"The most expensive part of a bad habit is rarely the action itself, but rather the identity it quietly reinforces underneath. The issue isn't skipping once. It's that you practiced being someone who skips.

Now, that doesn't mean you need to be perfect. Everyone falls off from time to time. But it is good to have a plan for getting back on track quickly. And try to find a small way to practice being the type of person you want to be today.”

Thanks for reading. You can get more actionable ideas in my popular email newsletter. Each week, I share 3 short ideas from me, 2 quotes from others, and 1 question to think about. Over 3,000,000 people subscribe. Enter your email now and join us.

About the Author

James Clear writes about habits, decision making, and continuous improvement. He is the author of the #1 New York Times bestseller, Atomic Habits. The book has sold over 25 million copies worldwide and has been translated into more than 60 languages.

Click here to learn more →

“The most expensive part of a bad habit is rarely the action itself, but rather the identity it quietly reinforces underneath. The issue isn’t skipping once. It’s that you practiced being someone who skips.