This post is not an exhaustive summary of the book, but rather a paraphrased version of the contents I came to resonate with. I strongly recommend reading the original material if this post interests you.

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Atomic Habits by James Clear is a book about forming habits, which we never stop doing, consciously or unconsciously, since the day we were born. The book is therefore highly relatable. Hardly a chapter went by without me thinking "hey this had worked for me" or "now this might just work".

Here are 15 points from this book I would constantly remind myself of:

1. Assume an Identity

You can acquire a habit by assuming an identity. For example, it would be easier to quit smoking by saying

I am not a smoker

than

I am quitting.

I assumed the identity of a Software Engineer and thus habits like listening to podcasts and doing side projects come natural to me.

My Game Dev journey also started with fake it til I make it. I would look at anything (not just game) from a game developer's perspective and the rest just came natural.

2. Start Small

If you divide your goal into 100 small bits and improve 1% in each bit, you will accumulate an enormous improvement.

3. Be Loud and Clear

A clear message anchors the behavior.

I will do 10 burpees after I shut my computer for lunch

is a much clearer message than

I will exercise every day.

4. Self-Control?

The people with the best self-control are the ones least need it. Try not to expose yourself in an undesirable environment.

The best way for me to resist eating potato chips is not to buy any in the first place.

5. Temptation Bundling

Pair the habits you want to have with the habits you already have (and love!).

I have always wanted to make my own breakfast as the choices eating outside were too limited in Singapore, but I never really pulled through. I did, however, started to make breakfast when I got my coffee machine - I love making coffee and latte art and that drags me out of bed, then I just make a breakfast "along the way".

6. Environment

• What you surround yourself with matters: leave a book on your pillow, make piano the first thing you see when you back home...
• We imitate the people we envy, be among them
• It’s much easier to love something when it is the "normal behaviour" in your environment (laszlo chess)
• Try to form a habit with people that already have something common with you

7. Make it Easy

Start your habit with x minutes and x minutes only. It should always be just below the point where it starts to feel like work.

I am still half way but I found it much easier if I time myself to play and only play 30 minutes of piano every day.

8. Instant Gratification

Match long term payouts with Instant Gratification, which is valued more by us (human).

9. Make it Satisfying

Especially towards the end! What's rewarded will be repeated, what’s punished will be avoided.

10. Never Miss it Twice

First time miss is accident, second time miss is the start of a new (unwanted) habit.

11. Use a Habit Tracker

We all like to see progress.

12. But...

When a measure becomes the new target, it's probably no longer a good measure.

13. Little Win / Challenges

Push yourself to the edge (the comedian adds a few minutes to his routine every year). You need it to sustain your effort and habits.

14. Boredom

• No one (really) has an infinite reserve of passion
• It is up to you to create novelty for your habits
• Professionals stick to schedules, in any mood (even bored)

15. Review System

• To avoid the downside of habit, where you became so accustomed to something you stopped noticing some of the details
• You can only become better if you sustain the effort, not just the habit
• Investors take decision journal, athletes track their trainings, comedians test their jokes...