I stopped reading. Here's how I'm rebuilding the habit

I stopped reading.

Moves, new apartments, new schedule. The habit blew up completely. But I'm fixing it. Because "I don't read" means roughly the same thing to me as "I've voluntarily stopped growing." How I'm restarting it:

1/ Slot + trigger

No staying late at work. I wrap up before 00:00, because 00:30–01:00 is my sacred time. Couch, blanket, lamp, all set up. The book sits face up so I don't have to go "find" it. A clean cue, straight out of James Clear.

2/ Habit stacking

The stack is simple: poured tea, lay down, pulled the blanket over me, opened the book. Automation. Willpower usually doesn't work, especially mine)

3/ Three dumb rules

- Read at least 10 minutes. If I want to keep going, great. If not, also fine, I go to sleep. - Pick something light and interesting, so I get a dopamine hit instead of suffering through Gödel, Escher, Bach at 1am. - If I skip a day, I don't make it up with a double dose. The only thing that matters is getting back into the scheduled slot.

5/ Dopamine loop

Whoop buzzes my wrist, time to start. When I'm done, I mark it "done" in the habit tracker on that same Whoop. Get up, drink some protein, feel great. The brain loves checkmarks and tasty staff, and I love it when my brain loves me.

The end!