This article is part of a series exploring key lessons from influential books—works that offer valuable insights into personal growth, productivity, and professional development. Whether you’re revisiting a familiar favourite or discovering these ideas for the first time, we’ll uncover practical wisdom that remains relevant today.
Atomic Habits by James Clear, published in 2018, tackles one of the biggest challenges we all face: how to build good habits that actually stick. The author brings a unique perspective to this topic, combining his background in performance coaching with years of research into what really drives lasting change.
The book has been praised around the world for its actionable advice and simple language, and, having sold millions of copies and spent years on bestseller lists, readers have credited it for life-changing improvements in work, health, and relationships.
Here we explore five practical insights that can help you build better professional habits, whether you’re starting your career or looking to level up your performance.
- Think 1%, not 100%
Forget dramatic New Year’s resolutions that fizzle out by February. Clear’s research shows that improving by just 1% each day leads to remarkable results over time. In your career, this might mean spending 15 minutes daily learning about your industry, or having one meaningful conversation with a colleague each week.
Try this: Pick one small work habit you can improve by 1% today. Maybe it’s arriving a few minutes earlier to meetings, or writing slightly clearer emails. Small changes feel manageable and actually stick.
- Build systems, not just goals
While everyone talks about setting goals, Clear argues that successful people focus on systems—the daily processes that get you there. Having a goal to “get promoted” is less powerful than building a system of daily actions that make promotion inevitable.
Try this: Instead of setting a vague career goal, design a weekly system. For example: “Every Monday, I’ll identify one skill gap and find a way to address it this week.” Systems give you something concrete to do today, not just dream about for tomorrow.
- Become the person who does the thing
Here’s a mind shift that changes everything: don’t focus on what you want to achieve, focus on who you want to become. Each small action is a vote for the type of person you are. Want to be seen as reliable? Start showing up five minutes early to every meeting. Want to become a leader? Begin offering help to colleagues without being asked.
Try this: Think about your ideal professional identity. What would that person do differently today? Then do one small thing that person would do. Every action reinforces your new identity.
- Make good habits easier, bad habits harder
Your willpower is limited, but your environment is powerful. Clear’s approach: design your surroundings to make good habits obvious and bad habits invisible.
Try this: Set up your work environment for success. Keep important documents visible on your desk. Use calendar blocks for focused work time. Put your phone in a drawer during deep work sessions. Small environmental changes create big behavioural shifts.
- Stack new habits onto old ones
Rather than finding new time for good habits, attach them to things you already do consistently. Clear calls this “habit stacking”—a simple way to build new routines without overwhelming your schedule.
Try this: Use this formula: “After I [your existing habit], I will [new habit].” For example: “After I check my morning emails, I will write down three priorities for the day.” Or “After I finish lunch, I will spend five minutes networking on LinkedIn.”
Making it work for you
The beauty of Clear’s approach is its simplicity. You don’t need perfect conditions or endless motivation—just small, smart adjustments to what you’re already doing. Start with one tiny change and build from there.
Remember, the goal isn’t to transform your entire life overnight. It’s to make small improvements that compound over time. Whether you’re looking to advance your career, improve your skills, or simply feel more organised at work, these principles offer a practical path forward.
The habits you build today become the foundation for the career you want tomorrow. Start small, stay consistent, and let the compound effect work its magic.
