James Clear

Author, weightlifter, and travel photographer in 25+ countries.

James Clear’s work has appeared in the New York Times, Time, and Entrepreneur, and on CBS This Morning, and is taught in colleges around the world. His website, jamesclear.com, receives millions of visitors each month, and hundreds of thousands subscribe to his email newsletter. He is the creator of The Habits Academy, the premier training platform for organizations and individuals that are interested in building better habits in life and work.

PhilosophersNotes on James Clear's Books All PhilosophersNotes

Atomic Habits

An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones

by James Clear

James Clear has a super-popular website (jamesclear.com). Millions of people visit it every month and hundreds of thousands subscribe to his email newsletter. After reading this book, I can see why. He’s a great writer and distills the essence of habit formation into, well, its fundamental components—the “atomic” structure if you will—while showing us how those TINY little incremental improvements add up to MIGHTY results. I rarely say a book is a must-read but this one’s as close as it gets. Big Ideas we explore include: The math behind 1% gains compounding over a year (and a decade!), navigating the Plateau of Latent Potential (ever given up on a habit? Take note!), the importance (and etymology) of our Identity (get this: it *literally* means 'repeated being ness'), The 4 Laws of Behavior Change (remember: cue + craving + response + reward and... make it obvious, make it attractive, make it easy, make it satisfying), and the Sorites Paradox (can a single habit change your life?).

Packs:

Algorithms & Habits

+1s Inspired by James Clear All +1s

How to Predict Where You’ll End Up in Life
#651

Get instant access to all +1's!

Join nearly 10,000 members in the
1,000-Day Epic Optimizing Challenge
and start optimizing your life today.

Join Now

Hint: Observe Trajectory Daily Choices Compounded for 20 Years

In our last couple +1s, we talked about the power of tiny little daily 1% Optimizations compounded over an extended period of time. (Let’s all take a moment and wave to our quadrillion angels. 😇) Today I want to go back to James Clear

+1 inspired by Note: Atomic Habits

Packs:

Habits & Self-Image

Actualization baby steps compound Habits Mind productivity self-image

Want Better Habits? Start With Who
#653

Get instant access to all +1's!

Join nearly 10,000 members in the
1,000-Day Epic Optimizing Challenge
and start optimizing your life today.

Join Now

Identity = “Repeated Beingness”

Continuing our quick tour through James Clear’s Atomic Habits, let’s talk about the importance of your Identity in

+1 inspired by Note: Atomic Habits

Packs:

Habits & Self-Image

action compound Habits Mind optimus productivity self-image

Your Identity = ?
#654

Get instant access to all +1's!

Join nearly 10,000 members in the
1,000-Day Epic Optimizing Challenge
and start optimizing your life today.

Join Now

Whether You Think You Can or Think You Can’t…

In our last +1, we took a trip down Etymology Lane and learned that the word Identity has ancient Latin roots. It literally (!) means “repeated beingness.” Who you are, your sense of your self, is largely formed by what you do. Repeatedly. And… We discussed the idea that if we wa...

+1 inspired by Note: Atomic Habits

Packs:

Self-Image & Spartan Training

big-picture Growth Mindset optimus self-image soul spartan-training Spirit

Atomic Habits: Tiny = Mighty
#649

Get instant access to all +1's!

Join nearly 10,000 members in the
1,000-Day Epic Optimizing Challenge
and start optimizing your life today.

Join Now

You, a Quadrillion Times Better

James Clear wrote a great book called Atomic Habits. One of the things I most love about it is the fact that he quantified our +1 game for us. 🤓

+1 inspired by Note: Atomic Habits

Packs:

Conquering Perfectionism & Habits

compound conquering-perfectionism Excellence Habits Mind productivity spiral-up

The Plateau of Latent Potential
#652

Get instant access to all +1's!

Join nearly 10,000 members in the
1,000-Day Epic Optimizing Challenge
and start optimizing your life today.

Join Now

An Important Concept to Understand

Continuing our series on the power of Atomic Habits, let’s look at why we often parachute off the Optimizing Jet (powered by Atomic-Habit fuel) right before things start getting interesting. James has...

+1 inspired by Note: Atomic Habits

Packs:

Greatest Year Ever & Habits

10000 Hours commitment compound greatest-year-ever Habits Mind productivity

Michael Phelps’ Golden Gene-Inseam
#655

Get instant access to all +1's!

Join nearly 10,000 members in the
1,000-Day Epic Optimizing Challenge
and start optimizing your life today.

Join Now

Swim Gods and Your Destiny (Pool)

In our last +1, we took a nice stroll down Brian’s Biographical Byway—exploring the power of flipping Identity switches. (You make any distinctions? Flip any switches?) btw: That Seneca quote with which we wrapped up that +1 always knock...

