Introduction:
As the year wraps up, I reflect on my progress and habits. I often wonder if I could be doing more to reach the future version of myself I aspire to become. I’ve realized that many of my bad habits have blocked the good ones I hoped to build. Inspired by Atomic Habits by James Clear, I’m diving into a journey of habit-building to close the gap between who I am now and who I want to be.
Step 1: Defining Habit Goals with Identity in Mind
A key takeaway from Atomic Habits is to align habits with the identity you want to build. I envisioned two identities I want to embody:
- The Best-Selling Author
- The Amateur Athlete
I created small, daily habits to nurture each identity:
- Daily Writing: Start with just 5 minutes a day.
- Daily Workout: Commit to 5 minutes of exercise daily.
These incremental actions, even if only 1% improvement each day, will compound over time, helping me sustain the habits that matter.
Step 2: Optimizing Your Environment for Success
To support my writing goals, I treated my workspace as an essential tool:
- Visual Cues: I organized my desk to create a distraction-free environment.
- Reducing Friction: I scheduled uninterrupted writing time daily.
For my fitness goals:
- Visual Cues: Setting out workout clothes the night before encourages me to follow through.
- Reducing Friction: Planning my workout schedule weekly makes it easier to stay consistent.
Step 3: Creating a Reward System
Rewards keep motivation high. I use a simple habit tracker to log my progress daily, and as I see my efforts accumulate, I reward myself with small treats. Additionally, I plan to review my progress weekly, knowing it can take anywhere from 18 to 254 days to solidify a habit.
Step 4: Anticipating and Overcoming Obstacles
I’m mindful of potential obstacles, especially with my night job’s unpredictable schedule. Here’s how I manage:
- Identifying Barriers: I give myself grace on busy days and focus on my baseline habits.
- Breaking Bad Habits: To curb doomscrolling, I deleted social apps and shifted to reading on my Kindle during low-energy moments.
- Mindset Shifts: I apply the “never miss twice” rule, which allows flexibility without derailing my habit-building process.
Closing Thoughts
Building sustainable habits is the key to reaching my goals and becoming the person I envision. As I continue this journey, I’m excited to see how these small changes will lead to significant growth a year from now.
What habits are you building for the future you want? Share your journey and any tips in the comments below!
