Paraphrasing my key takeaways from Atomic Habits

Instead of spending hours on planning, we can get up and take action to execute it! Planning doesn't ensure doing the task, actually getting up to do it does!

The goal is not to read X amount of books, it is to become a reader. Knowing why you want to develop a particular habit will make it easier to do it

We are required to unlearn all our old, unconscious set patterns and habits that cause hindrances to form newer, better ones.

Analyse what you do throughout the day to really know what you're spending time on. Time every activity for a day, as if you were observing a third person

You're a runner, if you have a stack of undeniable proof of going for a run on a regular basis. Similarly, becoming the version of yourself you aim to be, happens when you work on building that stack of proof to support your habit

And prove it to yourself with small wins. Don't feel like working out? Spend 30mins on a walk. But never skip it!

Try to harbour an environment that rewards the behaviour you wish to develop

Every step we take, every habit we develop, every decision has a compounded effect in the long run. For instance, without good health, you will be short on energy. Without energy, you'll feel lethargic which will intrun affect productivity. As the inevitable cycle goes on, feelings of self doubt surface.

In reality, what we crave if not the habit itself, but the change in state which it delivers

A smoker doesn't actually crave a cigarette, but the feeling of stress relief which he/she has associated with the act of smoking.

Our response towards anything depends on how motivated we are- which inturn depends on how much friction is a associated with it. Our brain will always reost to the passage that requires minimum effort, hence least amount of friction

Make it impossible to say a NO to. If you have a glass of water ready as you wake up, you're more likely to drink it in the morning. If you've kept your workspace tidy, you're more likely to follow your schedule and maximise productivity

Make it OBVIOUS

MAke it ATTRACTIVE

Make it EASY

Make it SATISFYING

Make it INVISIBLE

MAke it UNATTRACTIVE

Make it DIFFICULT

Make it UNSATISFYING

Until you make the unconscious, concious decision, it will direct your life and you will call it Fate

A crucial step to change your behaviour is maintaining awareness of what we are actually doing. We can't eliminate bad habits we don't know about!

Work on how you INTEND to IMPLEMENT

When we make a specific plan for when and where we will perform a new habit we are more likely to follow through

Start by writing something like this on your desk

I will do X at this particular time and location

Behaviour is a function of the person in their respective environment

People often choose products on the basis of where they are. We are more likey to drink water if we keep a bottle in front of us at all times. Or even place bottles at different places throughout our environment