Atomic Habits

Tucked away in the tiniest of hallways at the top of the stairs, between laundry and bedroom — and opposite the drawing studio — you’ll find this large magnetic white board. It’s the newest addition to my work space.

Have you had the chance to read Atomic Habits by James Clear? He talks about designing your environment for success — about “creating obvious visual cues to draw your attention toward a desired habit.” I’ve been on board with this approach for a while now (fruit on the kitchen counter and books on the night stand, that sort of thing). My studio is the primary work space — with drawing tables and supplies. The computer (where I email, do internet research, adjust photos) is hidden away in the closet. Clear’s mantra of “one space, one use” is in play. Together it adds up to training the subconscious to link a particular habit with a particular context.

The magnetic board in the hallway is one more visual cue in this context. Hey subconscious! Here is where you work on illustration. Up the stairs — at the magnetic white board, turn right and make pictures.

Don’t even think about it.

A closer look. The magnetic board does something else too. It shows me the drawings I made in one week. That's 7 typical days, full of other projects and commitments. A new standard is developing. What I expect to see up there, in quantity and quality, is expanding. That's kind of interesting.