A Simple Sentence Can Change a Mind

I am not claiming to have the read the entirety of James Clear’s Atomic Habits, but I have definitely listened to portions of it. Also, I have had a good amount of friendly people on the internet shout out various phrases from the book all of the time. So it is safe to say I have read it in its entirety.

Anywho, let’s talk about one of the major ideas in the book made for habit forming. The main idea I want to speak about is the idea of “never missing twice,” or “never missing a day twice.” However you want to spin it, the idea is clear. The more days you are inconsistent with a habit, the less likely you are to actually having a habit.

What does this actually mean? Well it is pretty simple, it just means that if you are trying to build a true and strong habit you must keep consistency at top of mind. The more consistent you are with something, the more likely it will become a habit.

This has been one of the biggest and simplest ideas that has completely warped my mind in a good way. It has helped me overcome lack of motivation, stress, and other boundaries to accomplishing my goals or habits. It takes a majority of the strictness and restriction of a routine or habit. You don’t even need to do it every single day, all you have to do is not skip two days.

If you miss a workout one day? No worries, it happens to all of us, and life will constantly throw you curveballs. But once you miss that second day, that habit starts to lose it pull, you forget why you even wanted it, and that habit unravels and fails.

This is the same with nutrition. Miss one day, no problem! You can spend the day planning on how to attack the next day to execute perfectly. If you miss two days, then all of a sudden you have binged out completely for the rest of the week.

This is the same thing I followed whenever I had back surgery at 19. I never skipped two days of doing my rehab, focusing on recovery, and dialing in my nutrition to make sure I was healing properly. I also do this with my consistent training for marathons and half marathons. I never skip two days of running (even though it might be the easiest thing in the world to skip). I was able to then make it out alive from 3 half marathons, a handful of 5ks, and a few 10 milers. All whilst being a dude who hadn’t run in years (6 to be exact).

If you live and die by this rule, it is so easy to achieve any habit you are wanting to go for. Those first few weeks after not missing two in a row, and you will already be set in stone a process that works for you.

This sentence might not resonate as much with you as it did with me. But I sure hope you can get something out of it.

Set a goal habit, figure out the steps to get there, and then never miss two days.