Songwriting Success Starts Here: Lessons from Atomic Habits

James Clear’s bestselling book Atomic Habits has helped millions of people transform their daily routines and achieve their goals by focusing on small, consistent changes. The sheer volume of people who refer to this book as a positive catalyst for their creative productivity evolution is astounding. As songwriters, we can take these powerful concepts and apply them to our creative processes to build better habits, stay inspired, and increase productivity. If you’re interested in developing your songwriting process alongside your creative craft, you can learn so much from this book and create Atomic Habits for songwriters.

Here are my main takeaways from Atomic Habits and how they can help you become a more consistent and prolific songwriter:

Focus on Small Changes

Clear emphasises the power of making 1% improvements every day rather than setting huge, overwhelming goals. Over time, these small adjustments can add up to massive growth. It also feels much more achievable if the changes you’re making are small. For songwriters, this might mean committing to doing something songwriting-related every day, but it doesn’t have to mean writing a song daily. There are many activities you can do each day to develop your songwriting, some of which only need a 10–15-minute commitment.

I know many people who write songs but are also incredibly busy with jobs, families, and other responsibilities. However, everyone can find 10–15 minutes each day. For example, you could brainstorm while sitting in the car waiting to collect your kids from school, waiting for the kettle to boil, or enjoying your morning coffee. Personally, I listen to songwriting podcasts while driving or washing dishes, explore new music recommendations while tidying, and do lyric-writing exercises during lunch.

Pro Tip: Set a goal to spend 10 minutes a day freewriting or brainstorming lyrics. The key is to show up daily, even when inspiration feels far away.

Why It Works: Consistency builds momentum. By starting small, you’ll avoid burnout and keep your creativity flowing. This is a type of growth that becomes second nature and incredibly sustainable. However, it does mean there are no “mega milestones” to track progress. I liken it to looking in the mirror every day during a weight-loss journey; you won’t notice the changes, but others will after time. Growth is happening, even if it’s not immediately obvious!

Identity Is Important

One of my biggest takeaways from this book is that instead of focusing on outcomes, Clear suggests aligning your habits with your identity. Instead of saying, “I want to write more songs,” say, “I am a songwriter.” This subtle shift helps reinforce the behaviours that support your creative goals. Start thinking as if you are already the person you want to be. Stop thinking of yourself as an “aspiring songwriter” or a “songwriting student”—you are a songwriter.

This shift in mindset leads to questions like, “What would a songwriter do in this situation?” or “What would [insert your favourite songwriter here] do?”

Practical Tip: Every time you sit down to write, remind yourself, “This is what a songwriter does.” Over time, this identity will feel natural, and the habits will follow.

Why It Works: When your habits align with your identity, you’ll find it easier to stick with them, even when motivation wanes. Saying, “I want to be a songwriter who writes more songs,” feels harder to manage than, “I’m a songwriter who writes X songs every month.”

Make Habits Easy and Accessible

Clear introduces the idea of the "2-Minute Rule," which encourages starting tasks in a way that feels easy and manageable. Tell yourself you’ll sit and brainstorm titles for just two minutes. Before you know it, you’re 10 minutes in and enjoying it! Getting started is often the hardest part.

It’s also helpful to create an environment that encourages creativity. Always have your tools ready to go, so you’re not hunting around for a pen, guitar pick, or cables. On the flip side, if you want to break a bad habit, you need to make it less accessible. For instance, I used to spend too long doom-scrolling social media in the morning. To stop this, I moved my phone charger across the room. Now, I don’t grab my phone until I’ve been up and productive for at least an hour.

Pro Tip: Setting up a dedicated space for songwriting or recording can be transformative. When I read Atomic Habits for the first time, I created a songwriting space. Later, I removed all social media apps from my iPad, which I use for recording. With distractions gone, I became much more productive.

Why It Works: When songwriting feels easy to start, you’re more likely to begin—and, crucially, to continue. Removing barriers is a massive productivity booster.

Build Systems to Fuel Your Goals

Clear reminds us that goals are great, but systems are what drive success. Olympic athletes all share the same goal—to win a gold medal—but only one does. It’s not the goal that sets the winner apart; it’s the systems they put in place.

For my songwriting goal of writing 25 songs in 2025, I need a system. With 52 weeks in the year, writing one song every two weeks exceeds my target. To support this, I’ve created a tracking list, scheduled co-writing sessions, signed up for FAWM this February, and booked a writing retreat in July. These systems keep me on track.

Pro Tip: Write your goals down in simple terms and review them regularly. I reflect weekly to ensure I’m aligned with my goals and adjust as needed.

Why It Works: There’s a difference between setting goals and taking action to achieve them. Systems help you measure progress and celebrate small wins along the way.

Atomic Habits for Songwriters: Final Thoughts

Atomic Habits teaches us that transformation doesn’t happen overnight; it’s the result of small, consistent actions. For songwriters, this means showing up, writing regularly, and building habits that support creativity.

By focusing on identity-based habits, making songwriting accessible, and celebrating progress, you’ll create a sustainable routine that leads to growth and success. Remember: big breakthroughs often come from the accumulation of small, intentional steps. Let Atomic Habits inspire you to build a songwriting practice that not only helps you create more music but also helps you enjoy the journey along the way.