Badass Habits

October 26, 2020
Bestseller Sincero (You Are a Badass Every Day) brings a joyously bold attitude to this 21-day plan to form and maintain good habits. Flipping the process of habit creation on its head, Sincero first focuses on successful habits readers already have, arguing it’s easier to change when one can see evidence of the benefits of doing so. (Sincero writes that her own push for change was built on a foundation of politeness, punctuality, and tidiness which came naturally to her.) The primary advice here is to develop a 21-day structure based on mantras (such as “I can have both money and love, I am free to make money”), routines (such as establishing a morning meditation) that bolster better habits, activities (such as finding a support group or trainer), and rewards (such as cheat days in healthy eating routines). Though Sincero occasionally tilts too far into the realm of positive thinking—“You’re privy to the magic trick of manifesting what you desire through focus and taking right action”—she provides plenty of practical suggestions (appreciate one’s body without shame in a mirror, make oneself a treat at the start of difficult tasks) and maxims to live by: “You are responsible to other people, you are not responsible for other people.” Sincero’s fans will love this.

Starred review from December 1, 2020

Sincero (You Are a Badass) offers readers some fresh perspectives on habit-forming processes and helps them overcome the bad ones and create new, healthier practices. She urges readers to set no-nonsense boundaries, then describes the steps toward habit creation: triggers, sequence, repetition, ease, patience, and identity. Through real-life examples and highlighted bullet points, she takes readers through a 21-day process of realizing their desired goals: "Focus on the fact that you're doing yourself a favor rather than feeling like you're denying yourself something"; "Focus on the bigger picture." VERDICT Sincero is a master of her craft in helping people effect permanent changes. Her book is highly recommended.

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