How Does The HabitSystem Work?

You may have wondered why there is a tree on the cover of this book. It is actually a particular tree: an oak. This is not some random coincidence because I just happen to like oak trees—there is a reason behind this choice. As you read along, I am sure you will understand the reason why I chose an oak.

Now, what is this tree about? Why is it here? The HabitSystem uses the metaphor of a tree to help you achieve the goal of long-term habit implementation. We will look at the roots, the trunk, and the crown of a tree and liken them to elements of the HabitSystem. Using this metaphor will allow you to remember the Core Elements of the HabitSystem more easily in a visual sense by giving you a profound image of how growth works.

To become a majestic oak, a small acorn needs certain nutrients and conditions to grow larger and stronger. The same is true for the HabitSystem. You will start just like the tiny acorn and, over time, your HabitSystem will grow larger and stronger and will become more stable because you have given it exactly what it needs to grow. At first, your system will be fragile—just like a tender sapling. However, as your HabitSystem matures, it will grow strong, resilient, and stoic—just like an old oak.

The core principle behind the HabitSystem is Start Slow Then Grow, which also pertains to our tree metaphor. Growth has to be organic and sustainable. Sometimes fast growth is sustainable, albeit not very often. In the HabitSystem, we want lasting change, not some quick fix or magic pill. Consequently, just like a tree, we will start slow.

Each part of the oak tree represents a specific element of the HabitSystem:

Tree Component: Roots

Every tree needs deep roots that provide a stable foundation. The root of the tree, however, is not visible. It is below the surface, similar to how an iceberg is composed. Yet, without deep roots, no tree can grow big. The roots in the HabitSystem are manifested with two Core Elements: Action and Simplicity. They are necessary for your HabitSystem to grow strong and stable, just like roots are necessary for even the biggest of oaks. Without them, no growth is possible. And even if your HabitSystem has grown mature, a solid root is still necessary.

Core Element: Action

Any amount of Action is better than no Action at all, and to implement a habit, you just need to start somewhere. This may sound obvious, but many people procrastinate or wait for the perfect starting point. Perfection and planning are overrated, while Action is highly underrated.

Core Element: Simplicity

Our lives are complex enough, and every superfluous component requires an unnecessary expenditure of energy. This is why the HabitSystem is set up to be simple in three main ways: Simplicity in Concept, Simplicity in Habit Design, and Simplicity in Tracking.

Tree Component: Trunk

Next up is the trunk, which is the first visible element of every tree that grows gradually larger over time. In the HabitSystem, the trunk is represented by the active elements of the HabitSystem, namely Daily Repetition and Habit Tracking. To grow your habits, you have to repeat them every single day and you must keep track of them. Just as a trunk grows wider very slowly over time thus becoming more stable, your Daily Repetition and your Tracking will become more solid, meaning that your habits are no longer fragile but more mature and sturdy like an old oak’s trunk.

Core Element: Daily Repetition

Implementing a habit is not a one-time event, but a continual process. Instead of thinking in terms of events, which does not work when implementing long-term habits, you will become process-oriented and maintain consistency. Consistency is at the crux of habit creation, which in turn leads to sustainable change.

Core Element: Tracking

To help you stick to your habits daily, some form of Tracking System is a must, such as the Journal you already began at the beginning of this book. This can be a notebook, an app, or whatever works for you. Your Tracking System must be very simple—the simpler it is, the more likely you are to keep using it. You will even learn how to effectively include allowable habit skipping, which makes the HabitSystem even easier to implement.

Tree Component: Crown

Finally, there is the tree’s crown. It is the loftiest component of a tree and its three types of growth—Vertical (improving), Horizontal (compounding), and Cathartic (shedding)—directly correspond to the types of growth you will see with the HabitSystem. The crown consists of many different branches, each looking somewhat different than the next. The analogy to the crown is seen in the development of the HabitSystem, which we call the Habit Journey. The Habit Journey encompasses the increase in your skills, your ever-growing list of habits, and the notion that the system grows more mature and defined over time.

Core Element: The Habit Journey

Developing your system entails using three types of growth: Vertical, Horizontal, and Cathartic. Vertical Growth refers to the obvious benefits of the progress you make with daily repetitions. Horizontal Growth involves the adding on of new habits and the corresponding Spillover Effect. Cathartic Growth means refining your habits as you shed old, non-beneficial habits.

This was a broad overview of the Habit Tree and its Core Elements; they represent the components necessary to implement your own HabitSystem. Based on the three components of a tree, this book is divided into three sections.

How This Book Is Structured

In the first section, we will look at the root. Here, we learn about the mindset behind the HabitSystem. We will learn what the root problems of habit implementation are and how you can overcome them with Action and Simplicity.

In the second section, we will learn about Daily Repetition and Tracking your habits which involves the Habit Taxonomy, how habits are tracked, and what to do with bad habits. Just as an oak tree can be pruned to encourage new growth, you’ll learn exactly how to trim non-beneficial habits and get them out of your life to make way for a lifelong HabitSystem.

In the last section, we will talk about different habits and each one’s particular qualities. We will explore how you can use habits to grow your HabitSystem, your personality, and your skills and delve into the three types of growth: Horizontal Growth, Vertical Growth, and Cathartic Growth.

The strength of the HabitSystem is that it builds upon the core tenet of Start Slow Then Grow. It takes motivation, which is unreliable, out of the equation, and it can then be boiled down to the Five Core Elements which will be invaluable tools in creating positive habits that lead to real change.