Atomic habits are small, but mighty, and these ten things have made big changes in the way my days work. Find out what tiny habits made my life easier, calmer, and more organized…
If you’ve never read James Clear’s Atomic Habits, it talks about how making small changes to your routines can help make huge differences in your life. From breaking bad habits to creating good ones, it doesn’t have to be a monumental effort.
This is definitely something I can appreciate. I haven’t got time for grand gestures and multi-step plans. But doing one small thing to make a big impact on my day and week is a concept I can get behind.
Over the last few months, I’ve incorporated my own atomic habits, as well as tweaked ones I was already doing before I even knew what they were. And it has been so rewarding.
Just doing one tiny thing different, if it’s the right thing, can make such an impact on how my day runs. I say “the right thing” because I have made some missteps, thinking a certain habit would yield rewards that never materialized.
But starting small and seeing if it makes a difference is a great way to incorporate atomic habits into your daily or weekly routines.
I’m going to share with you ten atomic habits that have worked for me, and may work for you, too. I hope they inspire you to include some of your own into the daily rhythms of your life.
10 Atomic Habits that have Changed My Life
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Atomic Habit #1: Setting up a weekly lesson planning session
Instead of making my plan each day or (gasp!) not having a plan for our homeschool, I create a 3-week rolling plan of assignments and topics. Each weekend, I sit down and write it out, readjust, and plan for the next week out.
This prep work saves me from getting off course, stressed out, and overworked during the busier weekdays. It also ensures that I’m not missing important topics and gives me time to assess where my kids are in their learning and what to focus on in the future.
Atomic Habit #2: Setting out breakfast the night before
This atomic habit has made a big difference in my mornings. I usually start my day with tea, a kombucha-type drink, and an assortment of vitamins. Having lemon wedges cut, vitamins organized, and my tea bag ready in my cup makes my early mornings run smoothly. Especially when I’m not 100% awake yet.
I also set out my oatmeal seasoned how I like it. That way, I can sit with my coffee and morning meal with no fuss. This keeps the start of my day as calm and effortless as possible. The rest of the day will probably not be the same…
Atomic Habit #3: Writing down the next days to-do list before bed
Sometimes, I get stressed thinking about the next day’s work the night before. This is bad for my sleep and makes shutting down hard. So at the end of the day, I now write out my to-do list for tomorrow.
Writing it down is a small thing, but it gets everything out of my head and allows me to plan better, sleep more soundly, and iron out any issues before the day begins. This 5-minute routine is completely worth it.
Atomic Habit #4: Packing my car with snacks
I spend a lot of time ferrying my children to appointments. Both they and I can get hungry and thirsty, which usually means crankiness, or worst case scenario, car sickness. So, I now stock my car with water, juice, Larabars, and protein bars in a convenient caddy.
I no longer have to remember to grab something on my way out the door. That’s a huge plus because I often forget in the mad rush and have to either suffer in silence or get fast food. Both do not make me happy. So this solution works great for the kids and me.
(If you’re packing for longer car rides, check out my post on Surviving a Road Trip with 5 Kids!)
Atomic Habit #5: Setting a reminder for library book renewals
With this large of a family, our library loans can get a little unwieldly. And failing to return or renew books can land us with big fines. So I started adding a recurring reminder in my Todoist app so I would remember to renew every two weeks.
This atomic habit saves me money, but also the time I’d spend searching for that one book that is now overdue and no one remembers seeing. This also keeps me from having to remember return dates because I know I will be renewing everything in a couple of weeks. Brain space reclaimed.
Atomic Habit #6: Meal prep
Although my older children enjoy doing this for the family, my eating habits are a little different than theirs so I tend to prep my own light meals. But the same principles apply and we’ve all found that meal prep is a life-saver.
Spending one day shopping and another prepping for the week means that we start Sunday with a fridge and freezer full of reheatable dishes and meals that just need to be assembled. A plan is on the refrigerator door. This means that anyone can start dinner because the dish and instructions are right there.
(If you’re curious about meal prep methods, check out these helpful posts: 6 Meal Planning Strategies for the Non-Cook and 3 Steps That Streamlined My Meal Planning)
Atomic Habit #7: Pre-packing a bag for long outings
Similar to the habit of packing my car with snacks, I also have a large tote purse that is always stocked and ready to go. I don’t normally carry a purse, but if I’m going to back-to-back appointments or will be gone a while (i.e. waiting), this makes the time go by much easier.
This go-bag has everything from snacks and water, to chapstick and hand lotion. Spare earbuds, pen and paper, and ibuprofen are in there. Basically anything that can make my day easier when I’m not in the comfort of my own home goes in this bag. It’s also big enough for my lesson planning binder and laptop.
Atomic Habit #8: Having a running grocery list
This atomic habit saves me from the crazy search for any missing staples in the kitchen and also keeps me from having to run to the store mid-week. I attached a stack of shopping list pages that were left over from last year’s planner with a binder clip to the fridge, so we can jot down anything we use up before we forget.
This is also helpful when we’re making something in the kitchen and get a great dinner idea. We write it down and any ingredients it needs. No fuss, very effective. And then I just grab the top page on my way out the door to do the weekly shopping.
(If you do find yourself out of key ingredients, check out ways to make it work with these posts: How to Meal Plan Out of Your Own Pantry and The Essential Guide to Kitchen Substitutions)
Atomic Habit #9: Writing out the homeschool assignments for the week
After an early morning and then schooling the kids, I am usually ready for a nap. So planning for the next day or what should be done that day after group learning isn’t something I can easily focus on.
So now I avoid that decision fatigue by writing up a checklist of each child’s weekly work in their designated spiral notebooks. Then I clip their worksheets or info packets onto their clipboards and they are set for the week. This makes those packed weekdays more manageable.
Atomic Habit #10: Placing earbuds in various places for unexpected waits/chores
I love listening to audiobooks, podcasts, and YouTube videos. Especially when I’m running, doing chores, driving, and crocheting. So I have strategically placed earbuds throughout my house (we got a crazy deal on a bulk lot so we have some to spare).
Folding endless laundry, getting stuck in traffic, or needing to kill time between appointments is so much easier when I can entertain myself at the same time. I’ve even been known to do extra chores if the book is really good…
Incorporating the right atomic habits into your routines will bring about a big change in your life. Calmer, more organized, and more satisfying days await!
Check out these other books that will further inspire you:
- Tiny Habits by BJ Fogg, PhD
- The Power of Habit by Charles Duhigg
- Make our Bed by Admiral William H. McRaven
- Limitless by Jim Kwik
Looking for more posts on time management and productivity? Check these out:
The Top 10 Productivity Apps that Every Homemaker Needs
How to Find Your Peak Productivity Time
5 Routines to Start the School Year off Right
How to Get Organized for a New Year
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