A Road to Successful Change
For most of us, change is challenging—especially the kind that leads to a happier, healthier life.
There are big life changes, like starting a new job, getting a new boss, or relocating. These tend to be one-time disruptions that force us to adapt to a new normal. They’re often irreversible and imposed by external events. As the saying goes: The only way out is through.
Then there are the smaller, everyday changes—the ones that could genuinely improve our well-being but are harder to stick with. The Greek philosopher Socrates once said, “To know the good is to do the good.” But we know that’s not always true, especially when it comes to our habits—the automatic, often unconscious choices we make every day.
We know we shouldn’t snack late at night, but the ice cream in the freezer calls our name.
We know we should go to bed instead of watching TV all night, but the show is just too good.
We know we need to exercise more, but it’s easier to curl up with a book.
We strive to eat healthy, but that burger and fries from our favorite restaurant are too tempting.
Most of us experience a disconnect between what we know we should do and what we actually do. So how can we close that gap and “trick” our mind into doing what’s best for us?
One strategy is to create rituals—conscious, repeatable actions that support behavior change. Start small. Instead of trying to completely overhaul your diet, commit to one new ritual, like replacing your afternoon cookie with a handful of raw almonds (not the chocolate covered ones!).
A ritual isn’t a habit yet. Habits are automatic; rituals require intention. But rituals are the bridge to lasting change.
In his bestselling book Atomic Habits, James Clear outlines four key principles for building better habits: make them obvious, attractive, easy, and satisfying.
Here’s how I applied this to my goal of reducing coffee pod use—both to save money and reduce environmental impact. I wanted to switch to a French press for my morning coffee but kept falling back into old habits. So I created a simple ritual:
1. Make it obvious – I leave the French press on the counter the night before.
2. Make it attractive – I use the coffee steeping time to make my bed and get a head start on the day.
3. Make it easy – I fill the water kettle at night, so all I must do is press a button in the morning.
4. Make it satisfying – I get more coffee than with a pod and save money.
One crucial piece of habit change is designing an environment that supports our goals. For example, I love ice cream. If it’s in my freezer, I’ll eat it—especially when no one’s watching. So, I don’t keep it at home. If I really want some, I go out for a scoop. Adding friction—like requiring a trip to the ice cream shop—helps me stick to better choices.
The bottom line? Motivation alone isn’t enough. We need both willpower and waypower. Both are required to make good choices easier. By designing our environment and daily rituals with intention, we lighten the path toward meaningful, lasting change.
Reference:
Clear, James. (2016). Atomic Habits. Avery Publishing
https://jamesclear.com/atomic-habits-summary