Every one of us has set big goals and tried to achieve them. But most of us fail to do so. Why? I also used to make a lot of big plans, follow them for a few weeks, and eventually lose interest in them. Most people believe success comes from setting high goals, but in reality, it’s the opposite. I used to be one of these people until I read the book Atomic Habits by James Clear. Here, I’ll explore why small steps matter more than big plans, using ideas from the book.
In the first place, the book explains that small changes in habits can lead to significant differences in everyday life. When you make big plans, you are excited at first, but as you start working on them, you feel overwhelmed. I’ll give an example: studying five hours daily is a huge burden and seems like an impossible goal. Instead, you could start small, such as studying for half an hour each day. As time goes by, the task becomes easier.
Next, the book highlights the importance of repetition in order to build habits. According to James Clear, even a one percent change each day can lead to significant improvements. I also developed the habit of reading books by following this idea. I used to read only a few pages per day, but now I have the ability to finish reading an entire book in under a week. This proves that consistency is more important than intensity.
Finally, I’ve learned that one can achieve their goals quite easily: if they make small changes to their daily routine, they will get steadily closer to their goals without feeling stressed. Big plans often focus on the end result, but small habits focus on the process. This means that even small actions, when repeated regularly, can create powerful and relaxed routines.
Taking small steps might initially seem like a lazy and casual approach, but consistency makes it a leap forward. By focusing on small, consistent actions, one can achieve long-term goals and register a change that, in turn, can bring about a BIG CHANGE.
By: Mohamad Affan Rather, 9th Emerald
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