The Key Habit

The path

Fifteen short lessons in five stages. Read one a day, do the practice in it, and come back tomorrow whether or not today went well.

1Recognise

Stage 1 of 5

See the loop clearly before trying to break it.

  1. 1What this is, and what it isn't4 min read
  2. 2The loop: cue, urge, ritual, relief3 min read
  3. 3How novelty escalates3 min read

2Withdraw

Stage 2 of 5

The first days, and how to make them survivable.

  1. 4The first seventy-two hours3 min read
  2. 5The bedroom and the phone3 min read
  3. 6Blockers as a fence, not a cage3 min read

3Rewire

Stage 3 of 5

Urges, the chaser, the flatline. What to do with each.

  1. 7Urge surfing3 min read
  2. 8The chaser effect2 min read
  3. 9The flatline3 min read

4Rebuild

Stage 4 of 5

Energy, attention and a body worth keeping.

  1. 10Energy, and what the traditions meant by it3 min read
  2. 11The body: sleep, light, movement3 min read
  3. 12Attention and the long book3 min read

5Return

Stage 5 of 5

Slips, honesty, and a rule to live by.

  1. 13Slips, and how to return the same day4 min read
  2. 14Telling someone3 min read
  3. 15A rule to live by3 min read
Right now