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This month in our Book of the Month series, we’re turning to Atomic Habits by James Clear; a book that has become something of a modern classic in personal growth.
It’s not a new release, but the ideas in Atomic Habits remain deeply relevant for anyone trying to live with more purpose, whether on the trails, in work, or in daily life. Fill your September with gem of a book!
Clear’s central message is straightforward: it’s not about massive overhauls or radical reinventions.
Real transformation comes from small, repeated actions that compound over time. In other words, what matters most isn’t your goals, but the systems you put in place to move toward them.
And that simple concept, right there, is what makes this book so life changing.
Why habits matter more than motivation
Clear illustrates how habits are the invisible architecture of everyday life. We often overestimate the power of motivation, assuming we’ll simply “try harder” when things get tough.
But when the environment is set up to make good choices easy and bad choices harder, the need for willpower fades.
Think of it like this: a runner who lays out their shoes the night before and sets an alarm is more likely to get out the door at 6 a.m. than one who relies on morning motivation alone. That’s how you become a morning runner!
It’s not the size of the effort but the consistency of the routine that builds momentum.
The power of tiny gains
One of the book’s most compelling ideas is the “1% rule.”
Small improvements, barely noticeable in the moment, add up to extraordinary results over weeks, months, and years.
James Clear draws parallels to both business and sport, showing how incremental change compounds into transformation.
This resonates strongly in running. A single strength session each week might not feel like much, but after a year, it can mean fewer injuries and more consistent training. Likewise, cutting back on mindless scrolling by just ten minutes a day can reclaim hours of focus over a month.
This idea translates across all parts of life. In fitness, adding one short strength session a week may not feel like much, but after a year it can mean fewer aches and better overall health.
In everyday life, cutting back on mindless scrolling of social media by just ten minutes a day can free up hours over the course of a month. That’s time that can be redirected toward something more meaningful. I recently adopted this last one myself so that I have more time to read books.
Breaking bad habits
In Atomic Habits, Clear doesn’t just talk about building new routines; he also explains how to dismantle harmful ones. His “laws of behavior change”, make it invisible, unattractive, difficult, and unsatisfying, flip the script on our usual reliance on discipline.
If you don’t want to eat late-night junk food, keeping it out of the house is far more effective than relying on sheer willpower to resist it.
This perspective removes the moral weight we often attach to “bad habits.” Instead of seeing them as character flaws, Clear reframes them as outcomes of our systems. Change the system, and the habit often falls away on its own.
Why this book matters for us
At Trail & Kale, we talk often about running, outdoor adventure, and healthier living. What the author’s work highlights is how these pursuits aren’t built on single big moments like a race, a summit, or a diet reset, for example, but instead on the accumulation of small, sustainable choices.
If Good Energy (our book recommendation from last month) was about fueling the body at the cellular level, Atomic Habits is about fueling our lives at the behavioral level.
Both remind us that the seemingly small things are never really small.
Closing thoughts
As our September Book of the Month, Atomic Habits is worth revisiting even if you’ve already read it. Its value lies not just in the theory but in the way it invites you to pause and look at your own routines with fresh eyes.
What systems are you building, often without realizing it? Which ones are carrying you forward, and which are quietly holding you back?
Sometimes, the biggest change is simply deciding which direction you want those small steps to take you. Now, do yourself a favor, buy the book, and start moving towards your goals.
