The Habit Lesson I Learned From The One Thing

Why I Stopped Trying to Build 10 Habits at Once (And You Should Too): The Power of Single Focus

Have you ever tried to completely transform your life in January? Only to find yourself back to old patterns by February?

I used to be exactly that person. First, I’d attempt to exercise daily. Then, I’d meditate for 30 minutes. Next, I’d read for an hour. After that, I’d journal religiously. Meanwhile, I’d try to eat perfectly. Finally, I’d squeeze in learning a new skill. All at the same time.

The result? I’d last about two weeks. Then came the inevitable burnout.

That’s when everything changed. I discovered Gary Keller’s “The ONE Thing.” Suddenly, I learned the transformative power of building habits differently. One at a time.

This book didn’t just change how I approach goals. It revolutionized my entire philosophy around self-mastery and sustainable change. Here’s why focusing on one thing at a time might be the key to finally breaking those habit cycles you’ve been stuck in.

The Fatal Flaw in Most Habit Building Approaches

Most people approach habit change like they’re trying to renovate an entire house in one weekend. Why? Because we want to fix everything at once. After all, we’re excited, motivated, and ready for change.

However, Gary Keller reveals something crucial in “The ONE Thing.” This approach is scientifically doomed to fail.

Here’s why. The myth of multitasking extends far beyond work productivity. When you try to build multiple habits simultaneously, your brain treats each new routine differently. Specifically, it sees each one as a separate task. Consequently, each requires willpower and decision-making energy.

Moreover, research shows that willpower is finite. In fact, it’s like a muscle that gets tired throughout the day.

The ONE Thing on Amazon

The myth of multitasking extends far beyond work productivity. When you try to build multiple habits simultaneously, your brain treats each new routine as a separate task requiring willpower and decision-making energy. Research shows that willpower is finite it’s like a muscle that gets tired throughout the day.

Check out this podcast from Dr Huberman – how to increase your willpower

Instead of spreading your limited mental resources across multiple changes, focusing on single habit allows you to channel all your energy into making one transformation stick before moving to the next.

The Habit Focusing Question That Changes Everything

Keller introduces what he calls “The Focusing Question”: “What’s the ONE thing I can do such that by doing it, everything else will be easier or unnecessary?”

This question became my North Star for habit building. Instead of asking “What are all the things I need to change?” I started asking “What’s the ONE habit that will create a domino effect in my life?”

For me, that habit was a simple 10-minute morning routine. Not a 90-minute morning routine filled with meditation, exercise, journaling, and reading. Just 10 minutes of intentional breathing and setting intentions for the day.

Ready to ditch the snooze button? This 5-minute morning movement routine will revolutionize how you start your day. Plus, grab my free Morning Energy Guide with 10 more science-backed strategies for unstoppable morning energy

The Domino Effect: How One Habit Transforms Everything

Here’s where the magic of focused habits really shows up. Keller uses the domino metaphor beautifully—when you tip over the first domino with enough force, it can topple dominoes that are 50% larger, which can topple even larger ones.

Your keystone habit works the same way. My 10-minute morning routine didn’t just improve my mornings; it:

• Created mental clarity for better decision-making throughout the day
• Established a sense of accomplishment first thing in the morning
• Built confidence in my ability to stick to commitments
• Created space for reflection that naturally led to healthier choices
• Developed the discipline muscle that made other habits easier to add later

If you feel stuck in the same day over and over again, these tiny habit changes can break the cycle (free download included)

Why Small Habit Changes Create Extraordinary Results

One of Keller’s most counterintuitive insights is that “big is bad.” We’ve been conditioned to believe that bigger goals and more ambitious changes lead to better results. But the opposite is true for habit formation.

Single focus habits work because they’re:

• Manageable: Your brain doesn’t resist small changes
• Sustainable: They don’t require perfect conditions to maintain
• Momentum-building: Success breeds success
• Automatic: They become unconscious more quickly

Meditation doesn’t require an hour, five minutes builds the foundation. Dietary change doesn’t need a complete overhaul, drinking more water creates momentum. Fitness transformation doesn’t demand perfection, a 10-minute walk develops the habit.

Want to dive deeper into the science of habit formation? James Clear’s Atomic Habits is the definitive guide

The 66-Day Reality Check

Keller references research showing that it takes an average of 66 days to make a behavior automatic—not the often-quoted 21 days. This is crucial for single focus habits because, it sets realistic expectations.

When you commit to focusing on ONE habit for 66 days, you’re giving yourself permission to:

• Experience the messy middle where motivation fades
• Work through the resistance that comes with any change
• Allow the habit to become truly automatic before adding complexity

From Autopilot Anxiety to Intentional Living

Before discovering the power of single focus, I lived in what I now call “autopilot anxiety”—constantly feeling like I should be doing more, changing more, being more. The pressure to fix everything at once kept me in cycles of motivation and burnout.

Single focus habits shifted me from reactive to intentional living. Instead of trying to be perfect, I focused on being consistent with one thing. That consistency built the foundation for everything else.

This is the heart of everyday mastery—not the destination, but the daily practice of showing up for yourself in small, meaningful ways.

This journey from reactive to intentional living began with a moment that broke me open – and ultimately rebuilt everything

Your Next Steps: The ONE Thing Assessment

If you’re ready to break the cycle of starting over every Monday, ask yourself Keller’s focusing question:

“What’s the ONE habit I can build that would make everything else in my life easier or unnecessary?”

Maybe it’s:

• A consistent sleep schedule that improves energy and decision-making
• A brief morning routine that sets the tone for intentional days
• Regular movement that builds physical and mental resilience
• Mindful breathing that creates space between stimulus and response

Choose one. Just one. Commit to it for 66 days. Trust the process.

The Compound Effect of Single Focus

Gary Keller’s “The ONE Thing” taught me that extraordinary results come from ordinary practices, consistently applied. Single focus habits aren’t about limitation—they’re about leverage. They’re about working with your brain’s natural patterns instead of against them.

The wave crashes, but it’s part of something larger. Your one habit is the same it’s not just about that single behaviour, it’s about becoming the type of person who follows through on commitments to themselves.

That’s the real transformation. That’s everyday mastery.

Ready to start your own single focus transformation? Download my free habit-building system that breaks down exactly how to choose your ONE thing and make it stick for 66 days and beyond.

So here’s my challenge to you: What’s the ONE habit you’re going to commit to today? Share it below,accountability makes all the difference