March 15, 2026·4 min read
What's the easiest way to start a new habit?
The easiest way to start a new habit is to make it absurdly small and attach it to something you already do. Here's the two-step method.
The easiest way to start a new habit is to shrink it until it takes under two minutes, then attach it to something you already do every day. That's it — motivation is optional.
Step 1: Shrink the habit
Don't start with 'meditate 20 minutes'. Start with 'one breath'. Don't start with 'read 30 pages'. Start with 'one page'. Tiny habits bypass resistance — you can't talk yourself out of one push-up.
Step 2: Anchor it
Attach the new habit to something automatic: 'after I pour my coffee, I take one deep breath'. The old habit becomes the reminder. See our full guide to habit stacking for more.
That's actually the whole system
Once the tiny anchored version is reliable — usually 2–3 weeks — you can grow it. But don't scale until the small version is truly automatic. Skip that step and you're back to relying on motivation.
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