Getting Started: Habits | Gretchen Rubin [Skip to content](#content) [ ![](https://gretchenrubin.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/gretchenrubin-logo-768x344.png) ](https://gretchenrubin.com) # Getting Started: Habits Habits are the invisible architecture of daily life. About forty percent of daily life is shaped by habit, so if we follow habits that work for us, we’re much more likely to achieve our aims and build a happier life. # Change Your Habits, Change Your Life *But how?* As with happiness, there’s no magic, one-size-fits-all solution for habit formation. The good news? It turns out it’s not that hard to make or break our habits—when we do it in the way that’s right for us. Some people do better when they start small; others when they start big. Some people need to be held accountable; some defy accountability. The most important thing is to know ourselves, and to choose the strategies that work for us. # [Discover the 21 strategies for habit change](/articles/my-new-book-about-habit-formation-as-distilled-in-21-sentences/) [ READ MORE ](/articles/my-new-book-about-habit-formation-as-distilled-in-21-sentences/) # The Vital Nine​ Most of the habits that people want to make (or break) fall into these nine categories. What about you—what habits do you want to cultivate? [ ![people doing exercises](https://gretchenrubin.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Energy-1024x315.jpg) ](/explore-topics-energy/) [**Energy**: exercise and sleep](/explore-topics-energy/) [ ![Birds on branches](https://gretchenrubin.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Relationships-1024x314.jpg) ](/explore-topics-relationships/) [**Relationships**: connect and deepen](/explore-topics-relationships/) [ ![home office desk](https://gretchenrubin.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/productivity-1024x315.jpg) ](/explore-topics-productivity/) [**Productivity**: work and progress](/explore-topics-productivity/) [ ![Person making objects with clay](https://gretchenrubin.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Creativity-1024x315.jpg) ](/explore-topics-creativity/) [**Creativity**: learn, practice, play](/explore-topics-creativity/) [ ![](https://gretchenrubin.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Recharging-1024x315.jpg) ](/explore-topics-recharging/) [**Recharging**](/explore-topics-recharging/)[: relax and re](_wp_link_placeholder)st [ ![bookshelf with colorful books](https://gretchenrubin.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Order-1024x315.jpg) ](/explore-topics-organization/) [**Order**: clear and organize](/explore-topics-organization/) [ ![tablescape](https://gretchenrubin.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Consumption-1024x315.jpg) ](/tag/Mindful-Consumption/) [**Mindful Consumption**: eating, drinking, spending, scrolling](/tag/Mindful-Consumption/) [ ![person tending to their garden](https://gretchenrubin.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Investment-1024x315.jpg) ](/tag/mindful-investment/) [**Mindful Investment**: save, support, experience](/tag/mindful-investment/) [ ![koi fish in water](https://gretchenrubin.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Purpose-1024x315.jpg) ](/tag/Purpose/) [**Purpose**: reflect, identify, engage](/tag/Purpose/) # Harness the Power of Habits​ Once we set our habits, we can forget them. It takes work to form a habit, but once that habit is established, we can allow the extraordinary power of habit to take over. We take our hands off the wheel of decision, our foot off the gas of willpower, and rely on the cruise-control of habits. Habits allow us to look back at the end of each day and see that we’ve lived in a way that reflects our values and aims—without even having to think about it. # Tools for Habit Formation​ Wherever you are, and whenever it is, *now* is always the right time to begin. [ ![Better than Before book cover](https://gretchenrubin.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Better_than_Before_book-1-1024x683.jpg) ](/books/better-than-before/) ### *Better Than Before* *Better Than Before* outlines the 21 strategies we can use to make or break our habits. This bestselling book presents a practical, concrete framework to allow readers to understand their habits—and to change them for good. [ Buy the Book ](/books/better-than-before/) [ ![Don't break the chain journal](https://gretchenrubin.