It is very rare I read a book that I think about for months later but I keep coming back to five key takeaways from Atomic Habits by James Clear.

What I believe sets Atomic Habits apart is the use of science-backed data to support the strategies. This also includes 25 pages of notes, references, and citations used throughout the book. I really appreciated the transparency this brought to the framework of Atomic Habits. I also enjoyed that each chapter started with an anecdote and the chapter related to that scenario. It helped me as a reader see the relevance as it applied to real-world scenarios, past and present.

As someone who has a short attention span, despite loving to read, I often find personal development books hit or miss. While there are some great resources out there, a lot of self-help style books I see touted on the top best-seller lists to be “life-changing” or “a game-changer” are actually just a bunch of books stuffed with generic advice and cushioned with fluff to fill pages.

I fully believe Atomic Habits is a book worth taking the time to read but if you don’t, here are five key takeaways that I think everyone can benefit from learning!

Habit stacking makes success intuitive
Add a new habit with another habit you already have mastered. This worked really well for me when I wanted to build the habit of taking my vitamins consistently. I added my vitamins to the tray I use to make my daily latte so that when I make my morning matcha latte, I remember to take my vitamins. Habit stacking has been the easiest strategy for me to implement both personally and professionally.

You are the architect of your own environment
Create an environment that allows your new habit to be easy. If you want to read more, place a book by your favorite cozy chair or next to your bed.

The two minute rule for new habits
When starting a new habit, start practicing the habit for two minutes to start. If you want to read more, read for two minutes and continue adding on time until the habit becomes second nature.

Fall in love with boredom
Habitual behavior can appear boring but if you find comfort in the routine it will lead to more successful behavior.

Keep your identity small
The more attached to a version of yourself you are, the harder it will be to evolve into the person required for the next levels of growth.

If you enjoy personal development or business development books, check out these other business book club posts:
How are you, really? by Jenna Kutcher
The Business Book Club for Entrepreneurs