Gretchen Rubin wrote the ultimate habit book “Better Than Before'' with the intent to unravel the complexities of habits and how to change, develop, and break them. Gretchin’s personal passion for habits and how they affect our daily lives has led her to extend research and discovery about human behavior. Not only has this book been relatable and motivating, but it also changed my perspective on the importance of habits, leading me to the realization that they are one of the most important skills to master the formation of. Not only is the habit itself important, but it's the habit of the habit that matters most. Here is my honest recommendation and review of “Better Than Before.”
One of the biggest things about habit formation that Gretchen talks about is that habits are not a one size fits approach. There are different personalities in which different habit strategies work best. I learned that there is no reason that one personality should be trying to form habits in a way that does not work for them and their learning style. There are four personalities that Gretchen talks about throughout the book, including questionnaire (asks questions to understand the purpose of situations), Obliger (upholds themself to impossible standards and sometimes completes meaningless tasks just for the sake of completion), Rebel (resists tasks just for the sake or rebellion ), upholder (someone who will uphold others standards but struggles to keep them self accountable). Finding out which personality type you are can help you find the best way to form personal habits.
Out of the four personality types and reading Gretchin’s extended research on how to find out which one you are, I have come to the conclusion that I am an Obliger, and I have some traits of a questionnaire. From reading this book, I have found out the importance of knowing which of these personality types aligns with you; in order to build long-term habits that align with your life goals, you have to approach them in a way that will be sustainable for you in the long run. I would recommend this book to anyone who struggles with keeping consistent with their goals or habits. Another roadblock to habits that Gretchin mentions is how much harder it is to start a habit again, and many people will come to stopping points in their habits and fail to start them again, even if they have been successful in the past.
Gretchen mentions how one of the hardest habits to sustain is exercise. Many see it as an all-or-nothing approach. This leads to burnout and dreading exercise. Many people don’t want to put in the work to achieve their goals in the long run and opt for quick fixes. The overwhelming expectations that the majority of people set for themselves to achieve their goals in a short amount of time lead to them getting burned out and not achieving them in the long run. This is what Gretchen talks about when she says that the habit of the habit is more important than the habit itself. Keeping the habit of exercise and staying consistent is more important than exercising at high intensity for short periods of time and never achieving long-term sustainability.
"We repeat about 40 percent of our behavior almost daily, so our habits shape our existence and our future. If we change our habits, we change our lives." If someone asked me to describe the message behind this book, I would use this sentence that Gretchin wrote. It's all about changing your normal to adapt to what you want your daily life to look like. Although I took away many meaningful lessons and tips for habit formation, I could not help but notice how heavily I am towards subjective perspective and personal anecdotes. This makes the book not relatable to all audiences and subjective to personnel who are like the author; it tends to be more tailored to individual experiences than universal tactics. This feedback highlights the need for a more balanced approach, incorporating a greater emphasis on verifiable facts to enhance the credibility and relevance of the book's insights.
In conclusion, “Better Than Before” is a great read for self-development and habit strategies. I would consider this book a road map for positive change. The absence of factual, universally available information for habit formation does raise a bit of skepticism; it will not be applicable to every individual. I would recommend this book to anyone who wants to boost their habits and reflect on their behavior. I would not recommend this as a start to redesigning your daily habits but rather an amplification of already formed habits. Gretchen Rubin has a unique writing style and lays out the format of this book nicely. It has clear messages and can be beneficial to a lot of people.