Atomic Habits is a self-help book written by James Clear, a world-renowned habits expert.
Throughout the book, he reveals simple and practical life hacks for forming new habits and breaking bad ones.
While reading this book, I noted five points that inspired my running consistency the most, and will use them to answer the most asked question on Google by runners:
“How to Make Running A Part of Your Life.”
So, from the book Atomic Habits, here are 5 wonderful ways to make running a habit.
- Focus on Systems Not Goals
Goals are about the desired results, while systems are about the processes that lead to those results.
When you focus too much on achieving the goal, he says, you lose sight of the in-between, the process, and the systems, which are the most important because they get you to your goal.
For example, if you’re a beginner runner, your goal could be to finish 5km, but your system is how often you run and exercise.
If you’re an endurance runner, your goal might be to run a marathon, but your system is how smart you train, and your mental strength during long, painful runs.
Goals are good because they provide direction, but systems are great because they lead to improvements and remarkable results.
2. Change Your Identity
Your identity is who you are and what you believe, he says.
To change your identity, you must continuously edit your beliefs about your behaviour.
For example, to be a morning runner, you should start waking up early, whether you’re are going for a run or not.
To love running, you should start running regularly no matter how you feel.
Your identity emerges from your habits and it’s hard to change your habits if you never change the underlying beliefs that led to your past behavior.
3. Your Environment Matters More than Motivation
Your habits change because of the room you’re in and the cues in front of you, says Mr. Clear.
For example, if you walk into a kitchen and see a plate of cookies on the counter, you’re likely to pick some and start eating even if you aren’t hungry.
Thus, if you want to make running a habit, always place your running clothes and shoes somewhere you can see them.
Or if you want to run in the morning, place your running gear next to your bed the night before.
A small change in what you see can lead to a big shift in what you do.
4. Join a Running Group
In the book, the author calls it a tribe.
He says new habits seem achievable when you see others doing them daily. Therefore, the most effective way to build a lasting habit is to join a group where your desired behaviour is the normal behaviour.
If you want to start running regularly, join a running club because when you’re surrounded by like-minded people, you’re most likely to see running as a normal thing.
5. Love The Boredom
As habits become routine, they become less interesting and less satisfying. We get bored, says the author.
One sure way to stay focused when we get bored working on our goals is to fall in love with the boredom.
Focus on running daily, no matter your mood or how boring the running routine gets. That’s how you become a master of your craft, a consistent runner, and a great athlete.
In his exact words, the only way to become excellent is to be endlessly fascinated by doing the same thing over and over.
Conclusion
Maintaining a habit is the hardest thing someone can do. However, these tips from James Clear make it feel possible.
I hope they’ll be of great help to you as they’ve been to me.
Any other habit tips from the book you would want to add to this post?
Please share in the comment section below.
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