Choosing Habits by Upstream Impact

James advises picking anchor habits upstream of many benefits—sleep, exercise, reading—and scheduling reflection time.

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Ready to make habits that stick in 2026? Atomic Habits author JAMES CLEAR reveals the science behind building lasting habits, breaking bad ones, and how 1% improvements transform your entire life!

James Clear is a #1 international bestselling author and habit formation expert, best known for his book "Atomic Habits", which sold over 25 million copies worldwide. He writes the '3-2-1 Newsletter' (read by millions weekly) and recently published 'The Atomic Habits Workbook'.

He explains:

◼️The 2-minute trick that makes "impossible" habits feel effortless

◼️The ONE habit that controls the next 10 years of your life

◼️The 1% curve that explains why you quit right before the breakthrough

◼️How every action is a "vote" for your identity, not just progress toward a goal

◼️Why winners and losers share the same goals (and the ONE thing that separates them)

00:00 Intro
03:00 What Atomic Habits Taught Us About Human Behavior
05:14 A Great Way to Stick to Your Habits
07:50 Create the Conditions to Succeed
11:44 The 2-Minute Rule: The Most Important Habit-Building Tip
16:01 Small Steps That Lead to Big Progress
18:18 Don't Waste Time: Hats, Haircuts, and Tattoos Framework
20:59 The Most Impactful Story from the Atomic Habits Community
22:29 The Difference Between a System and a Goal
24:49 How to Create Systems to Achieve What You Want
27:17 Winners and Losers Have the Same Goals
28:13 Can Goals Make You Unhappy?
28:54 Do You Need Dissatisfaction to Stay Driven?
31:26 How Detrimental Is Comparison to Others?
32:23 Which Habit Should You Start With?
35:39 The Most Overlooked Things About Habits
37:44 Big Life Changes
38:28 The 4 Burners Theory: You Can't Do Everything
41:13 Sequencing Your Life: When to Do What
42:00 Does It Really Take 66 Days to Form a Habit?
43:58 Why Habits Get Easier Over Time
46:58 How Habits Reinforce Your Desired Identity
49:04 The Importance of Identity in Habit Formation
50:26 What Is Cognitive Dissonance?
51:15 How Social Bonds Shape Our Self-Perception
53:12 Why Your Environment Matters
56:07 Cutting People Off from Your Life
56:48 Creating a New Context for New Behaviors
1:01:33 Advice for People Who Feel Stuck in Life
1:03:31 Why Getting 1% Better Every Day Works
1:08:53 The #1 Factor for Opportunities in Business and Life
1:11:36 How to Be Confident
1:13:23 What to Do If You Think the World Is Against You
1:16:13 Scale Down Habits for Psychological Momentum
1:20:58 Why Habit Trackers and Streaks Matter
1:23:48 The Habit Formation Cycle
1:25:47 The 4 Laws of Behavior Change
1:33:23 How to Break a Habit
1:36:25 What If a Bad Habit Feels Good in the Moment?
1:37:52 Use the Habit Scorecard to Shape Your Habits
1:40:36 What Is Habit Stacking?
1:45:02 How to Manage Your Energy Levels
1:47:37 Ads
1:49:15 How To Be Consistent At Anything
1:56:10 You Need This Mentality Shift