It is not every day you get to read a book that takes you through a paradigm shift in how you think. The book Atomic Habits by James Clear did just that for me. I came across this book at the beginning of this year and so far I have gone through it twice. The book is a must-read! You might have never prioritized reading a book before but I implore you to push yourself for this one. You will thank me later because your whole world will change after reading it. The central theme of the book is one you have probably heard of many times – HABITS. Yet in this book, the subject is unravelled in a way that will shift the way you think. Here are 7 of some of the striking lessons I drew from Atomic Habits.
Habit-Making Is A Process
The book highlights that good habits do take time to form. In the same vein, it points out that great results or outcomes are somewhat delayed. Good things typically take time. Thus you do not need to feel overwhelmed by wanting to see results immediately. Habit-making is a process and as such requires consistent daily input. The book stipulates some practical ways to use in building good habits. For example, you must make the habits easy, obvious, fulfilling, and attractive. If you require so much time and effort to do a habit chances are you will quit. For example, you want to develop reading as a daily habit. Instead of reading 20 pages per day, you can start with just 1 page per day. You then gradually scale over time and that brings me to the second lesson:
Incremental Improvements Are The Key
Here the book speaks of 1 per cent improvements. The basic idea is that progress lies within making small improvements. From the very top, this speaks to aspects like breaking big goals into smaller-sized ones. I loved the illustration that was used in the book about the importance of making tiny improvements. An example was used of a plane that if it deviates slightly from its path, even by a degree it will end up miles away from its intended destination. That is the same with habits, a tiny improvement or shift can culminate in huge results. Quick example: reading 1 page a day results in 30 pages in 30 days. Shifting to 2 pages a day leaps to 60 pages in 30 days. That is how powerful incremental improvements are.
Process Over Outcome
Many of you miss it in life because of this issue – obsessing over the outcome (not the process). The book brings up a piercing truth of how those successful and unsuccessful people are separated by the process. This means they can have the same goals but different results. Outcomes i.e. goals are important but they have their place. The emphasis here is to focus on building systems i.e. processes or processes. Once systems are in place (which are of course informed by the intended goals), and you focus on the process, the outcomes will be automatic.
Returns On Investment In Knowledge Acquisition Are Like Compound Interest
When compound interest is involved, an investment grows exponentially (not linearly). That is why I decided to tie it to knowledge acquisition. The importance here is that you must invest in acquiring knowledge, daily. The return on that investment is staggering. Daily, you must read quality books. Regularly take quality courses. Seek out and be under quality mentors. Most importantly, seek and build quality relationships. All these focuses will perpetually expose you to quality knowledge, daily. They will stack on each other over time and the results will be evident.
You Are Your Environment
It is easy to take our environments for granted yet they are so influential. Like it or not, you are the result or product of your environment. You owe it to yourself to make it into what you want. In principle, you are supposed to create an environment that primes you to be your best. Be in charge and control of your environment. There are two basic things you want your environment to be like. One, it must be one in which you thrive. Two, it must be one with limited to zero distractions. You will be shocked how much time you lose in a year due to distractions.
Learn To Unlearn
Learning is, in most people’s minds, learning. Interestingly, the most crucial part of learning is unlearning. Daily or at least regularly, review what you know. Get rid of what is obsolete or falls short of present realities. Daily it must be your priority to adjust and upgrade your knowledge as needs are. There are some things you can do to streamline the unlearning process. My favourite is travelling and visiting new places. This also follows meeting and interacting with new people. Relocating can also be an invaluable unlearning experience. Above all, you must be flexible and open-minded to new knowledge (even if it challenges what you thought you knew).
Your Mindset Defines Your Habits
Habits do not just start as habits. The first and most central part of it all is your mindset. Thus in your quest to develop good habits, you must start with renewing your mind. As a man thinks, so is he – you are your thoughts. So, forming good habits is heavily premised on having the corresponding mindset for it. Even in breaking bad habits, it works the same way. Have your mind, set!
These are no doubt striking lessons to take to heart. Regardless I still recommend that you get the book and read it. There are even practical steps of how to internalize and action what is contained in the book. Now is the perfect time for you to redefine your approach to habits. The book will give you a newfound appreciation for the importance of habits. Happy reading!
