While still slugging it out as a corporate slave, I was encouraged by my then boss to read Atomic Habits by James Clear. Thinking it was her passive-aggressive way of highlighting my lack of good working habits, I simply nodded. Repeat a task at least six times and it will slowly develop into a habit, I was told. More nodding.
I did eventually get an ebook version much later — after leaving the company to “explore my other options.” Honestly, it wasn’t an exciting book; self-help books rarely are. But I did learn that, according to Mr Clear, behaviours aren’t locked in after exactly six repetitions. Rather, it takes an average of 66 days for a behaviour to become automatic.
Ha!
But I’m just going to let bygones be bygones. My boss was a nice lady.
If there is one habit I did, perhaps unconsciously, develop over the past year, it’s a skincare routine. I’ve never had terrible skin, never had to deal with teenage acne, and wasn’t big on makeup as a working adult. But one fine day, I noticed patches of pigmentation forming around my cheeks.
I remember my mom, while she was still alive, sometimes staring intently at my face before asking, “Are those freckles?”
Not knowing any better, I’d reply, “Cute, no?”
Those “freckles” inevitably became a little less cute and a little more obvious. Thanks to Google, I eventually concluded they were the result of many years of neglect and outdoor frolicking sans sunscreen. I love being outdoors and feeling the warmth of the sun on my face. Never mind that the humidity turns my hair into a frizzy mess — the tropics are where I belong.
After a fair bit of research, I finally settled on a toner, moisturiser and sunscreen that cost a small fortune — or at least it did to me — and got down to business.
After my morning shower, it became:
- Apply toner.
- Apply moisturiser (after the toner has mysteriously seeped into my skin).
- Apply sunscreen.
At night, it’s the same routine, minus the sunscreen. Before my morning power walk? Sunscreen. Even when I travel, those bottles come along for the ride.
Somewhere along the way, it stopped feeling like a routine and simply became…what I do.
Eder, I’ve noticed, has also developed a few self-care habits over the past year. Unfortunately, I’m not at liberty to share them on this blog unless he decides to pay royalties.
I guess what I’m getting at is that it’s never too late to teach old dogs new tricks. Or, in this case, to develop better habits — especially when it comes to looking after ourselves.
Of course, there may be some irreversible damage. Unlike those “freckles,” which fortunately don’t look quite as obvious anymore, some things simply can’t be undone. But I don’t think it ever hurts to start while you still can.
It was never my intention to end up with smooth, porcelain-like Korean-model skin. My goal was much simpler:
“My skin is better. I feel better.”
And sometimes, that’s enough.
Oh, and one last thing.
If you don’t intend to read Atomic Habits, here’s the Cliff Notes version on building good habits:
- Make it Obvious: Design your environment so the cues for good habits are easy to see.
- Make it Attractive: Pair something you want to do with something you need to do.
- Make it Easy: Follow the “Two-Minute Rule.” Make the habit so small it takes almost no willpower to begin. Read one page instead of a whole chapter. Walk around the block instead of aiming for five kilometres.
- Make it Satisfying: Reward yourself immediately so your brain begins associating the behaviour with something positive.
You’re welcome!
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