New habits, not just a New Year New Me kind of thing.

Where to start?

In Atomic Habits by James Clear he gives great ideas for where to start, and where to make changes, and little tweaks that can help.

The bigger picture is to

• look at your identity,

• who you are

• who you want to be.

This can seem pretty big. Sometimes I feel like an imposter. No matter how many times I hear the coach saying “you the athlete” on my Nike Run Club app I’m not fully convinced. When I hear “you the runner” that’s ok ‘cause I am running (or walking) . Easy to accept is I’m a person who runs .

So, to change a new habit maybe think about “I’m the type of person who…”. James gives examples such as “What would a healthy person do?”

From there you start casting votes for this identity. Small wins. Confirm that’s who you are. Every time take an action that fits with this identity you confirm it to yourself. You start to believe, and that leads to you taking further actions.

So for me

“I am a runner”

I put out my running shoes the night before.

What makes your habit easy? My shoes live near the door, not left damp and disgusting in the garage.

Little steps, step back (running…steps…there’s a link there), step up (ok too much)

Little baby steps and small changes compound to bigger differences. Atomic habits.

Atomic Habits James Clear Random House Business Books isbn 9781847941831

https://jamesclear.com/atomic-habits