As creatives and writers, we often find ourselves caught between inspiration and procrastination, between bursts of productivity and long periods when we feel blocked and empty. If you’ve ever struggled with maintaining a consistent creative practice or writing routine, you’re not alone. Thankfully, James Clear’s bestselling book, “Atomic Habits”, provides a roadmap to overcoming these challenges and transforming your habits for the better.
Clear’s insights into how small, incremental changes can lead to massive results are especially powerful for creatives looking to harness their potential and build lasting routines. Here’s how “Atomic Habits” can help you break through creative blocks and become more consistent in your craft.
The Power of Small Consistent Actions
One of the core principles of “Atomic Habits” is the idea that small actions, done consistently, lead to significant long-term change. Clear calls these “atomic habits” because they are the building blocks of remarkable transformations.
For creatives and writers, this principle is crucial. Writing a novel, completing a large project, or developing a body of creative work can feel overwhelming. The key is to break down these big goals into smaller, manageable daily habits.
Instead of aiming to write 1,000 words a day, start with 100. Rather than expecting yourself to create for hours at a time, begin with 10 or 15 minutes of focused work. Over time, these small daily efforts compound into a larger creative output.
Be Modest and forgiving
Set a modest daily goal for writing or creating. Even if it’s just a few minutes or a small piece of work, focus on showing up every day. Over time, this small habit will grow into something significant.
Get to know your Identity-Based Habits
Clear emphasizes the importance of shifting your focus from goals to identity. Instead of setting a goal like, “I want to write a book,” shift to the identity of “I am a writer.” This subtle change helps you build habits around the identity you want to embody.
For writers and creatives, this is especially powerful. If you see yourself as a creative person, you’re more likely to prioritize your craft and make space for it in your daily life. By reinforcing the identity of a writer, painter, photographer, or musician, you begin to adopt the habits and behaviors that align with that identity.
What would JK Rowling do?
Ask yourself, “What would a writer or creative do every day?” Then start building small habits that reflect that identity—whether it’s writing, brainstorming, or researching ideas.
The Four Laws of Behavior Change
Making Creativity Easy and Rewarding is all about knowing that there’s a system in place that suits you and your personality.
Clear outlines four laws of behavior change that make building habits easier.
- Make it obvious.
- Make it attractive.
- Make it easy.
- Make it satisfying.
Let’s look at the same rule with tweaking for writers and creatives
How Creatives can apply these rules
Make it obvious: Set a specific time and place to write or create each day. Create visual cues—like a journal on your desk or an art setup in a corner of your room.
Make it attractive: Pair your creative work with something enjoyable. For example, play your favorite music while writing or reward yourself with a cup of tea after finishing your session.
Make it easy: Remove barriers to starting. Keep your tools (laptop, notebook, or art supplies) readily available so you can dive right in when inspiration strikes.
Make it satisfying: Track your progress. For example, cross off each day you’ve written or created on a calendar, or share small wins with a friend or creative group.
Use these laws to design a creative habit that feels natural and easy to maintain. The more you enjoy the process, the more likely you’ll stick with it.
Building Creativity into Your Routine
Clear introduces the concept of habit stacking, which involves linking a new habit to an existing one. For example, if you already have a morning coffee routine, you can stack a creative habit on top of it—such as journaling or sketching for 10 minutes while you drink your coffee.
This technique is especially useful for creatives and writers who struggle to find time for their work. By stacking creative habits onto established routines, you can make space for your craft without feeling overwhelmed.
Identify a habit you already do consistently and “stack” a small creative activity on top of it. For example, write one paragraph after lunch, or sketch for 5 minutes after your morning workout.
The Plateau of Potential: Trust the Process
One of the challenges writers and creatives face is the frustration of not seeing immediate results. Clear explains the concept of the “Plateau of Latent Potential,” where progress seems slow or invisible at first, but eventually compounds into visible, meaningful results.
For creatives, this means trusting the process, even when it feels like your efforts aren’t paying off. The key is to stick with your habits, knowing that creativity often unfolds gradually. By embracing small wins and staying consistent, you’ll eventually see breakthroughs.
Don’t get discouraged by slow progress. Celebrate small victories and trust that your creative efforts will build momentum over time.
Grab a copy and hold on to it
*Atomic Habits* offers powerful insights for creatives and writers who want to build consistent routines and make lasting progress. By focusing on small, achievable habits and aligning your behavior with your identity as a creative, you can overcome procrastination, creative blocks, and inconsistency.
Remember, it’s the small, daily actions that lead to big, long-term transformations. As James Clear reminds us, “Success is the product of daily habits—not once-in-a-lifetime transformations.”
So, if you’re ready to transform your creative practice, start small, build steady habits, and watch your creativity flourish over time.
