How Did I Break My Good Habits?

I started an ‘Atomic Habits’ journey a while back. What happened?

On August 25, 2021, I wrote an article about my experience after reading James Clear’s Atomic Habits. A book that was seriously life changing. I downloaded the free Habit Tracker Templates and picked at least three things I wanted to change bit by bit and…it worked!

Have those habits stuck with me, though?

Nope.

Lately, I’ve wondered why. If the book was so good and I had a great start in 2021, what halted my progress for all of 2022?

I reflected on some probable reasons. Maybe you can relate.

I didn’t have long range goals

One of my goals was to meditate for thirty days.

Only. Thirty. Days.

When that thirty day was up, I was done. Fini. I did not go back to it, yet I rejoiced over completing what I could. James Clear explains that missing a day or two is normal, but truly, missing one day of your good habit streak is more than enough missed time. Don’t make it a habit of breaking good habits.

Another of my goals, that I highlighted in my previous article, was to get to bed on time. This should have been a long range goal because going to bed is essential to healthy living — so is meditation, but specifically sleeping and getting the right amounts of sleep is so important.

For thirty days, instead of going to bed at 1 a.m. or 2 a.m., like I normally would, I tried the atomic habit of just going to bed at 11pm. Still late, but I made sure to only use my cell phone in the living room area and keep the bedroom clear of electronics like laptops, tablets, etc.

The bedroom is for sleeping. Having a book or two in there is fine.

The excitement of reading the book wore off

While reading Atomic Habits, I was excited.

Maybe with any self-help book I am this way, but it was fun going through the chapters and seeing what atomic habits I could write on an index card. James Clear had so many great anecdotes to tell that it got me pumped up to go on the journey as others have.

But when I came to the end of the book, some of that soda pop excitement fizzed out. I continued working on my atomic habit cards and managed to follow through, but the book was over. It felt…over.

Could that be why I fell off my good habit wagon?

Life kept life-ing

Perhaps it is not that deep of an issue.

Life is as life does.

Sometimes we stick to good habits, sometimes we do not. Other things get in our way: hours change at work, family, laziness — you name it. These things are a part of life. We cannot predict it and I did not beat myself up over not continuing good habits throughout the year.

I think over an extended amount of time, other activities cloud our thoughts. I remember Jay-Z saying on his Black album,

“I treat my first album like my last, and my last like my first”

Whatever energy he began with his first album, he kept that same momentum, which worked for him because — well, look at his growth. Look at his income.

The author of Atomic Habits himself, kept his same energy for the things he wanted to achieve, and look at his success. Much can be said for others, but “regular” folk like me…we let boulders and the mountains keep us from moving forward.

The beauty of being alive, is being able to start over.

I’m thinking of re-reading Atomic Habits. Maybe fresh insight awaits me.

Not sure.

Here’s to the journey.

Thank you for reading!