Superhuman by Habit: Achieving Extraordinary Results Through Consistency and Discipline Book Summary

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About Author

The author of "Superhuman by Habit" is Tynan, a writer and entrepreneur who is known for his work in the self-improvement space. He has written several books on topics such as productivity, travel, and personal development, and is the creator of the blog and community website, Tynan.com.

Tynan is known for his unconventional approach to self-improvement, and his work often focuses on practical strategies for achieving goals and living a fulfilling life. In "Superhuman by Habit," he draws on his own experience and research to provide readers with a comprehensive guide to building good habits.

Tynan's writing has been featured in publications such as The New York Times, Wired, and The Atlantic, and he has been a guest on numerous podcasts and radio shows. He is also an accomplished traveler, having visited more than 50 countries and written extensively about his experiences.

Overall, Tynan is a highly regarded author and thinker in the self-improvement space, and "Superhuman by Habit" is widely regarded as one of his most popular and influential works.

It Starts With

Are you looking to improve yourself and develop habits that will help you live a fulfilling life? Do you wish to possess those superhuman qualities when it comes to forming habits? If so, your search ends here with "Superhuman by Habit: A guide to becoming the best version of yourself, one tiny habit at a time," written by Tynan.

This book provides practical strategies for improving your small habits, and if you can implement the techniques outlined in the book for just 21 days, you can make significant progress towards achieving your goals.

Part 1 – Building Habits

A habit is a behavior that you do repeatedly, often without needing to exert much effort or conscious thought. The true power of a habit lies in the fact that it requires little or no effort to perform. This means that you can improve various areas of your life, such as health or productivity, without exhausting your willpower.

The process of building habits is an energy expenditure that requires a fixed amount of willpower. Although willpower can be developed over time, it has its limitations and is not infinite. Those who invest their initial willpower into building habits will ultimately reap the benefits when those habits become automatic and require little willpower to maintain.

1. Willpower 

Investing your willpower in building good habits is more effective than merely spending it. The power of a habit lies in its ability to become automatic and effortless over time. By establishing good habits, you can overcome limitations and achieve success in both your personal and professional life.

The book Superhuman by Habit stresses the significance of establishing good habits to feel fulfilled and achieve success. Once a habit becomes well-established, it can be transferred from the "hard" category to the "easy" category, freeing up your willpower for more challenging tasks. Building a habit can take anywhere from one to twelve months of consistent effort.

2. Different types of habits 

Habits are often viewed as negative, as we tend to associate them with activities such as smoking or eating junk food. It's generally believed that bad habits are harder to quit and easier to adopt, which can make it challenging to break the cycle of automatic behaviors that bring us pleasure.

However, not all habits are bad. Habits can be categorized as good, bad, old, or new. Establishing good habits can be more challenging than breaking bad ones, but executing them should not be harder.

Bad habits are generally harmful to our health and personal growth. Instead of just quitting a bad habit, it's beneficial to replace it with something new, which can improve our overall well-being and productivity.

Old habits are so automatic that they require no effort, so you can have as many as you like. But when it comes to introducing new habits, it takes a considerable amount of willpower. Therefore, it's best to introduce a few new habits at a time. The key to self-improvement is to establish as many new positive habits as possible, work to make them automatic, and then make room for new ones.

3. The long-term impact of habit

The author emphasizes that habits have a significant impact in the long term. It's crucial to consider how a habit will affect your life years or even decades from now. The value of a habit is not in the size of each action but in the cumulative effect it will have on your life in the long term.

Consistency is the most critical factor in establishing long-term habits. You need to do your habit consistently to maintain it over time. While taking on a new habit may seem exciting, if it's too difficult to maintain, it's not a good habit for you.

In the early days of establishing a new habit, consistency is crucial to creating momentum. Skipping two days of a habit is detrimental to its formation. Missing one day reduces your chances of success by 5%, while missing two days reduces it by 40%. If you miss three days, you may need to start over.

Habits take time to become part of your routine. It's essential to complete your habit daily in the early days. Once the habit is established, it's not as crucial to never miss a day. However, in the first month or so, do everything you can to avoid missing a day. If you're going to skip a habit, consciously admit it and articulate why you're skipping it. But never skip twice.

4. Nothing goes as plan

It's important to acknowledge that things may not always go as planned. There may be instances where we are unable to follow through with our habits, but it could be completely beyond our control. For example, when it comes to fitness, it may be challenging to stick to your routine while on vacation due to limited gym access or time constraints.

However, even a quick outdoor jog or a few simple exercises in a hotel room is better than doing nothing at all. It's crucial to maintain consistency in these situations, even if you don't perform at your best. Remember, the power of a habit lies in its regularity. It's better to complete a task poorly than to skip it altogether.

5. Forgiveness 

The author emphasizes that everyone makes mistakes and will inevitably miss a day when building a new habit. The key is to monitor your reaction when this happens. Instead of dwelling on the mistake or giving up, forgive yourself and refocus on your habit. Use mistakes as an opportunity to learn and adjust your approach if needed.

