James Clear turns 40: The 3 "boring" habits that made him a millionaire

James Clear's book 'Atomic Habits' is one of the most popular titles in our app. Every day, readers around the world use his ideas to build better routines, break bad patterns, and make small improvements that actually stick. Clear's work has genuinely helped millions of people become better versions of themselves.

But here's what makes his story interesting: Clear didn't become successful by doing anything flashy.

With over 25 million copies of 'Atomic Habits' sold, a newsletter that reaches millions, and a packed calendar of speaking engagements, Clear has built something remarkable. And he did it with habits that sound almost disappointingly simple.

No secret productivity hacks. No 4 AM cold plunge routines. Just three "boring" practices he repeated for years.

1. The "Monday and Thursday" rule

The habit: For three years straight, James Clear published one new article every Monday and every Thursday. No excuses. No waiting for inspiration. Just two posts a week, week after week.

Why it's boring: This approach turns creativity into a calendar appointment. It strips away the romance of being a "writer struck by genius" and replaces it with a rigid schedule. There's nothing exciting about sitting down to write because it's Thursday and that's what you do on Thursdays.

Why it worked: This consistency grew Clear's email list from zero to over 100,000 subscribers — before he even wrote 'Atomic Habits.' When the book finally launched, he didn't need luck or a viral moment. He had a loyal audience who had been reading his work twice a week for years. They were ready to buy because he had already shown up for them hundreds of times.

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2. The "phone in another room" strategy

The habit: Clear realized he had no willpower against distraction. His solution wasn't mental toughness or discipline — it was laziness. He leaves his phone in another room while working. On weekends, he has his assistant change his social media passwords so he literally cannot log in.

Why it's boring: This is a low-tech, almost childish hack. It admits human weakness instead of celebrating "hustle culture" or "iron will." There's no app, no system, no fancy solution. Just... putting the phone somewhere else.

Why it worked: This protected his focused work time. While others were scrolling, Clear was producing. You cannot write a bestselling book if you're checking notifications every 15 minutes. By designing his environment to make distraction harder, he made deep work the path of least resistance.

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3. The "never miss twice" rule

The habit: Clear admits he isn't perfect. He misses workouts. He skips writing sessions. But his rule is simple: if you miss one day, get back on track immediately. You can miss once. Never twice in a row.

Why it's boring: This is anti-perfectionist. It celebrates "good enough." It's not about heroic 100-day streaks or flawless discipline. It's just about not spiraling after a slip-up.

Why it worked: Most people quit entirely after one missed day. Psychologists call this the "what the hell" effect — you skip one workout, feel like a failure, and abandon the habit completely. By refusing to miss twice, Clear stayed in the game long enough for his efforts to compound. One missed day doesn't matter. Ten years of showing up does.

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The real lesson here

None of these habits is impressive on its own. Publishing on a schedule. Putting your phone away. Getting back on track after a slip.

But that's exactly the point.

Clear's success didn't come from doing something extraordinary. It came from doing ordinary things with extraordinary consistency. The "boring" habits are the ones that actually work — because they're sustainable enough to keep doing for years.

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If Clear's ideas resonate with you, there's a lot more to explore.

The Headway app has 2,500+ book summaries from authors like Ben Horowitz, Robert Cialdini, Daniel Kahneman, Eckhart Tolle, and hundreds of others. Each summary takes about 15 minutes — enough to learn something useful without blocking out your whole afternoon.

Over 55 million people use Headway to build habits, work toward personal goals, and pick up practical ideas they can actually use. Whether you're interested in productivity, psychology, leadership, or just figuring out what to read next, there's something here for you.

Not sure which book to pick up next? Our quick quiz matches you with titles based on what you're actually working on — your goals, your challenges, your priorities. Answer a few questions and get a personalized reading list in under a minute.

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Happy 40th, James Clear. Here's to another decade of boring habits and extraordinary results.

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