Atomic Habits: Small Changes, Big Wins

James Clear’s Atomic Habits shows how tiny habits compound into massive results. The secret? Make the right behaviors obvious, easy, attractive, and satisfying. When you design your environment, good habits happen without draining willpower.

For Student-Athletes: Stack and Simplify

• Habit stack: Tie a new habit to an existing one. Example: “After practice, I shower, eat, then study 30 minutes in the library seat by the window.”

• Prep the night before: Put books in your bag before bed so the cue is ready.

• Two-minute rule: Start small. Open the doc. Write one sentence. Once you start, momentum carries you.

Your habits should work like a playbook: automatic, repeatable, clear.

For Coaches: Cue Your Environment

• Place the scouting iPad on the kitchen table after the kids go to bed. That cue makes the next step automatic.

• Finish with a tiny win. Send one key message or clip. Ending on success makes your brain want to come back tomorrow.

• Redesign your spaces. Grayscale your lock screen, study in a phone-free zone, prep snacks ahead.

Good coaching habits are not about more discipline. They are about smarter design.

Why This Works

When you set the cue, make the action easy, and reward yourself with a win, habits stick. Over time, small daily reps stack into big change—on the court, in class, and at home.