Identity-Based Habits for Quick Results

I recently re-read the first few chapters of Atomic Habits by James Clear, and I remembered why this book had such an immediate impact on me. In Chapter 2, it highlights the single most effective way to create or break a habit is by tying the habit or action to your identity. Take the focus away from a specific goal or thing you want to achieve e.g. run a marathon, and instead focus on the type of person you wish to become e.g. a runner and you'll set yourself up for lasting success. Why does this work? Pride.

"The more pride you have in a particular aspect of your identity, the more motivated you will be to maintain the habits associated with it. This is the ultimate form of intrinsic motivation." - James Clear

Leverage your pride to make or break a habit: so seemingly simple and yet so powerful. I discussed how this method helped me go from never flossing to flossing every day, in a week's time. All I had to to was make the decision that I wanted to be the kind of person that flosses and that was it. My pride didn't allow me to skip a day. It almost flies in the face of thinking habits take a very long time to form e.g. 21 days, 10 weeks, etc.

Knowing that our identity emerges out of our habits, every action you take is a vote for the type of person you wish to become. This can be both good and bad. If you've always told yourself and others that you're not a morning person, then guess what, your habits will reflect that. And you'll actually go out of your way to maintain that self-image because you don't want to contradict yourself. Another quote from James Clear which I love:

"The more deeply a thought or action is tied to your identity, the more difficult it is to change it."

The good news is that your identity is not set in stone. You have a choice in every moment. You can choose the identity you want to reinforce today with the habits you choose today. Want to change your identity?

1) Decide the type of person you want to be.

2) Prove it to yourself with actions and habits

So I'm giving myself another challenge. My reported screen time has reached an embarrassingly high number. Yes, some of it is from my meditation app and Apple Fitness, but even subtracting that time, it's significantly higher than it should be. Let's see how much I can decrease my phone screen time starting now, 12/13/23 to the end of the year. I'm going to use the following statements to reinforce ending the habit of constantly checking my phone: "I am not the kind of person that wastes countless hours on my phone. I use my time wisely and effectively."

Ultimately, our behaviors are usually a reflection of our identity. What you do is an indication of the type of person you believe that you are - either consciously or nonconciously. So make sure that the person you believe that you are - is who you actually want to be. Your actions, habits and systems should then reflect that. Need help establishing identity-based habits? Working on your resolutions? Check out the 2024 Action Plan worksheet.