, or you might set a goal to walk to a specific destination that you enjoy.
• Make it easy. The easier it is to do something, the more likely you are to do it. This means making sure that your new habit is as easy as possible to start and maintain. For example, you might keep your walking shoes by the door so that you can easily slip them on and go for a walk.
• Make it satisfying. When you take action towards your goal, it is important to celebrate your successes. This will help you to stay motivated and on track. For example, you might give yourself a small reward after you go for a walk, such as reading a chapter of your favorite book.

By following these principles, you can start to make small, sustainable changes that will improve your health. Remember, it is not about making huge changes all at once. It is about making small changes that you can stick with over time.

Here are some additional tips for using Atomic Habits to improve your health:

• Start small. Don't try to change too much at once. Start with a small habit that you know you can stick with, and then gradually build on it.
• Be patient. It takes time to build new habits. Don't get discouraged if you don't see results immediately. Just keep at it, and you will eventually reach your goals.
• Find a support system. Having people to support you on your journey can make a big difference. Find a friend, family member, or online community that can help you stay motivated.

Another helpful habit hint is “Habit stacking.” It is a technique that can help you to build new habits by linking them to existing habits. For example, if you want to start drinking more water, you could stack it with your morning coffee routine. This means that you would make a point of drinking a glass of water every time you made a cup of coffee.

Habit stacking is a great way to make new habits more sustainable. By linking them to existing habits, you make them easier to remember and more likely to become automatic.

Here are some tips for using habit stacking to improve your health:

• Choose a strong anchor habit. The anchor habit should be something that you already do consistently. This will make it easier to remember to do your new habit.
• Start small. Don't try to stack too many habits at once. Start with one small habit and then gradually add more.
• Be flexible. If you miss a day, don't beat yourself up. Just pick up where you left off the next day.

Habit stacking is a powerful tool that can help you to improve your health. By following these tips, you can start making small changes that will have a big impact on your well-being.

Here are some examples of habit stacking for health:

• After I brush my teeth, I will drink a glass of water.
• After I eat lunch, I will go for a walk.
• After I get home from work, I will do 10 minutes of stretching.

By stacking these habits together, you can make them easier to remember and more likely to become automatic. This will help you to improve your health in a sustainable way.
 
With a little effort, you can use these helpful habit hints to improve your health and reach your goals. So, what are you waiting for? Start making small changes today!

I would like to add that some of us are very all or nothing, ie. We didn’t go for a walk Monday; therefore I might as well not do it all week and start again next week. No! every little bit counts. Small amounts often.
 
Here is a link to his page. He has some great insights into
https://jamesclear.com/atomic-habits-summary

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