+1 inspired by Note: Atomic Habits

Packs:

Purpose & Self-Image

big-picture Excellence greatness purpose self-awareness self-image soul Spirit

The 4 Laws of Behavior Change
#656

Get instant access to all +1's!

Join nearly 10,000 members in the
1,000-Day Epic Optimizing Challenge
and start optimizing your life today.

Join Now

Make It: Obvious + Attractive + Easy + Satisfying

In our last number of +1s, we’ve been having fun swimming in and out of the Atomic Habits pool. Most recently, we had fun measuring Michael Phelps

+1 inspired by Note: Atomic Habits

Packs:

Habits & Willpower

Discipline Habits Mind productivity spiral-up Systems willpower

How to Build a Good Habit
#657

Get instant access to all +1's!

Join nearly 10,000 members in the
1,000-Day Epic Optimizing Challenge
and start optimizing your life today.

Join Now

Easy as 1, 2, 3

In our last +1, we took a quick look at James Clear’s “4 Laws of Behavior Change.” I promised to help apply those laws to building a good habit and breaking a bad habit. We’ll build the good one today and break the bad one tomor...

+1 inspired by Note: Atomic Habits

Packs:

Habits & Meditation

baby steps focus Habits meditation Mind productivity Systems

How to Break a Bad Habit
#658

Get instant access to all +1's!

Join nearly 10,000 members in the
1,000-Day Epic Optimizing Challenge
and start optimizing your life today.

Join Now

Easy as 1, 2, 3

In our last +1, we had fun tweaking James Clear’s 4 Laws of Behavior Change as we applied The 3 Laws of Creating a Great Habit. Pop quiz!! a) You remember the 3 Laws? And… More importantly: b) D...

+1 inspired by Note: Atomic Habits

Packs:

Conquering Digital Addiction & Habits

conquering-digital-addiction focus Habits Mind Needs Work productivity technology

The Sorites Paradox
#726

Get instant access to all +1's!

Join nearly 10,000 members in the
1,000-Day Epic Optimizing Challenge
and start optimizing your life today.

Join Now

How to Get a Big Heap of Golden (You) Coins

A little while back we had fun taking a quick tour through James Clear’s brilliant brain and equally brilliant book Atomic Habits. We forgot ...

+1 inspired by Note: Atomic Habits

Packs:

Abundance & Habits

abundance baby steps compound Habits Mind process productivity

Growing Teeth
#841

Get instant access to all +1's!

Join nearly 10,000 members in the
1,000-Day Epic Optimizing Challenge
and start optimizing your life today.

Join Now

“It’s Not Growing!” “Oh… There It Is!”

Not too long ago, Emerson lost his first tooth. As any parent of a missing-tooth child knows, it’s pretty epically cute and awesome. The tooth fairy might have visited and we celebrated the wonderful gap in his mouth. 😁 Fast forward a week or two. Emerson wonders why h...

+1 inspired by Note: Atomic Habits

Packs:

Conquering Procrastination & Habits

10000 Hours Conquering Procrastination Habits Mind Parenting productivity

You: Athlete + Scientist + Director
#858

Get instant access to all +1's!

Join nearly 10,000 members in the
1,000-Day Epic Optimizing Challenge
and start optimizing your life today.

Join Now

The Personas of Habits + Mastery

In the Mastery component of our Optimize Coach program, we recently spent three weeks chatting about Algorithms. In Part 1 we focused on the Big Picture and how important it is to, as I like to say, use our Willpower wisely to install Habits that run on autopilot via Algorithms. (In many...

+1 inspired by Note: Atomic Habits

Packs:

Algorithms & Habits

algorithms Growth Habits Mind Mindset mis-take productivity

Pilot + Co-Pilot + Autopilot
#865

Get instant access to all +1's!

Join nearly 10,000 members in the
1,000-Day Epic Optimizing Challenge
and start optimizing your life today.

Join Now

The Art and Science of Installing Good Habit-Algorithms

In our last couple +1s, we talked about Seneca’s wisdom on the importance of “fortifying our pertinacity” until our will to do the right thing becomes a disposition to doing the right thing. That’s basically EXACTLY what

+1 inspired by Note: Atomic Habits

Packs:

Algorithms & Habits

algorithms Eudaimonia Growth Habits Mind productivity

Sign In Forgot your password?

No problem!

James Clear

Author, weightlifter, and travel photographer in 25+ countries.