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/DBTC_16-scaled-e1663347497383-1024x768.jpg) ](https://the-happiness-project.com/collections/journals/products/dont-break-the-chain-habit-tracker) ### *Don’t Break the Chain* Habit Tracker Maintaining a chain of momentum is a powerful strategy for building daily habits. This habit tracker prompts you to choose your preferred strategies for habit change and record specific progress along the way. The pages provide both structure and flexibility, with space to visualize progress and celebrate byour milestones. [ Shop ](https://the-happiness-project.com/collections/journals/products/dont-break-the-chain-habit-tracker) # My Habits Manifesto - What we do every day matters more than what we do once in a while. - Make it easy to do right and hard to go wrong. - Focus on actions, not outcomes. - By giving something up, we may gain. - Things often get harder before they get easier. - When we give more to ourselves, we can ask more from ourselves. - We’re not very different from other people, but those differences are very important. - It’s easier to change our surroundings than ourselves. - We can’t make people change, but when we change, others may change. - We should make sure the things we do to feel better don’t make us feel worse. - We manage what we monitor. - Once we’re ready to begin, begin now. ![Happier app homescreen](https://gretchenrubin.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Happier_App_homescreen-300x300.png) ![Happier app logo](https://gretchenrubin.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/THP_Happier_App_Logo_RGB_small.png) The *Happier*™ app is a revolutionary new tool that offers concrete, actionable steps to help you build a happier life. Get personalized recommendations for habit-change strategies based on your Tendency. [ Try the app free ](https://thehappierapp.com) # Dive Deeper # Essential reading on habits - [ To Be Creative, What Are the Best Habits To Follow? ](/articles/to-be-creative-what-are-the-best-habits-to-follow/) - [ Want to Change an Important Habit? Tips for Upholders, Questioners, Obligers & Rebels. ](/articles/how-to-change-habits-based-on-tendency/) - [ Has a “Clean Slate” Ever Led to a Major Habit Change for You? ](/articles/has-a-clean-slate-ever-led-to-a-major-habit-change-for-you/) - [ How Some Simple Changes in Habits Can Help You Through This Tough Time ](/articles/how-some-simple-changes-in-habits-can-help-you-through-this-tough-time/) - [ Do You Make This Huge Mistake, When Trying to Help Someone (or Yourself) to Change a Habit? ](/articles/do-you-make-this-mistake-when-helping-someone-change-a-habit/) - [ 7 Tips for Helping Someone Else to Change a Habit ](/articles/7-tips-for-helping-someone-else-to-change-a-habit/) # Essential listening on habits - [ A Little Happier: What’s the Best Way to Change a Habit? ](/podcast/little-happier-whats-the-best-way-to-change-a-habit/) - [ A Little Happier: A Happiness Lesson from Alice in Wonderland About “Jam Today.” ](/podcast/little-happier-alice-in-wonderland/) - [ 360: Very Special Episode! Want to Change a Habit? Start with These 7 Strategies. ](/podcast/360-want-to-change-a-habit-start-with-these-7-strategies/) - [ A Little Happier: Habits Are the Invisible Architecture of Everyday Life. ](/podcast/little-happier-habits-are-the-invisible-architecture-of-life/) - [ Podcast 236: Stay the Course with Your Good Habits, Helping Someone Take Medication, and the Fun of Color. ](/podcast/236-stay-the-course-with-your-good-habits/) - [ A Little Happier: Carrie’s Shoe Collection in “Sex and the City” Teaches an Important Lesson About Habits. ](/podcast/little-happier-a-habit-lesson-from-carrie-bradshaws-shoes/) - [ Podcast 33: Try a Boot Camp — and Have You Ever Experienced a “Lightning Bolt” Change in Habits? ](/podcast/podcast-33/) Manage Cookie Consent To provide the best experiences, we use technologies like cookies to store and/or access device information. Consenting to these technologies will allow us to process data such as browsing behavior or unique IDs on this site. 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