Atomic Habits by James Clear - Starting October 3rd 2020

[Dannii]

No matter your goals, Atomic Habits offers a proven framework for improving--every day. James Clear, one of the world's leading experts on habit formation, reveals practical strategies that will teach you exactly how to form good habits, break bad ones, and master the tiny behaviors that lead to remarkable results.

If you're having trouble changing your habits, the problem isn't you. The problem is your system. Bad habits repeat themselves again and again not because you don't want to change, but because you have the wrong system for change. You do not rise to the level of your goals. You fall to the level of your systems. Here, you'll get a proven system that can take you to new heights.

Clear is known for his ability to distill complex topics into simple behaviors that can be easily applied to daily life and work. Here, he draws on the most proven ideas from biology, psychology, and neuroscience to create an easy-to-understand guide for making good habits inevitable and bad habits impossible. Along the way, readers will be inspired and entertained with true stories from Olympic gold medalists, award-winning artists, business leaders, life-saving physicians, and star comedians who have used the science of small habits to master their craft and vault to the top of their field.

Learn how to:
* make time for new habits (even when life gets crazy);
* overcome a lack of motivation and willpower;
* design your environment to make success easier;
* get back on track when you fall off course;
...and much more.

Atomic Habits will reshape the way you think about progress and success, and give you the tools and strategies you need to transform your habits--whether you are a team looking to win a championship, an organization hoping to redefine an industry, or simply an individual who wishes to quit smoking, lose weight, reduce stress, or achieve any other goal.

[Dannii]

I'll be starting this one this evening :)

[Katie]

Sounds good! Me too! :)

[Dannii]

First quarter - (view spoiler)[I thought it was super interesting to begin this non-fiction with a personal story of a brain injury. It was horrendous to read about but made me feel more connected to the author, which is not something that many non-fiction titles aim to do. (hide spoiler)]

[Dannii]

Second quarter - (view spoiler)[I really liked how this introduced the concept of habit stacking. That is definitely something I will start to incorporate. (hide spoiler)]

[Dannii]

Third quarter - (view spoiler)["Doing the thing you need to do means doing the thing you want to do." That's another concept I will start to introduce to my days. I'll also start stopping my new habits at the point before they come a chore. These hints seem so obvious but I can foresee them being so life-changing! (hide spoiler)]

[Dannii]

Fourth quarter - (view spoiler)[I loved this and am kicking myself that it took me so long to get to it. A lot of what was included was already known to me through reading other self-improvement books and listening to motivational speakers/youtubers/podcasters. I still found it highly impactful, though. I listened to this via audio but would really like a physical copy to scribble some notes down from when I reread it, which I can imagine myself doing every few years or so. (hide spoiler)]

[Katie]

Dannii wrote: "First quarter - [spoilers removed]"

I agree with the opening!! I loved it!

First quarter

(view spoiler)[ I really like the writing style of this book! I don't read a ton of non-fiction books, but I'm really having an easy time getting into book!! I'm very much looking forward to the rest of this one!
(hide spoiler)]

[Katie]

Chapter 5- (view spoiler)[ I liked this chapter! It talked about stacking habits and it made so much sense! I want to try this out with something simple to see if I can follow through!

I don’t read a lot of non-fiction so it takes me awhile to read these kind of books. I got it in audio format to see if it will help speed it up for me :)

(hide spoiler)]

[Dannii]

Katie wrote: "Chapter 5- I liked this chapter!."

(view spoiler)[I found lots to implement too, and I hope I can carry them with me always. I listened via audio despite usually liking to physically read my non-fiction books, I can take notes. Audio worked well for me with this one, though. I just wrote down the few things I wanted to implement rather than take notes throughout. (hide spoiler)]

[Katie]

Chapter 8- HA! (view spoiler)[ I need that program that computer programmer wrote that would only allow his TV show to play if he was cycling at a certain speed!! HAHAHA! (hide spoiler)]

I'm really enjoy this!!! I can see myself needing to pull this out a few times a year just to revisit certain parts over and over again!

[Dannii]

Katie wrote: "Chapter 8- HA! [spoilers removed]

I'm really enjoy this!!! I can see myself needing to pull this out a few times a year just to revisit certain parts over and over again!"

That was great. I could totally use some tech like that in my life, too!

[Katie]

Dannii wrote: "Third quarter - [spoilers removed]"

I also really liked this part! (view spoiler)[ Just trying to make that mind change could do so many great things to start new good habits. I'm really enjoying this quite a bit!! (view spoiler)[ (hide spoiler)] (hide spoiler)]

[Katie]

Finished- (view spoiler)[ WOW! I really enjoyed this! I will probably re-read it with the handouts provided on the website! I especially liked the "Goldilocks Rules" and being on the cusp of motivational (but not too far out of reach) is where the best results can happen. Sometimes I think I (we) set our goals a little too far ahead, and then give up too early but if we set them one small measurable goal at a time, and where they are Juuuust right where they need to be, we'll have more success. (hide spoiler)] I'm really glad I read this!

[Dannii]

Katie wrote: "Finished- [spoilers removed] I'm really glad I read this!"

I'm totally with you on this! I find it incredibly hard to motivate myself sometimes as I feel my goals are either unsustainable altogether or too distant to motivate myself right now. I'm learning to set more measurable and actionable steps, instead.