Starting is the hardest part of building a habit.
We look at the big goal, feel overwhelmed, and convince ourselves we’ll start tomorrow.
But what if you stopped trying to start the whole habit—and just started two minutes of it instead?
Small Starts Lead to Big Wins
In Atomic Habits, James Clear shared his trick for getting himself to start a new routine:
- Reading before bed became “just read one page.”
- Running three miles became “just put on my running shoes.”
- He’d set a timer for two minutes and give himself permission to quit when it went off.
But when the alarm sounded? He kept going.
Because the hardest part isn’t the work.
The hardest part is initiating action.
Once the process starts, momentum kicks in.
"One sign that determination matters more than talent: there are lots of talented people who never achieve anything, but not that many determined people who don't." — Paul Graham
Make the First Move
I’ve tested this myself.
- If I can get into my cold garage and put a barbell in my hands, I’ll train—even on days I don’t feel like it.
- If I open a book and promise myself just a few minutes, I’ll fly through 40–50 books a year.
As Clear put it, these small actions reinforce your identity.
Every time you take even the tiniest step, you’re casting a vote for the person you want to become.
And enough votes? They reshape who you are.
Your Move: Set the Timer. Start Small.
Pick the habit you keep saying you want to build and set a two-minute timer:
- Journal three words on how you feel or how you want to show up today.
- Read one page of a book.
- Walk for two minutes on a treadmill.
When the alarm goes off, decide - keep going or stop.
Either way, you’ve taken action. Either way, you’ve won.
Because the habit isn’t built in a day.
But every small step builds the structure that gets you there.