Better Than Before Summary

Summary of Better Than Before Book by Gretchen Rubin

Name: Better Than Before
Rating: 4.5 (2550 reviews)
Author: Gretchen Rubin

4.5 . 2550 reviews

Short summary

What makes it possible for us to change our lives? Habits, says New York Times bestselling author Gretchen Rubin. Habits, she says, are the invisible architecture of everyday life. Creating a new habit requires effort and willpower. Once that habit is created, however, we can harness its energy to build stronger, happier, more productive lives. So, if habits are essential for change, then what we should really try to figure out is: How do we change our habits? That’s the question “Better than Before” seeks to answer. With its great insights on the core principles of habit formation, this book will help you understand your habits — and to change them for good. Whether you want to get more sleep, stop checking devices, finish a project, or maintain a healthy weight, the invaluable ideas in “Better Than Before” will help you cultivate the habit you need to achieve your goals. “I concluded that the real key to habits is decision making — or, more accurately, the lack of decision making.” ~ Gretchen Rubin

15 min

7 key points

13 insights

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Table of content

Summary of Better Than Before
About the author
What is Better Than Before about?
Who should read Better Than Before
Topics in Better Than Before

first key point

Habits make change possible; to change your life, you must first change your habits

Listen the first key point

00:00

As humans, we are capable of making changes in any area of our lives whenever necessary. And, as Gretchen Rubin discovered, habits are the key to making changes. This is because habits eliminate the need for self-control or willpower.

Certainly, self-control is a vital aspect of our lives. Studies have even shown that people with better self-control are happier and healthier. They’re more altruistic; they have stronger relationships and more career success. Self-control allows us to keep our commitments to ourselves. Unfortunately, no one has an unlimited reserve of willpower; as we exert it, it gets exhausted.

That is why habits matter so much. Habits help us conserve our willpower. Of course, establishing a good habit requires self-control. But once the habit is in place, we can effortlessly do the things we want to do; we can harness the power of habits to build the life we want. Habits free us from making decisions and from exerting willpower; this is exactly how they make it possible for us to change.

With habits, you don’t need to use self-control, you just do what you want to do because it is automatic.

A habit requires no deliberation or decision-making on your part because you've already decided. Are you going to brush your teeth when you wake up? Are you going to drink coffee every morning? You decide mindfully, then keep it up mindlessly.

Habits are the invisible architecture of every day life. ~ Gretchen Rubin

When possible, the brain creates a habit out of a behavior, which saves effort and therefore gives us more capacity to deal with complex, novel, or urgent matters. Habits mean we don’t strain ourselves to make decisions, weigh choices, dole out rewards, or prod ourselves to begin. Life becomes simpler, and many daily hassles vanish.

In essence, if you want to change your life, you have to change your habits. But how do we change our habits? This is the main question answered in this summary.

second key point

To create lasting habits, you must first know yourself and what works best for you

To cultivate the right habits successfully, you must first find yourself. There is no one-size-fits-all strategy for habit formation. It’s easy to assume that if we adopt the habits of productive and creative people, we’ll be just as successful as they are. But each of us must cultivate the habits that work for us.

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third key point

Monitoring your actions improves self-awareness and boosts your willpower

fourth key point

Scheduling helps build habits by eliminating deliberation and making tasks automatic

fifth key point

Knowing that our actions have consequences puts us on our best behavior

sixth key point

Take the first step; there is nothing more exhausting than the task that’s never started

seventh key point

Conclusion

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What is Better Than Before about?

In this insightful book, the author delves into the world of habits and explores how they shape our everyday lives. With a blend of research, personal anecdotes, and practical advice, she offers valuable strategies to help readers understand their own habit tendencies and create positive changes. Whether you're looking to break bad habits or establish new ones, this book provides a roadmap to mastering the art of habit formation and ultimately living a better life.

Who should read Better Than Before

Individuals seeking to improve their daily habits and routines.
Those interested in understanding the psychology behind habit formation.
People looking for practical strategies to create lasting behavior changes.

Topics in Better Than Before

Habits Self-Help Personal Development Psychology Behavior Change Productivity Motivational Goal Setting Wellness Health Mindfulness Success Happiness Time Management Self-Improvement Growth Mindset

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