Let’s be honest — “just build better habits” is advice we’ve all heard. But how do you actually do that when your life already feels busy, messy, or unmotivated?
Reading Atomic Habits and The 1% Method by James Clear gave me the inspiration I really I needed. And if you’re a student trying to stay consistent with studying, routines, or just showing up, this method might change everything for you too.
📘 What Is the 1% Method?
The 1% Method is based on a simple idea:
If you get just 1% better every day, those small gains will compound into big results.
You don’t need a complete life overhaul. You just need to make tiny, consistent improvements. James Clear calls this the compound effect of habits — small changes, repeated daily, lead to massive transformation over time.
💡 Key Takeaway: Identity Over Outcome
One of the most powerful ideas in the book is this:
You don’t rise to the level of your goals. You fall to the level of your systems.
Most of us set goals like “I want to study more” or “I want to be more productive.” But instead, Clear says we should focus on building systems that support the identity we want. Focus on who we want to be.
💭 Ask yourself:
- What would a focused student do right now?
- What would someone who gets things done do after class?
- What’s the smallest action I can take today that matches that identity?
→ How You Can Apply This Method:
Here are a few ways to make the 1% method work in your student life:
- Habit stacking
- Link a new habit to an existing one.
E.g. “After I pour my morning coffee, I’ll open my planner.”
- Link a new habit to an existing one.
- Start ridiculously small
- Don’t commit to a 2-hour study block. Commit to 5 minutes.
→ You can always go longer, but the point is just to start.
- Don’t commit to a 2-hour study block. Commit to 5 minutes.
- Make it visible
- Keep your notes and flashcards on your desk. Put your reading list as your phone background. Create a studymoodboard.
Environment matters more than motivation.
💬 Let’s Talk
What’s one tiny change you could make today that would make tomorrow easier?
📚 Resources & Links
See my other Posts:
- 🧠 Why Starting Feels So Hard — And How I Finally Did It.
- 3 Tricks That Helped Me Stop Procrastinating (And Might Work for You Too)
Hi there, what is your small change that you will integrate in your life?
I will start to keep my desk tidy and ready, so I have no excuse for not studying when I get home 🙂
Dear Fabienne, I think I want to turn writing my master’s thesis into a daily routine. 📝 Even if it’s just 30 minutes – or just 5 minutes to reply to an email – it feels more manageable than taking a break for several days and then struggling to get back into it. I can imagine it makes a big difference in staying connected to the task. 💪🏼
Hi Saara
You are right, it’s a great way to create a habit out of it and to keep going!
Hi Fabienne, in the last blog you wrote about just do something for 5 minutes and it‘s true, it really helps! Suddenly out of the 5 minutes it gets 30 minutes because I just want to finish the task. I want to implement this even more in my daily life as a tiny habit. Always motivate myself with only five minutes ✨
Hi Géraldine
Thank you for sharing your feedback!