The 1 rule for habits, according to the reference provided, is to make a 1% change each day.
Understanding the 1% Rule for Habits
The concept behind the 1% rule is that small, incremental improvements, when consistently applied, lead to significant results over time. It's not about making drastic changes overnight; it's about steadily building a habit with small steps each day. This method is particularly effective because it feels less daunting and therefore is easier to maintain.
Key Aspects of the 1% Rule:
- Gradual Progress: Instead of attempting big, unsustainable changes, you focus on improving just 1% each day.
- Consistency is Key: The 1% rule emphasizes daily application to make the improvement habitual.
- Long-Term Impact: The small daily improvements accumulate and result in significant progress over time.
How the 1% Rule Works for Habit Formation
To apply the 1% rule, break down your desired habit into its smallest, actionable components. Instead of committing to an hour-long workout, for example, start with just a 1% improvement over what you are currently doing – perhaps 10 minutes of exercise daily to start. The idea is to make the new behavior so easy that you have very little resistance to it.
Here’s an illustration:
| Day | Action | Total Improvement |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | 1% Improvement | 1% |
| Day 2 | Additional 1% Improvement | 2.01% |
| Day 3 | Additional 1% Improvement | 3.03% |
| Day 30 | Continued 1% Improvement | 34.78% |
As you can see, the initial change may seem insignificant, but with consistent application, it compounds significantly over time.
Practical Example
Let’s say you want to establish a habit of reading more. Instead of trying to read a whole book in a week, you can start by:
- Reading just one page each day. This is your 1% improvement for day 1.
- Increase to two pages on day 2, and so on, gradually increasing in small increments.
- Over the course of a month, you would be reading a significant amount, and the practice becomes much easier to sustain.
Conclusion
The 1% rule emphasizes consistency and gradual progress as the key to forming new habits. It's a more manageable approach than making drastic changes and makes the process of building new habits less intimidating and more effective.