It’s also essential to celebrate your successes, not just the tangible results but also the progress and commitment you’ve made towards your habit. Focusing solely on results can add unnecessary stress and cause you to give up. Celebrating progress and effort can help you maintain momentum and stay motivated.

Part 2 – Choosing Habits 

1. Honesty 

Being truthful with yourself is a crucial aspect of forming and maintaining good habits. This honesty starts with the selection of your habits. Acknowledge and address any areas of weakness you may have, such as poor health or a lack of motivation and organization. Though it may be difficult to confront your shortcomings, it is vital to do so to develop the most effective habits.

It is easy to establish a new habit in an area where you already excel, but introducing a new habit in an area where you need improvement is the challenge. However, this is also where the most significant and positive changes can occur. So, embrace the challenge and be honest with yourself about what you need to work on to create new, beneficial habits.

2. High priority 

To make a habit stick, it's crucial to focus on "high priority habits." You need to care about the habit and feel genuinely passionate about it. If you're struggling to come up with ideas for new habits, consider asking your close friends for suggestions. It's also essential to step outside your comfort zone and explore areas that you wouldn't typically consider. Additionally, working on your social skills can be highly beneficial in developing new habits.

3. Take responsibility 

Many individuals distance themselves from unfavorable events or situations, attributing them to external factors and refusing to take responsibility. However, adopting this attitude does not provide an opportunity for learning from negative experiences.

It's important to take full responsibility for your future by acknowledging that you have the power to change your situation. Breaking down your goals into habits and consistently executing them is a powerful way to achieve success. Although it may be challenging, it's definitely possible.

To succeed, it's crucial to be honest about any obstacles preventing you from achieving your goals, take ownership of them, and create new habits to overcome them.

4. Adding new habits vs. subtracting old habits 

When it comes to developing habits, people can generally be categorized into two groups: those who find it easier to add new things to their routine, and those who prefer to eliminate something. For instance, some may find it easier to cut out junk food from their diet, while others may find it simpler to incorporate a new gym routine. While it's beneficial to improve the ability to add or subtract habits, it's also okay to rely on your existing strengths when forming new habits.

5. Motivation 

When starting a new habit, it can be easy to feel enthusiastic and motivated. However, this initial excitement can dwindle over time, making it difficult to stay on track. To combat this, it's essential to have a strong source of motivation. This requires being honest with yourself and understanding why you want to adopt this new habit.

For example, if you want to improve your health and fitness, you must have a strong enough motivation to keep going even when faced with challenging obstacles. Start small and gradually increase your efforts over time while remaining consistent. By doing this, you can optimize your progress towards the finish line instead of just the starting line.

6. Accountability 

In an ideal world, you would be able to take on a new habit and hold yourself fully responsible. Your motivation should be sufficient to accomplish this. However, there may be times when this is not the case. In such situations, you can ask a friend to hold you accountable. Inform them of precisely what you are doing and why you are doing it. Make sure they understand how often you need to perform your habit, and they can check in with you to ensure you stay on track.

Part 3 – Habits 

There are six different categories of habits:

1. Positivity Habits - cultivating positive thoughts and attitudes towards yourself and others.
2. Health Habits - maintaining good physical health through a balanced diet, sufficient sleep, and regular exercise.
3. Expansion Habits - stepping out of your comfort zone, exploring new cultures and experiences, and regularly reflecting on your life.
4. Organizational Habits - keeping your environment clean and clutter-free, maintaining a schedule, and managing your workload efficiently.
5. Social Habits - respecting commitments and punctuality, surrounding yourself with positive influences, and staying in touch with loved ones.
6. Productivity Habits - overcoming procrastination, quitting strategically, and planning effectively.

For more information on positive habits, you can read the book "50 Positive Habits" on this website by clicking on the link below

Part 4 – Getting Started

When starting a new habit, it's essential to give it the attention and care it needs to grow. It's not just a matter of deciding to start and jumping into it. Instead, you need to consider how it fits into your daily routine and whether it's realistic to maintain over time. While it can be exciting, it's crucial to approach it with logic and realism.

Fortunately, the process of building habits is straightforward. We start by identifying the things we do daily and making adjustments to improve them. By putting our trust in the power of small, repeated actions, we can adapt our behavior to achieve our goals and reap the benefits of our efforts.

Conclusion

"Superhuman by Habit" emphasizes the importance of creating positive habits to achieve success in various areas of life. The book emphasizes that anyone can develop good habits by breaking them down into manageable, consistent actions. The author also emphasizes the significance of motivation and accountability to maintain habits in the long run.

Overall, the book provides practical advice and strategies for readers to implement in their daily lives to achieve their goals. The key takeaway is that small, consistent actions can lead to significant and long-lasting changes. By adopting positive habits, individuals can become superhuman in their personal and professional lives.