Over winter break, I listened (again) to Atomic Habits by James Clear. I had tried it before and didn’t finish it, but this time it hit differently — probably because I’m in a season of life where habits have to work in real life, not just in theory.

James Clear teaches habits in a way that feels doable, especially for busy moms. His biggest message is simple but powerful: habits don’t fail because we lack motivation — they fail because they’re too big. That idea applies perfectly to home life, organizing, and honestly… taking care of ourselves.

This shift toward smaller, more realistic habits ties directly into how I’m approaching intentional living at home this year — focusing less on perfection and more on showing up consistently in ways that actually matter.

Big change doesn’t come from big motivation

James Clear teaches that big change comes from small, repeatable actions. If a habit feels hard, it’s not because you’re lazy — it’s because the habit is too big.

This was a huge mindset shift for me. I realized that I wasn’t struggling because I didn’t care — I was struggling because I was trying to do too much at once. Whether it was keeping the house running smoothly or trying to “get back on track” with my own routines, I kept aiming for the full version instead of starting small.

Start ridiculously small (the 2-minute rule)

One of the most helpful concepts James Clear teaches is the 2-minute rule: when starting a new habit, it should take two minutes or less.

This idea completely changed how I approach habits I’m trying to be more consistent with — especially around self-care and family connection.

For example:

• Reading before bed used to feel like something I never had time for. Now I read one or two pages a night. I’m currently reading a book about Taylor Swift and the stories behind her songs, and that’s it. No pressure to finish a chapter. Just a page or two.

• Working out doesn’t start with a full workout. It starts with putting on my workout clothes.

• Skincare and hair care don’t have to be an entire routine. They start with washing my face or doing one small step consistently.

• Tracking my nutrition doesn’t mean being perfect — it just means checking in and noticing patterns.

You don’t have to finish. You just have to start.

James Clear explains that motivation follows action, not the other way around. Starting small lowers resistance and builds momentum naturally.

Putting yourself first isn’t selfish — it’s self love

One habit area I’m really working on is putting myself first — and not in a selfish way. In a self-love way.

For me, that looks like:

• Being more consistent with skincare and hair care

• Tracking my nutrition instead of ignoring it

• Moving my body regularly

• Taking care of myself so I can show up better for everyone else

When I take care of myself, I’m calmer. I’m more patient. I’m more present. And that benefits my kids, my husband and my dad just as much as it benefits me.

Habits stick when the environment supports them

Another key idea James Clear emphasizes is that habits become automatic when the environment makes them easy.

This shows up in our home as:

• Laying out workout clothes the night before

• Keeping baskets where clutter naturally lands (we'll get to the basket of doom in the next post)

• Doing a quick reset at the same time every night

When the space supports the habit, you don’t have to rely on willpower. The habit starts to feel like the default.

This has been especially helpful with special playtime with my kids. Instead of hoping I’ll remember or find the energy, I’m trying to build it into our routine — whether that’s reading together, sitting with them before bed, or creating predictable moments of connection.

Goals vs. systems (this changed how I think about organizing)

James Clear makes an important distinction between goals and systems.

Goals are outcomes.
Systems are the daily habits that get you there.

You don’t get organized by deciding to “get organized.” You get organized by building small systems that repeat every day. Tiny resets, done consistently, create calm over time — without the burnout of big weekend cleanups.

This is the foundation of how I approach organizing with Salt, Sand & Sorted: simple habits that make calm the baseline.

Progress beats perfection

James Clear is very clear about this: bad days will happen.

Miss once? That’s okay.
Never miss twice.

Letting go of perfection has been the key to staying consistent. Some days I do more, some days I do less — but I don’t quit. Flexible, forgiving habits are the ones that actually stick.

If you’re looking for a simple way to try this approach, I created a free habit tracker designed to help you build awareness and consistency — without guilt.

Small habits add up. And over time, they change everything.