James Clear, author of the book Atomic Habits, discusses the concept of getting 1% better every day.
He discusses how developing tiny habits can lead to remarkable results.
We are all facing challenges in life: a life-altering injury; a bad diagnosis; job loss; death of a friend/family member; or just living in a world that has gotten pretty tough to live in. However, honestly, these experiences teach us valuable lessons.
Lessons we have learned from challenging times show us that we are stronger than we think we are. When battling back to “normalcy” we must put one foot in front of the other and make small gains.
Every step counts! Making progress towards a goal is a process, and taking even small steps can make a significant difference over time. Achieving just 1% of your goal may not seem like much, but it is still progress, and it can help build momentum for future progress.
One of the biggest obstacles to achieving our goals is often resistance – from ourselves or others. This can take the form of procrastination, self-doubt, or fear of failure. By aiming for just 1%, we can overcome this resistance and start making progress.
Celebrate the small wins! Achieving even a small part of our goal can be a cause for celebration. By acknowledging and celebrating these small wins, we can boost our confidence and motivation to keep going.
Consider what author James Clear’s four laws of forming new habits (changing behavior) says:
- Make it obvious (make the environment conducive to what you want to accomplish – for example, set out your workout clothes the night before)
- Make it attractive (join a culture where your desired behavior is the norm and people are likeminded)
- Make it easy (chop veggies and cook meats on Sunday to have ready for upcoming week’s meals)
- Make it satisfying (enlist your child, spouse, or friend to cook or workout with you)
So, whether your goal is to recover from an injury, develop healthier habits, learn a new skill, get in better shape, or make progress on a project, aim for at least 1% progress each day. It may not seem like much, but it is a step in the right direction, and it can help you achieve remarkable things over time.