I have had a habit for many years of reading through a book a month. Sometimes more, but minimal one book. This summer I decided to add an extra book, and the first one I pulled off the shelf was Atomic Habits by James Clear. As many of you know, it is probably one of the best readings on habit transformation. It has me taking a deep dive into the subject. I wanted to write a little bit about it here.
Have you ever noticed how many things you do without thinking about them? If you took notice, you probably got ready this morning the same way as you had the day before and the day before that. You most likely drove to work the same, exact route. That’s exactly what a habit is. A habit is a routine or behavior that is repeated regularly and tends to occur subconsciously. It can be a learned pattern of activity that becomes automatic over time. With that in mind, I wanted to share some of the things I am learning.
There are 4 areas where people commonly struggle with habits.
*The first one is in the area of productivity and time management.In this age of instant notifications, leaders struggle to stay focused and to effectively manage their time. Distractions, lack of clear goals, and poor planning can make it difficult to develop and stick to productive habits. Sometimes it’s just easier to pick up the phone and scroll when you hear those alerts. Are there any other procrastinators out there?
*Personal growth and learning is another area of habit struggle. Why? These habits often compete with more immediately rewarding activities, and progress can feel slow, leading to discouragement. Consistently dedicating time to read, learn new skills, or engage in self-improvement activities seems impossible in a busy world of work, ministry, and family.
*Personal health is an area that for many is at the bottom of their priority list. It seems selfish to focus on this area when so many around you need your time and energy. Maintaining a regular exercise routine and eating healthy consistently require significant lifestyle changes and long-term commitment which can be challenging amidst busy schedules and immediate temptations.
*Lastly, for some leaders, spiritual habits can fall by the wayside, all the while serving those in your church, your organization, or business. Getting the time in to read the Bible, pray, and worship, without some intentionality, can be left to the end of the day when there is very little energy or focus left.
Many leaders, find themselves leading with empty cups in these areas because they have believed the lie that these things are selfish or that they do not have the time to invest in these habit changes. On top of that, habit formation can be hard. These struggles can be real.
Consistency: Sticking to a habit every day can be challenging, especially when motivation wanes. It’s easy to start strong but hard to keep going when life gets busy or when initial excitement fades.
Setting Realistic Goals: Many people set ambitious goals that are difficult to achieve, leading to frustration and abandonment of the habit. It’s important to set small, attainable goals that can build up over time.
Dealing with Setbacks: Experiencing setbacks or missing a day can be discouraging. This often leads to a “give up” mentality. Learning to handle setbacks and understanding they are part of the process is crucial.
Overcoming Environmental Triggers: Our environment greatly influences our habits. Negative triggers, such as junk food in the house or a distracting workspace, can derail our efforts. Identifying and modifying these triggers can help maintain good habits.
My goal in writing this today is not to give answers. There are so many tools available to help with that. My goal for leaders today is to create curiosity. Take a few minutes today to identify what is your biggest area of struggle. Secondly, ask yourself why the struggle is there. And lastly, process a few steps you can take to eliminate the excuse and create a new pattern of action.
James Clear’s famous quote is, “You get what you repeat”. So I encourage you today to determine what kind of leader you want to be. Then begin to take some action steps to create that person. If you do it enough days in a row, you might be surprised you will begin to do it without thinking because you have formed a habit.