PhilosophersNotes on James Clear's Books All PhilosophersNotes

Packs:

+1s Inspired by James Clear All +1s

How to Predict Where You’ll End Up in Life #651 Get instant access to all +1's! Join nearly 10,000 members in the 1,000-Day Epic Optimizing Challenge and start optimizing your life today. Join Now

Packs:

Want Better Habits? Start With Who #653 Get instant access to all +1's! Join nearly 10,000 members in the 1,000-Day Epic Optimizing Challenge and start optimizing your life today. Join Now

Packs:

Your Identity = ? #654 Get instant access to all +1's! Join nearly 10,000 members in the 1,000-Day Epic Optimizing Challenge and start optimizing your life today. Join Now

Packs:

Atomic Habits: Tiny = Mighty #649 Get instant access to all +1's! Join nearly 10,000 members in the 1,000-Day Epic Optimizing Challenge and start optimizing your life today. Join Now

Packs:

The Plateau of Latent Potential #652 Get instant access to all +1's! Join nearly 10,000 members in the 1,000-Day Epic Optimizing Challenge and start optimizing your life today. Join Now

Packs:

Michael Phelps’ Golden Gene-Inseam #655 Get instant access to all +1's! Join nearly 10,000 members in the 1,000-Day Epic Optimizing Challenge and start optimizing your life today. Join Now

Packs:

The 4 Laws of Behavior Change #656 Get instant access to all +1's! Join nearly 10,000 members in the 1,000-Day Epic Optimizing Challenge and start optimizing your life today. Join Now

Packs:

How to Build a Good Habit #657 Get instant access to all +1's! Join nearly 10,000 members in the 1,000-Day Epic Optimizing Challenge and start optimizing your life today. Join Now

Packs:

How to Break a Bad Habit #658 Get instant access to all +1's! Join nearly 10,000 members in the 1,000-Day Epic Optimizing Challenge and start optimizing your life today. Join Now

Packs:

The Sorites Paradox #726 Get instant access to all +1's! Join nearly 10,000 members in the 1,000-Day Epic Optimizing Challenge and start optimizing your life today. Join Now

Packs:

Growing Teeth #841 Get instant access to all +1's! Join nearly 10,000 members in the 1,000-Day Epic Optimizing Challenge and start optimizing your life today. Join Now

Packs:

You: Athlete + Scientist + Director #858 Get instant access to all +1's! Join nearly 10,000 members in the 1,000-Day Epic Optimizing Challenge and start optimizing your life today. Join Now

Packs:

Pilot + Co-Pilot + Autopilot #865 Get instant access to all +1's! Join nearly 10,000 members in the 1,000-Day Epic Optimizing Challenge and start optimizing your life today. Join Now

Packs:

Interviews with James Clear All Interviews

Get 3 free PhilosophersNotes

This content is for members only!

How to Predict Where You’ll End Up in Life
#651

Get instant access to all +1's!

Join nearly 10,000 members in the
1,000-Day Epic Optimizing Challenge
and start optimizing your life today.

Join Now

Want Better Habits? Start With Who
#653

Get instant access to all +1's!

Join nearly 10,000 members in the
1,000-Day Epic Optimizing Challenge
and start optimizing your life today.

Join Now

Your Identity = ?
#654

Get instant access to all +1's!

Join nearly 10,000 members in the
1,000-Day Epic Optimizing Challenge
and start optimizing your life today.

Join Now

Atomic Habits: Tiny = Mighty
#649

Get instant access to all +1's!

Join nearly 10,000 members in the
1,000-Day Epic Optimizing Challenge
and start optimizing your life today.

Join Now

The Plateau of Latent Potential
#652

Get instant access to all +1's!

Join nearly 10,000 members in the
1,000-Day Epic Optimizing Challenge
and start optimizing your life today.

Join Now

Michael Phelps’ Golden Gene-Inseam
#655

Get instant access to all +1's!

Join nearly 10,000 members in the
1,000-Day Epic Optimizing Challenge
and start optimizing your life today.

Join Now

The 4 Laws of Behavior Change
#656

Get instant access to all +1's!

Join nearly 10,000 members in the
1,000-Day Epic Optimizing Challenge
and start optimizing your life today.

Join Now

How to Build a Good Habit
#657

Get instant access to all +1's!

Join nearly 10,000 members in the
1,000-Day Epic Optimizing Challenge
and start optimizing your life today.

Join Now

How to Break a Bad Habit
#658

Get instant access to all +1's!

Join nearly 10,000 members in the
1,000-Day Epic Optimizing Challenge
and start optimizing your life today.

Join Now

The Sorites Paradox
#726

Get instant access to all +1's!

Join nearly 10,000 members in the
1,000-Day Epic Optimizing Challenge
and start optimizing your life today.

Join Now

Growing Teeth
#841

Get instant access to all +1's!

Join nearly 10,000 members in the
1,000-Day Epic Optimizing Challenge
and start optimizing your life today.

Join Now

You: Athlete + Scientist + Director
#858

Get instant access to all +1's!

Join nearly 10,000 members in the
1,000-Day Epic Optimizing Challenge
and start optimizing your life today.

Join Now

Pilot + Co-Pilot + Autopilot
#865

Get instant access to all +1's!

Join nearly 10,000 members in the
1,000-Day Epic Optimizing Challenge
and start optimizing your life today.

Join Now