3 Things I’m Doing Wrong, According to “Atomic Habits”

Entrepreneurialism

May 30

James Clear’s “Atomic Habits” lived up to the hype.

I like to think I have excellent habits and time management skills, but I’m always open to learning. And while I did feel quite superior when I learned how much of Clear’s advice I already apply to my life, I did discover some room for improvement.

Here are three things I’m doing wrong, according to “Atomic Habits”:

#1 Focusing On Achievement

“Many people begin the process of changing their habits by focusing on what they want to achieve. This leads us to outcome-based habits. The alternative is to change to identity-based habits. With this approach, we start by focusing on who we wish to become.”—Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones (Page 31)

We learned it backwards. Instead of setting outward goals, what you want to achieve, Clear recommends focusing on inward goals, how you want to feel.

Now achievement goals do work, but only to an extent.

I graduated with my bachelor’s and no student loans at 19, and bought my house and went self-employed at 21 because of these goals. But after these major milestones were met, I wasn’t meeting the achievement-based goals I set for myself.

For the past decade, I’ve focused on increasing business income, ended up earning less than the year before for a few years, and felt defeated as a result.

But I failed to recognize the identity I had developed and the inner growth I was experiencing.

“In our data-driven world, we tend to overvalue numbers and undervalue anything ephemeral, soft, and difficult to quantify. We mistakenly think the factors we can measure are the only factors that exist. But just because you can measure something doesn’t mean it’s the most important thing. And just because you can’t measure something doesn’t mean it’s not important at all.” - Page 203

I pursued entrepreneurship for freedom. Yes, financial freedom is part of that, but time freedom was my priority.

Being self-employed has allowed me to be present and support my family through multiple medical emergencies, enjoy impromptu lunches with my grandmother, take multiple fitness classes a week, and not have to worry about vacation time.

I’ve been living my dream, having accomplished the way I want to feel, free, yet I was stressed and disappointed from hyper-focusing on my achievement-based goals.

(Which was valid during the years my business cost me money, but I haven’t been able to release the fixation on my bottom line, even though my business is doing way better now.)

While I would still like to boost my revenue, I’m adjusting the achievement-based goal of increased online course sales to how I want to feel when they happen: Confident that my business is paying its bills, taxes, and me. No stress, and no fear when I don’t land a website design project because I know another will come along.

“The process of building habits is actually the process of becoming yourself.” - Page 37

#2 Habit Stacking

According to Clear, habit stacking is when one habit triggers another. For example, after brushing your teeth, you take your supplements.

I thought habit stacking was stacking habits on top of each other, multitasking style.

For example, while brushing my teeth, I practice balance exercises. When I do my morning oil pulling, I unload the dishwasher, and while heating dinner on the stove, I empty my tote bag, putting everything back in its place.

This allows me to fit more into my day without requiring additional time.

I’m not a proponent of multitasking, but when it comes to my version of habit stacking, it works.

(And I like my version better.)

#3 Mixing Contexts

“Whenever possible, avoid mixing the context of one habit with another. When you start mixing contexts, you’ll start mixing habits-and the easier ones will usually win out.” - Page 89

Clear uses the example of blurring the lines of the intention of the rooms in your home. Since leaving my studio office, I’ve been guilty of working from my couch.

Now that my living room has also taken on the context of office, I’m having a hard time unwinding and relaxing. I feel like I should be doing something.

Later in the book, Clear shares, “The purpose of resetting each room is not simply to clean up after the last action, but to prepare for the next action.” - Page 156

This works when the next action and previous are aligned with the context of the room, but even when I put my laptop away and out of sight, I still feel that work energy in what’s supposed to be my relaxed energy space. So I’m working on breaking that habit.

Have you read “Atomic Habits”? What habits did it encourage you to start - or stop?

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