Finding Happiness with Less

Last week, I read Tiny Habits – The Small Changes That Change Everything by BJ Fogg, and I found it both inspiring and refreshingly practical. As someone who’s often tried to kick bad habits—or start healthier ones—I really connected with Fogg’s approach.

One idea that stuck with me is the importance of starting small. Like, really small. Fogg explains that most people fail at habit change because they aim too big right away. When something feels too hard or overwhelming, it’s easy to give up. But if you start with a tiny step—what he calls a “tiny habit”—you set yourself up for success.

He shares a great example: he wanted to start flossing daily, but could never stick with it. So instead of committing to a full flossing routine, he began with just one tooth a day. That’s it. Just one. If he flossed more, great! But if not, he’d still succeeded. Over time, that one tooth turned into two, then three, and eventually his whole mouth. The key was starting so small, it felt silly not to do it.

Another concept I loved was habit stacking—the idea of pairing a new habit with something you already do. Fogg recommends choosing an existing routine (like brushing your teeth, making coffee, or going to the bathroom) and using it as a trigger. For example, you could decide to do two push-ups every time you go to the bathroom. It’s simple, doable, and adds up.

That’s the habit I’m currently trying out! With a baby at home, finding time to work out has been tricky. But now, every time I use the bathroom, I do two push-ups on the counter. If I go five times a day, that’s 10 push-ups—more movement than I was getting before, and it actually feels manageable.

Overall, I really appreciated BJ Fogg’s philosophy on behavior change. It’s not about willpower—it’s about designing habits that are so small and easy, they become part of your life almost effortlessly. I plan to keep applying this method to other habits I want to build, one tiny step at a time.

What’s one tiny habit you’d like to start this week?