Small Good Habits Are Important, And This Is Why Every Student Must Follow Them

Students often struggle with the dilemma of "How can I reach my full potential?" in life, where dreams intertwine with the everyday hustle of homework, exams, and never ending classroom syllabuses. It seems that the seemingly unimpressive aspect of small habits holds the answer to this question. The very renowned book "Atomic Habits," by James Clear, reveals the huge influence that these minor habits can have on a student's future. Let's have a look at some of the habits mentioned in the book that a student can implement on a daily basis and wait for their marvellous results eventually.

The One Per cent Rule

Can you imagine saving nearly Rs. 500 if you begin by putting Rs. 1 in your piggy bank today and then start adding Rs. 1 on the previous day’s amount each day for a month. For instance, Rs. 1 on day 1, Rs. 2 (1+1) on day 2 and Rs. 3 (2+1) on day 3 and so on. The compounding effect of routinely saving and investing even a small portion of your income is a classic application of the One Per cent Rule. Hence, the money you invest grows exponentially over time, resulting in major financial growth. Similarly, the daily one percent improvement has a cumulative effect over time. For example, if you were to improve only one percent every day for a year, you would end up being around 37 times better than you were at the beginning.

The one percent rule breaks down the task into manageable steps, making it easier to take the first step. Over time, these habits become ingrained in our behaviour, making it easier to continue making progress and sustaining positive changes in various areas of your life including professional and professional both. The one percent rule emphasises the importance of building momentum in habit formation to the point from where actual results can be seen. Students can learn that it's not about making grand gestures or occasional bursts of effort but rather about showing up consistently and making small, incremental progress day after day. This reinforces the notion that success is built on consistent effort and dedication.

Identify Yourself

According to James Clear, self percipience is one of the most powerful tools to change your habits which is exactly to change how you see yourself. Instead of focusing solely on what you want to achieve such as losing weight to who you want to become i.e. visualising yourself as a healthy person. Thus, this habit has proven to develop resilience, especially in students. For instance, a person who perceives themselves to be a healthy eater is more likely to persevere and find solutions to problems. Moreover, habits that are rooted in self-identity are more likely to be maintained in the long run. For instance, students who identify as lifelong learners are more likely to continue seeking knowledge beyond the classroom. Teaching the habit of self-identification can empower students to not only adopt new habits but also to develop a growth mindset and a strong sense of self. It brings out their ability to have authority over their actions and, ultimately, their future selves.

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Habit Scorecard

Maintaining awareness of what we are actually doing is one of our biggest challenges when we try to break unhealthy behavioural patterns. This explains why the effects of unhealthy habits may come as a shock to you. For our daily lives, a "point-and-call" system is required; that is where the role of the habits scorecard comes in, “a quick exercise you can do to be aware of your actions and to have a better understanding of how your behaviour got its start.”

With the help of habit scorecards, you can analyse the patterns and trends in your behaviour. Students can easily identify specific habits that they want to change or add to their routine easily, which also promotes self reflection. Moreover, you can assess which of your current habits align with your goals and values. With this you can see if your daily actions are moving you closer to or further away from what you want to achieve.

For instance, you can start by listing the habits or actions you take from the beginning of the day until you go to sleep such as looking at your phone when you wake up, brushing teeths, and then bathing, getting ready, having breakfast and so on. Look at them and ask yourself which of them is healthy for your goal or growth on an overall basis. Then you can start eliminating the negative ones and enhancing the positive ones. Also, you can take the above strategies i.e., the one percent rule and self-identification as reference and begin working upon your negative habits.

Get The Most Out Of Your Genes

"Getting The Most Out Of Your Genes" is essentially about understanding how your genetic makeup and your lifestyle choices interact with each other. As these genes, which you receive from your parents, strongly shape who you are. Despite the fact that you cannot change your genes, you can control how they are expressed. Your physical characteristics, sensitivity to certain diseases, and even some parts of your personality are all influenced by your DNA.

Enhancing your genetic potential includes not only good physical health but also good mental, emotional, and social wellness. For instance, a balanced diet can change genes involved in metabolism, whereas regular exercise can affect genes involved in health and muscular growth. If you got those genes from your parents.

Just as the one per cent rule encourages consistent small improvements, optimising your genes is also an ongoing process. It's about making informed decisions on every day basis that align with your well-being and long-term goals.

Walk Slowly, but Never Backward

"Walk slowly, but never backward" is a classic principle from "Atomic Habits" by James Clear. The phrase says that progress doesn't have to be rapid or dramatic. Instead, it's about making continuous, incremental steps toward your goals. "Never backward" tells the importance of avoiding reversal or backsliding, once you start taking steps to move forward. While setbacks are a natural part of any journey, the goal is to ensure that even during challenging times, you're moving in the right direction, albeit slowly. Practice mindfulness in your daily actions. Be present and intentional in your efforts. Mindfulness can help you stay on course and avoid distractions that might lead to backward steps.

Till now, you must have understood the fact that all of the things that you desire to achieve are just decisions away, the big ones and the small ones. Big dreams cannot be achieved overnight and you need to be consistent in your actions till you reach the threshold point.

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