How to make your habits work for you

“Small changes can lead to big results.”
James Clear

Your habits can make or break you. This fact is the reason why paying attention to the kind of habits you already have is vital. In the grand scheme of things, the goals you set are achieved by the habits you create. It serves as an essential gauge of your success.

Students are no strangers to the challenge of striking a balance between the studying and working scale. Having the proper habits and systems can get you through the motions. As a self-confessed productivity tips junkie, I know looking out for the best productivity system that suits your style can be an obstacle—it takes a lot of trial and error. The fun thing, though, is there are a lot of strategies to test!

If you are like me and are constantly searching for self-development tips, I have one for you. Atomic Habits, by James Clear, has got people who are all about personal development and productivity raving—and for a good reason.

Finding it hard to learn or unlearn a habit? This well-acclaimed self-help book has been my handbook when it comes to habit shaping. It’s packed with tips and strategies to get you started on a productivity roll. One of the best concepts in the book is the four laws of behaviour change.

What is that? You may ask. Let’s unpack it together! Here are the four points and how I use them daily.

Make it obvious

A sticky note on the wall with a list entitled, "night routine." — *Picture by Michelle Marasigan.*

The first principle is all about making the habit as evident as possible. Why make it obvious? Well, you can’t miss out on a thing that’s already in front of you, right? Clear talks about making your habit cues as easily recognizable by your senses as much as you can.

This is an approach that goes with Clear’s implementation technique. That is by creating a specific game plan for what you will do, when it will happen and where you will do it. In this manner, you have a clear set of intentions.

The winning formula is: “I will [BEHAVIOUR] at [SPECIFIC TIME] in [SPECIFIC LOCATION].”

For me, sticky notes are my best friend. As a visual learner, I love seeing reminders on my apartment walls. One of the things I lose track of is establishing a night-time routine. It gets hard to move when you are tired after a long day at school or work. My sticky note system comes in handy when I want to remind myself of the rituals I want to do at night. That’s why I have a post-it of my night tasks by the side of my door.

This makes my night routine so much easier, especially when I’m extra tired during the day. I don’t have to think about what to do next, I just look at my list. All I know is that the routine is set when I enter my room, and I have to finish it by 10 p.m. So, once I’ve done all the things on the list, I know I’m good for the night and set for the next day.

Basically, it’s all about being self-aware. Knowing your day-to-day activities can help you better shape your behaviour.

Make it attractive

A series of sticky notes. In the middle sticky note, the quote reads "Instead of saying 'I have to do this' say 'I get to do this.' Everything is a privilege. — *Picture by Michelle Marasigan.*

The trick with habits is they are more appealing to do when they are attractive. In other words, you have to make it gorgeous! This will make your habit more likely to stick. If you think your habit is appealing, then you are more motivated to do it.

One of the best tips Clear had under this bucket is reframing your mindset. The coolest fact I have learned about the brain is how it can be wired and rewired multiple times. So, if you reprogram your brain to enjoy hard things, it will believe that.

Shifting your viewpoint in how you see the task you need to fulfill is a solid start. Clear’s primary strategy for this one is to change your “I have to” statements into ” I get to” statements. This shifts the mindset of seeing your tasks from an obligation into an incredible opportunity you get to do.

Going back to my post-its, one maxim that’s up on my wall is to look at everything I get to do as a privilege. If my school load gets overwhelming, I remind myself how lucky I am to be learning from industry professionals. If I am tired from working, I remind myself of how lucky I am to do what I love for a living.

In a nutshell, it’s all about perspective. So, the next time you have a horrifying task for the day, learn to reframe your thinking.

Make it easy

Headboard with a stack of books. — *Picture by Michelle Marasigan.*

Who doesn’t love convenience? I know I do. This fact is what Clear leverages when he says to make habits easy. This idea entails making your habits as simple and straightforward as you can.

Clear clarifies that this does not mean doing the easy tasks. Making it easy requires habits that pay off in the long run as easily as possible. That is by starting small. Clear’s method is to do the two-minute rule, which means scaling down the habit into two minutes or less.

This nugget of wisdom is gold for me. As a writer, I am constantly working on my goal to read at least one book quarterly. However, it can be hard to keep up with this goal when assignments are in high demand. That’s why I am committed to reading at least five pages of my book every night. This keeps me creative and helps me encounter new words that I can add to my vocabulary.

My books are just right above my headboard, which is a good cue for me to pick one up at the end of the night (enter principle one to make it obvious!). I stick by the two minutes when I am really sleepy. This can look like a page or two sometimes. However, I read more pages if I have more energy or if I’m in my reading momentum.

This habit reinforces the “make it easy” principle. I don’t need to finish a whole book on a specific timeline. It’s simply me building a habit of reading every night. After all, Clear said a habit must first be established before you can improve it.

Make it satisfying

A weekly schedule checklist. — *Picture by Michelle Marasigan.*

Generally speaking, it’s human nature to adopt rewarding behaviours and avoid behaviours that bring unfavourable results. How the reward system works is a well-established concept in psychology. That’s why making a habit satisfying can be your gateway to productivity.

That’s why it’s essential to create signals of progress in order to make the habit satisfying. Clear said the easiest way to do this is by having a habit tracker, a visual measure to demonstrate your progress. This is something I subscribe to. As a person who swears by a planner, there’s nothing more satisfying than a perfectly checked checklist—it makes me feel accomplished at the end of the day.

Seeing progress signals is a great reminder that you showed up for yourself that day. So, grab a pen and paper and start writing your to-do list!

Small, impactful changes

An illustration with the words 'Start now!' written in bold, stylized text. The word 'Start' is in bright green, while 'now!' is in black, featuring a shiny effect. A marker with a brown cap is positioned to the right, appearing to write the word. — *Via GIPHY*

Take a deep breath and notice your small habits today. Are they aligned with the results you want? Start with your sleeping habits, your studying habits or your eating habits—start somewhere.

Your daily habits are the small brick that steers your future. So, make your habits obvious, easy, attractive and satisfying. Like the snowball effect, starting small might be the trick to get you to your big goals.

Try these productivity tips and tell us how you implement them in your daily routine by tagging us on social media @shareignite!

Feature image courtesy of Bruno Bueno via Pexels.

Optimize your study habits! Read IGNITE’s article on the ultimate guide to ace your final exams.