How I Learned From Atomic Habits by James Clear
I had a promise to my best friend a month ago. After we talk about personality and how somebody built their habit to change a life, I said that I’ll write some reviews when I finished the book. The book gives a point of view about starting a good habit from small things and how the result.
My friend is sharp-witted. I know that because he always needs a long time to make a decision. He is always discreet in all of his words. But, on the other side, he often overthinks and lost his confidence. He is an introvert and believes that a person can’t change. He said that hard to make a person change. He gives me a real example of it. Himself. He wants to change some habits in his life. Taking away a bad habit, and put some new habit to recover it. He wants to be more confident in public speaking, especially when he starts a conversation with someone or a stranger in the first meeting and to be braver to start a relationship.
I tell him that I recommended this book. But, he doesn’t want to read it. So, I write this one for him. Why he must read Atomic Habits? I explain some reasons from my experiences.
Start the Topic with A True Story
Like storytelling, James Clear gives one story on each topic. The opening makes readers enjoy his writing. He makes people believe in the strength of atomic habits. How the figures struggle with their habits. Some people with bad habits realized that the habits kill them. They are conscious and start to change their habits with the new ones. His stories give us a new point of view to seeing the achievement of the great figures with their habits. I like how he ‘advice’ me from his stories.
“1% better every day”
If “1% better every day for a year”, James gives equality with 1.01 x 365 = 37.78, and in the opposite “1% worse every day for a year”, the equality is 0.99 x 365 = 00.03. What is the conclusion?
Change from the very smallest fix but continuing in a long time can be remarkable. If we start to become 1% better every day for a year, finally we’ll be 37 better at the end of the year. Otherwise, if we start to become 1% worse every day for a year, we’ll decrease to almost zero. Starting from one small win or one petty setback, it can accumulate to become much bigger if you do it continuously.
Summarizing in Each Chapter
Not only provide tables and graphics to make readers easier but also this book contains a summary at the end of the chapter. I tagged some pages to make it easy if I want to read once more again. Some people make a note to more understand James Clear’s habit ways. If you want to get more habits cards, you can access his website. The book will guide you on how to download it.
From the Simple Ways
Built a good habit in four simple ways. The first rule is “make it visible”. And the second is “make it interesting”. The third is “make it easy”. Then, the fourth is “make it satisfying”. There are struggling to create good habits. This book will guide you in each rule. Simple explanations make you fall in love with the book. You must try to create your own good habit if you finish it.
I’ll tell you something about my experience. Now, I start a new habit. I’m struggling with my English for IELTS. So, I put full concentration to fix my English. I’m so upset with pronunciation and grammar. I make a special schedule for myself. At the weekend, I must learn English for six hours. Three hours in the morning, like now when I write this one. And then, three hours in the evening.
I can’t learn on weekdays because my schedule is crowded. I’m busy with my work and I do a side job too, so I can’t be focused. When you want to start a new habit, please make your habit very clear, like what I do.
But on the night of weekdays, I watch some videos in English to improve my listening skills, practice fixing my pronunciation by reading an English book or from another online resource. In conditional time, I practice my pronunciation with my best friend when I’m at school. Of course, I already told you about my best friend. He is the friend that makes me write this article.
So, when you’ll start your good habit? Tell me if you start it. I’ll support all of your trying.
Happy Weekend, Dearest!^^
