Post 3: Genius Hour

 

"In order to improve for good, you need to solve problems at the systems level. Fix the inputs and the outputs will fix themselves." - James Clear

James Clear is the author of the best-selling novel, Atomic Habits which has sold over 20 million copies worldwide. In his book he breaks down the importance of habits and the systems we put in place to create our everyday reality.

His book is a huge inspiration for my genius hour project and in creating the ultimate planner/habit tracker based on your personal goals.

In his book James speaks to the more personal side of habits unpacking personal fulfillment and understanding why we aren't reaching the goals we set for ourselves and even questioning what those goals are in general.

In Atomic Habits, the main concepts that are covered are as follows:

Lesson 1: Small habits make a big difference

It's the small habits that seem insignificant that compound over time into a large result.

For example, you hit snooze even for a few minutes every day and then months later, when you need to get up early, it feels almost impossible to. Why? Because you developed the habit of oversleeping.

Lesson 2: Forget about setting goals. Focus on your system instead. 

James says, "Goals are about the results you want to achieve. Systems are about the processes that lead to those results."

This is true but understanding what your goals are can help you create a powerful system that leads you to those goals. This is what I want to unpack in my genius hour project.

Lesson 3: Build identity-based habits

In his book he sates that our actions are a reflection of our current state. Through using my experience and knowledge from my time with the Centre of Mind-Body medicine I am taking this same concept and creating a reusable and actionable framework anyone can use to gain clarity on their true identity and ultimately have the clarity and confidence to begin taking aligned steps towards that version of yourself.

I learned through reviewing the James Clear blog filled with insightful information along with his book Atomic Habits the importance of how moments and decisions in our lives compound over time.

The goal is good to have in mind as it acts as a compass but the compass won't take you where you need to go.

The steps you take in that direction bring you to the destination.

In my next genius hour I will research common reasons why most people who want to make change struggle to either take action or stay consistent.