Introduction: The only reason we struggle with habit change

The art of life lies in a constant readjustment to our surroundings. – Okakura Kakuzo There’s a projector in our minds, and it’s constantly playing a movie about how we’d like things to be, our ideals about the world, our expectations of how things will turn out, how others should be, how we should be. These images aren’t based on reality, but are just a fantasy this film projector has created from nothing. It turns out that this fantasy, which I call the Mind Movie, is what stands in our way from making habit changes. The mind is making this fantasy, and as well-intentioned as the mind is, it’s also causing us frustration, struggle, feeling bad about ourselves, procrastination, distraction, and more. In other words, this Mind Movie is at the heart of all of our problems. Creating a new…

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Frequently Asked Questions

1. When is this book available? A: I finished the manuscript at the end of November 2015 and hope to get it published sometime in December 2015. 2. What formats will the book be available in? A: The book will be in paperback, Kindle, iBooks (epub) and PDF editions. 3. About how many pages will the book be? A: It’s intentionally concise. Well under 150 pages. 4. How much will it cost? A: Not sure yet. Less than the first edition though. 5. Will this book help me change my habits? A: Yes. The main purpose of the book is to help teach people about how to change habits, but also about the nature of change in general, and how to be happy and find peace. You’ll be working through a small habit change as you read the book. However … this book…

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Table of Contents

Introduction: The only reason we struggle with habit change How this book works Key Concepts to Know Part I: Creating a Habit How to choose a first habit Quitting habits vs. starting a positive habit Two questions before you start Week 1 focus: A slow start Week 2 focus: Mindful enjoyment Week 3 focus: Overcoming the dip Week 4 focus: Reconnecting Week 5 focus: Embracing groundlessness Week 6 focus: Gradually changing your life Part II: Habit Troubleshooting Missed a few days & struggling Can’t find the time Others aren’t supporting me Not doing as well as I’d hoped Accountability isn’t working Feeling tired, stressed, overwhelmed Making mistakes, guilt from failing Part III: Quitting a Bad Habit When to attempt to quit Track your habit & triggers Come up with replacement habits Common needs & replacement habits Use techniques you’ve learned…

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About the Author

Leo Babauta is a simplicity blogger & author. He created Zen Habits, a blog with more than a million readers. Babauta is father of six children, and in 2010 moved from Guam to California, where he leads a simple life. He started Zen Habits to chronicle and share what he’s learned while changing a number of habits: Quit smoking (on Nov. 18, 2005). Became a runner. Ran several marathons and triathlons. Began waking early. Became organized and productive. Began eating healthier Became a vegetarian. Tripled his income. Wrote a novel and a non-fiction book. Eliminated his debt. Simplified his life. Lost weight (70 pounds). Wrote several best-selling ebooks. Started a successful Top 25 blog. Started a second blog for writers and bloggers. Created a leading blog on minimalism. Gave up his car for four years. His good friend Tynan also said…

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