Mini Habits

Smaller Habits, Bigger Results

By: Stephen Guise

Narrated by: Daniel Penz

One afternoon - after another failed attempt to get motivated to exercise - I (accidentally) started my first mini habit. I initially committed to do one push-up, and it turned into a full workout. I was shocked. This "stupid idea" wasn't supposed to work. I was shocked again when my success with this strategy continued for months (and to this day). I had to consider that maybe I wasn't the problem in those 10 years of mediocre results. Maybe it was my prior strategies that were ineffective, despite being oft-repeated as "the way to change" in countless books and blogs.

I was right.

Is there a scientific explanation for this?

As I sought understanding, I found a plethora of scientific studies that had answers, with nobody to interpret them correctly. Based on the science - which you'll find peppered throughout Mini Habits - we've been doing it all wrong.

You can succeed without the guilt, intimidation, and repeated failure associated with such strategies as "getting motivated," New Year's Resolutions, or even "just doing it." In fact, you need to stop using those strategies if they aren't giving you great results. They don't work because they all require you to fight against your subconscious brain (a fight not easily won). It's only when you start playing by your brain's rules and taking your human limitations seriously--as mini habits show you how to do - that you can achieve lasting change.

©2013 Stephen Guise (P)2014 Stephen Guise

Breaks Things Down Into Tiny Do-able Bits

This isn't a book that will wow you with facts and research and science. Instead, it is a book that makes huge and often overwhelming goals possible. The theory and method presented are based on the author's personal experiences of creating change in his own life. I agree with other reviewers -- there is something strangely liberating about the idea of setting your goals so low that you can easily meet them. Then from these tiny goals bigger change begins and builds. Worth a listen if you need a new and simple approach for attacking the problem of feeling bogged down and want to start building new daily habits. A positive listen.

Procrastination In A Whole New Light!

I enjoyed this book very much, including the narrator. And I asked myself this morning--after all the books I've read and listened to--why I was still procrastinating, checking off lists, putting lists into shorter lists, etc. etc. etc. Is it just me or does this book resonate with the very core of the problem, which is always the "getting started" part? This book is light (which I liked), but to the point. I began using it before I'd finished it, which was over two days. If you are someone who feels overwhelmed by the projects you want to do, I believe this book will help you. I'm sure I've never had a book get me moving so quickly and easily.

Surprised by how deeply helpful the thoughts in this book are

I started out listening to this book thinking that it sounded kind of gimmicky, but halfway through things clicked and I saw what he was talking about in my own life. I already, accidentally, have a whole lot of mini habits in process, some good and some bad. The further into the book I got the more powerful the concept became as I realized this dynamic is already existing in my life and he is showing me how to tap into that dynamic and leverage it for increased productivity.

Great book!

Fast, simple, immediately useful. Really resonated with me. I highly recommend both the text and audio.

Great information

This book gave me much needed information, although I didn't realize it, I have personally subscribed to this way of thinking for many years. Today I am a physician and I am constantly battling with my patients about changing their lifestyles for the sake of their health. Now I see why they resist and I will implement Mini Habits starting immediately! Thank you, and I will update this post as my practice and patients progress.