Pressure, stress and procrastination often plague student life. When students try to end procrastination, they often place rigid rules on themselves that become a burden. When they return to their old, bad habits, students scrutinize and put themselves down. Author James Clear wrote a book to help those wanting to end procrastination through small but effective habits. The book, “Atomic Habits,” gives its readers “an easy and proven way to build good habits and break bad ones.”

Clear published his book in 2018, which became a #1 New York Times bestseller. The self-help publication has sold more than 20 million copies globally. “Atomic Habits” contains self-improvement strategies to transform your life through minor changes. Through chapters sharing his life experiences and others, he weaves together stories and methods for forming “atomic habits.”

When Clear was a sophomore in high school, he was struck by a baseball bat that slipped from a classmate’s hand to the face. In the hospital, Clear suffered post-traumatic seizures and was medically induced into a coma and put on a ventilator.

After a doctor woke Clear up, the following months proved a challenge as he suffered vision problems, seizures, and physical limitations. When he was finally able to return to baseball in his junior year, he failed to make the varsity team.

In his senior year, he made the varsity roster, yet hardly played. After graduating, Clear enrolled at Denison University in Ohio. In what he called “the messy world of a college dorm,” Clear focused on building good habits. With every semester he amassed small yet consistent habits that all the study, sleep, and strength-training habits truly paid off. Clear became Denison’s top male athlete, was named to ESPN’s Academic All-American team, and was awarded the university’s top honor, the President’s Medal.

Although his achievements are incredible, that is not the reason for his book. His injury taught him a critical lesson: changes perceived as small and unimportant at first will compound into extraordinary results if you are willing to stick to them for years. 

Most people wait until the first of the year, month, or week to begin a new habit. When someone wants to make a new habit, they try something they are not ready for like ending their procrastination in one day. This will not stick as a habit because it is too strict, and you will lose motivation quickly. 

Throughout Clear’s book, he emphasizes the importance of tiny, gradual changes in one’s life, which he calls “atomic habits.” He has four laws of behavioral change: cue, craving, response and reward. Clear guides readers through the cues that trigger the habit, the cravings driving them, their responses, and the rewards they reap. This structure allows the readers to change their behavior and create better habits.

Clear showcases a technique known as “habit stacking,” which attaches a new habit to a preexisting habit. He explains that connecting habits causes the habits to be both more effective and seamless. Clear makes a point to include that our environment shapes our habits. By making small adjustments to our surroundings like cleaning and organizing, removing distractions, and surrounding themselves with like-minded individuals, readers are more likely to stick to their habits and create better ones.

Fresno Christian parent, Laura Maxey, is in the process of reading “Atomic Habits.” She first was introduced to the book by her son, Tyler Maxey, ‘26, who recommended it to her. Maxey shares her opinion of the book, noting how it is practical and includes personal stories.

“I love that concept of reverse engineering your goals even framing it either in a negative or a positive way,” Laura Maxey said.

Rather than focusing on the outcome, Clear emphasizes the importance of the continual process of improvement. In his clear and easy-to-read book, he tells readers that by embodying the person they want to become, they can align their habits by shifting their mindsets and actions. At the end of each chapter, Clear places a summary which helps the reader understand the chapter.

In an interview with Penguin Random House, Clear shares what he hopes readers will take away from his book. 

“If you don’t master the art of showing up,” Clear said. “Even if it’s just for two minutes, there’s nothing to optimize. You can do it in just two minutes, and then become the type of person who shows up for those two minutes each day. And if you can do that, you have many options for getting better.”

Atomic Habits has reached many people worldwide and impacted hundreds. The book is a valuable source of strategies and advice that empower readers to make small, consistent changes that produce remarkable results. James Clear’s self-help book is a must-read for those wanting to shape their lives and become a better version of themselves, whether it be working out more or reading their bible for 10 minutes a day. Students can use this book to form substantial study habits that can improve their mental health and production in school.

When reading this book, I took many things into account. My outlook and my actions toward habits have changed since then. I’ve created habits that have steadily improved my life, such as reading 10 pages of a book before bed. It’s small, but even a small change can have a huge impact, as Clear shows through his temperature analogy. He writes that even a small and seemingly insignificant degree shift can unlock a huge change.

With the many habit-building tools and the different ways to continue your habits, it is extremely practical for readers. The way the writing is formatted makes the book a simple yet intriguing read. Once the reader gets through a chapter, there is a chapter summary with the main points, so the contents can be retained.

Self-help books have become very popular in the last few years; however, “Atomic Habits” is different in its impact. When someone uses the techniques, they can change their life with just a minimal amount of effort to do. Not only are these methods useful when starting a new habit, Clear is able to recommend habits that will help all habits.

“Atomic Habits” is a quality book to read for self-improvement. Many purchase the “Clear Habit Journal” and download the habit-tracking Atoms app along with his book. If improving yourself is on your to-do list, I suggest reading Atomic Habits.

To read more from The Feather, visit Brief: Dress code revisions require wardrobe changes and Theatre Review: You’re a good man, Charlie Brown.