Heloise gave me a surprise ‘New Year’ present…

“I think you’ll like this,” she said.

It was the Atomic Habits Workbook – the companion to James Clear’s best selling classic book Atomic Habits, which I first read when it came out back in 2018.

That original book had a HUGE impact on me at the time.

Not in a “change your life overnight” way…

But something much quieter and more practical.

It changed how I thought about change itself.

Not something that requires extreme willpower – but as something built on very small actions, done consistently over time.

Which, when I look back, is how almost everything worthwhile in my life has actually been built.

And Heloise, being Heloise, has taken this way further than I ever have.

She’s brilliant at designing her days.

She doesn’t wait to feel motivated – instead she makes the right things easier to do.

While I sometimes tease her about her routines and little rituals… I have to admit she is one of the most motivated and productive people I know.

I have to confess that yes, I sometimes need a gentle nudge (or two)!

And Heloise’s surprise present certainly did that in the nicest way possible.

The simple techniques in the workbook are about making life flow better.

And that’s what I want to pass on to you.

Because the core idea behind Atomic Habits is very simple:

You don’t change your life in big dramatic leaps.

You change it through tiny shifts that quietly compound over time.

Author James Clear puts it like this:

“You don’t rise to the level of your goals. You fall to the level of your systems.”

Think about it like this…

Most of us set goals:

“I want to be healthier.”

“I want to write more.”

“I want to build something meaningful.”

“I want to feel calmer, clearer, more on top of things.”

But these goals are just destinations.

Systems – and the tiny habits inside them – are what actually get you there.

One of the ideas I love most is that habits aren’t really about what you do. They’re about who you’re becoming.

Every time you write a paragraph, you’re confirming that “I’m a writer.”

Every time you take a walk, you’re voting for “I’m someone who looks after my body.”

Every time you show up – however imperfectly – you’re really saying for “I’m someone who keeps promises to myself.”

You don’t become that person overnight

You become them through REPETITION.

And here’s the good news:

You don’t need more motivation.

You usually just need fewer obstacles.

Instead of trying to force yourself to do the right thing…

You make the right thing slightly easier to do.

That’s the whole point.

So let me give you a few tiny, practical things you can try this week.

1. Pick one identity

Instead of a long list of things you “should” do, ask:

“What kind of person do I want to be more of right now?”

A calmer person?

A more focused person?

A writer? A builder? A learner?

Just pick one.

Then choose a habit so small it feels almost silly – but that supports that identity.

Five minutes of writing.

One short walk.

One page of reading.

That’s enough… for now.

2. Make the habit obvious

Leave the notebook open on your desk.

Put your walking shoes by the door.

Put the book on your bedside table.

Don’t rely on memory or willpower.

Use your environment as a friendly reminder.

3. Make it easier than you think it should be

We tend to overestimate what we can sustain.

So shrink it.

Not “write for an hour.” But “open the document.”

Not “exercise properly.” But “step outside.”

Once you start, momentum usually does the rest.

4. Make it feel good to finish

Tick a box.

Put a star in a notebook.

Smile and say, “Good — I kept my promise.”

That tiny sense of completion is what trains your brain to want to repeat the habit tomorrow.

That’s really it.

No self-reinvention. No pressure. No big dramatic overhaul.

Just ONE SMALL THING, made easier, repeated.

The reason I like the workbook so much is that it helps you slow down and do this properly.

It helps you choose what actually matters to you.

It helps you notice where friction is stopping you.

And it helps you design your habits around your real life – not the imaginary, perfectly-organised version of you.

So if you’re feeling behind, or tired of trying to reinvent yourself every January, consider this your permission to start with one or two small new habits…

And let time do the heavy lifting.

If you want to explore this further, do check out the Atomic Habits Workbook.

And as always let me know how you get on.

PS: IMPORTANT! Make sure you check your inbox later today… because I have some very big news about an exciting FREE MASTERCLASS we are running later this week – trust me, you won’t want to miss it!