This Book Got Me Flossing Regularly
“A thief comes only to steal and slaughter and destroy; I came so that they might have life and have it more abundantly.” —John 10:10
Have you ever read a book that is a mindset shift for you? Or even a life shift?
From time to time, books have inspired me to purge my closet of all my old t-shirts (Project 333; more on that in a future post), impulsively add a composter to my wedding registry (100 Ways to Go Zero Waste), or simply optimize my to-do lists (Getting Things Done). There’s something about committing yourself to hundreds of pages about a given subject that gives you pause and makes you go “hmmmmm.”
#TheJoysofReading, right?
A recent book, however, has left a lasting impression on the way I get myself to do things. Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones by James Clear is a NYT-bestseller, ****and for good reason.
Simply put, the author explains how habits are made. Using science, anecdotes, and wit, Clear breaks down how people tick. Using that information, he guides readers in how to tangibly carve out strategies and systems that free them up to pursue the things they love. Neat, right?
There are four key components (or laws, as Clear calls them), which I’ll attempt to SparkNote-summarize for you below:
#1 Make it obvious.
"Many of our failures in performance are largely attributable to a lack of self-awareness," Clear writes. It's like we live life on autopilot!
So, how do we build new habits? Clear suggests piggybacking on the tasks we already do. For example, you could stretch while waiting for your morning coffee to brew. It's all about finding those little moments in your day where you can incorporate something new. Before you know it, you've got a shiny new habit!
#2 Make it attractive.
How many times have you held off on doing something because, well, there were more exciting things to do? This law really clues you into human behavior, tapping into dopamine and our intrinsic desire for reward to get you going. The author insists that it’s the anticipation of a reward that we act on, not the reward itself.
Gamifying day-to-day tasks, like watering plants, making sure you journal, or what-have-you, incentivizes behaviors you’re trying to build. This is a strategy that apps and companies use to grab your attention; why don’t you try it for yourself to build up things you care about?
#3 Make it easy.
This law is straightforward: you’re setting yourself up for failure if you’re trying to adopt a habit that is just plain complicated.
A no-brainer, right? We reach for the things right in front of us, so ease and accessibility are crucial. How much better would our lives be if we…
Left our bibles on our nightstand for daily reading?
Made sure our gym bag was already in the car for a quick workout?
Set up reminders to make that doctor’s appointment we’ve been putting off?
#4 Make it satisfying.
I love how much time Clear spends on this point. It sounds silly at face value, but there’s beauty in the fulfillment of worthwhile pursuits. Tap into the things you enjoy doing, the things you find fulfilling that others may not find as exciting.
What are your strengths? Lean into the things that you excel at in work, creatively, relationally. “Pick the right habit for you, and progress is easy,” he says. We can do hard things, but it takes understanding oneself to tap into that full potential.
So, long story short, this book had me flossing regularly after I had neglected that very habit for a whole lifetime… I forced myself to get into the habit by getting some good-quality floss and leaving it on my counter so I could stop avoiding the very thing the dentist has always told me to do every time I have a checkup.
It’s not a revolutionary way of thinking, per se, but it really forced me to stop and examine how I approach life every day. I know there are many things in my life I want to continue building up, just like this website and my writing muscle.
Not only does the book break down how to take steps to break habits and build others, it also encourages readers to stop dreaming and start planning. “If we have hope, we have a reason to take action,” Clear writes.
I’m someone who has always hedged direct questions like, “What are your dreams?” or “Where do you see yourself in 10 years?” Unpacking why that is can be left for another day, but Clear calls out the hazy dreamers like me:
“When your dreams are vague, it’s easy to rationalize exceptions all day long and never get around to the specific things you need to do to succeed.”
Ouch.
I firmly believe that our lives are a gift, and if there are things that are getting in the way of living them to the full, as God calls us to, then what can we do to get there? I realize that building up edifying habits paves the way to a life where I have the space to grow and learn. Rather than letting myself roll into a never-ending cycle of laziness and resistance (and not flossing), I am working toward goals and trying my best to be a better person every day.
Since I finished this book a few months ago, my husband and I have really worked to articulate our goals and how we can get them done.
Backyard projects? Let’s set up an action plan.
Savings goals for a second car? A budget has been laid out.
Flossing regularly? Well, you know how that one turned out.
Atomic Habits is an accessible read for anyone asking themselves why they never make time for the things that matter. Get up, kick those bad habits to the curb, and get going… I know, at the very least, my gums are thankful.
4.5/5 ⭐️