Ripple Habit

Start Embarrassingly Small (That’s the Point)

Most people quit new habits not because they’re lazy—but because they start way too big. It’s a motivation trap. Day one, you’re excited. Day five, you’re overwhelmed. Then you miss a day, feel like a failure, and throw in the towel.

Here’s what actually works: start so small it feels almost silly. One push-up. One sentence. Two minutes of walking. This isn’t some gimmick. It’s how you build consistency without needing willpower. B.J. Fogg at Stanford talks about “tiny habits” for a reason—small actions bypass the resistance that kills most goals.

When the habit is tiny, it’s harder to make excuses. You can’t claim you’re too tired to floss one tooth or stretch for 30 seconds. And the real secret? Small starts often lead to bigger actions. Once you start, momentum takes over. But even if it doesn’t, you still showed up—and that matters more than intensity.

Most people focus on the outcome. But behavior change starts with identity. Tiny habits help you become the kind of person who does the thing daily. That’s where the shift happens—not in giant wins, but in quiet consistency.

Start laughably small. Stick with it. Let it snowball. That’s how real change works.