“Better Than Before” is a book by Gretchen Rubin, a New York Times bestselling author and speaker who is known for her work on happiness. In this book, she focuses on the topic of habits and how to make positive changes in our daily lives.
One thing I appreciated about “Better Than Before” was how accessible it is. Rubin writes in a conversational tone and uses relatable examples to illustrate her points. She also provides practical advice and concrete strategies for forming habits that stick.
Here are five powerful tips from the book that you could implement in your day-to-day life:
- Identify your tendencies. Rubin argues that people fall into one of four categories when it comes to forming habits: Upholder, Obliger, Questioner, or Rebel. Upholders respond readily to both outer and inner expectations, are self-directed and disciplined, and motivated by a sense of accomplishment. Obligers respond readily to outer expectations but struggle with inner expectations, benefit from external accountability, and are motivated by meeting others’ expectations. Questioners respond readily to inner expectations but may resist outer expectations that don’t make sense, are analytical and logical, and are motivated by sound reasoning. Rebels resist both outer and inner expectations, are creative and non-conformist, and are motivated by a sense of freedom and autonomy. We probably all have a mix of these tendencies, and understanding your dominant tendencies can help you figure out what strategies will work best for you when it comes to forming new habits.
- Make it convenient. Rubin suggests that one way to make a habit stick is to make it as easy as possible. For example, if you want to start exercising in the morning, lay out your workout clothes the night before so that they’re ready to go when you wake up.
- Use the strategy of pairing. This involves pairing a habit you want to form with something you already do consistently. For example, if you want to start flossing every night, pair it with brushing your teeth.
- Create accountability. Find someone who will hold you accountable for sticking to your habits. This could be a friend, a family member, or even an app that sends you reminders.
- Monitor your progress. Rubin suggests keeping track of your habits in a visible way, whether it’s using a habit tracker app or writing them down in a journal. Seeing your progress can be motivating and help you stay on track.
Having read a lot pf books about habits, you start to see familiar concepts in all of them, even of they are presented slightly differently. There are many parallels between “Better Than Before” and other popular books on habits, like “Tiny Habits,” “Atomic Habits,” and “The Power of Habit,”
I would however say that each book brings something unique to the table. “Better Than Before” focuses more on the psychology behind habit formation and provides a more personalized approach based on the tendency framework described above.
Overall, if you’re looking for a practical and accessible guide to forming habits that stick, I highly recommend “Better Than Before.” It’s a great resource for anyone who wants to make positive changes in their life, whether big or small.
So go ahead, pick up a copy, and start making those positive changes today!