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Writer's pictureEllie Azerad

BOOK REVIEW: "Atomic Habits" By James Clear


In the world of home organization and minimalist living, finding the right tools to build and maintain healthy habits can be a game-changer. My team and I were helping an adorable mom of three pack up her home for a move when a book caught my attention. The book was "Atomic Habits" by James Clear, and she recommended I read it. I borrowed it that day and dove into it that very night. It turned out to be an excellent read, so I started recommending it and discussing it with the women in my course. "Atomic Habits" offers profound insights and practical strategies that can help us moms streamline our daily routines and home maintenance tasks.


Applying Atomic Habits to Home Maintenance:

The Power of Tiny Changes: James Clear emphasizes that significant results come from small, incremental changes. We can apply this principle to home maintenance by starting with a single small task, such as decluttering one shelf or tidying up for just five minutes each day. Over time, these tiny changes can lead to a more organized and stress-free home.

Make It Obvious: Clear suggests making desired habits obvious to increase the likelihood of following through. This could mean creating visible reminders or setting up designated areas for specific tasks, such as creating a baking area or a dedicated place for mail and paperwork.

Habit Stacking: The concept of habit stacking involves linking a new habit to an existing one. For example, if you want to incorporate daily tidying into your routine, you can do it right after making your morning coffee. This method can help streamline home maintenance tasks without overwhelming your schedule.

Tracking Progress: Clear emphasizes the importance of tracking your habits to stay motivated. We can make use of simple tools like journals or smartphone apps to monitor our progress in maintaining an organized and clutter-free home.


Here's how some of my clients and course participants apply James Clear's principles from "Atomic Habits" to improve their lives both at home and at work, and how you can too:

  1. Habit Stacking at Home: Pairing household chores with routine activities, like doing squats while brushing teeth or tidying up the kitchen while waiting for coffee to brew.

  2. Make It Obvious in Home Organization: Labeling storage containers and shelves to clearly indicate where items belong, making it easier to maintain an organized space.

  3. 1% Improvement in Career Growth: Setting a goal to improve a specific job-related skill by just 1% each day, such as becoming more proficient in using your computer or improving time management techniques.

  4. Tracking Work Progress: Using a digital or physical planner to track daily and weekly work tasks and accomplishments to maintain productivity and motivation.

  5. Habit Stacking at Work: Pairing checking emails with a quick stretching exercise to combat the negative effects of prolonged sitting at a desk.

  6. Make It Attractive in Home Life: Creating a cozy reading nook with a comfortable chair and good lighting to make reading books or working from home more appealing.

  7. The Two-Minute Rule in Home Tasks: Applying the two-minute rule to home tasks, tackling any chore that can be completed in two minutes or less immediately to prevent small tasks from piling up.

  8. Habit Stacking in Parenting: Incorporating quality time with children into your evening routine - by reading a book together before bedtime or after brushing teeth, which you already help your child with.

  9. Make It Satisfying: Reward youself with a treat or a break after completing a challenging task to create a positive association with accomplishing important projects.

"Atomic Habits" by James Clear provides us with powerful tools to simplify daily routines and maintain clutter-free homes. By embracing small changes, making habits obvious, stacking habits, and tracking progress, we can transform our lives both at home and work. It's a must-read for those looking to enhance productivity and personal growth, one small habit at a time. Good Luck! -Ellie



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