Want to become a more consistent and prolific songwriter? James Clear’s bestselling book Atomic Habits has helped millions of people transform their routines by making small, incremental changes. Many creatives credit this book for boosting their productivity, and songwriters can apply the same principles to develop better habits, stay inspired, and write more songs.
If you’re looking to improve your songwriting process, here’s how Atomic Habits can help you build lasting creative habits.
1. Small Changes Lead to Big Results
One of the key concepts in Atomic Habits is the power of making 1% improvements every day. Instead of overwhelming yourself with massive goals—like writing a full song daily—focus on small, achievable actions that compound over time.
You don’t have to write a full song every day to improve your craft. Even just 10–15 minutes of songwriting-related activities can make a huge difference. Try:
- Freewriting lyric ideas
- Listening to new music for inspiration
- Analysing song structures and lyrics
- Practising an instrument or vocal techniques
- Experimenting with melodies and chord progressions
Even the busiest people can fit in a few minutes a day—whether it’s while waiting for the kettle to boil, commuting, or tidying up. The key is consistency over time.
Pro Tip: Set a goal to spend at least 10 minutes a day on a songwriting-related activity. Showing up daily is more important than waiting for inspiration.
Why It Works: Small, consistent actions create momentum. You might not notice immediate results, but over time, these small improvements will lead to significant growth—just like gradual weight loss isn’t always visible day-to-day, but others notice it after a few months.
2. Shift Your Identity: You Are a Songwriter
One of the most powerful ideas in Atomic Habits is aligning habits with identity. Instead of saying, I want to write more songs, say, I am a songwriter.
This simple mindset shift can be transformational. When you fully embrace the identity of a songwriter, you naturally start making choices that align with that role.
For example, when deciding how to spend your time, ask yourself:
“What would a songwriter do in this situation?”
Would they spend an hour scrolling social media, or would they jot down lyric ideas instead?
Practical Tip: Every time you sit down to write, remind yourself: “This is what a songwriter does.” The more you act in alignment with this identity, the more natural and sustainable your songwriting habit becomes.
Why It Works: When your habits match your identity, they feel effortless. Writing becomes part of who you are, not just something you try to do.
3. Make Songwriting Easy and Accessible
Clear introduces the “2-Minute Rule”—the idea that starting a habit should be so easy, obvious and attractive that it’s impossible to resist. For example, commit to brainstorming song titles for just two minutes. Most of the time, you’ll keep going once you start.
Another way to make songwriting effortless is by removing barriers. If you have to search for a notebook, guitar pick, or cables every time you want to write, you’re less likely to do it. Set up a dedicated creative space where everything is ready to go.
On the flip side, if you want to break bad habits—like spending too much time on social media—make them harder to access. Personally, I moved my phone charger across the room to stop doom-scrolling in bed, and I removed social media apps from my iPad (my primary songwriting and demo recording device). These small changes have made a huge difference to my productivity.
Pro Tip: Create a dedicated songwriting space. If you associate a specific environment with creativity, it becomes easier to get into the zone.
Why It Works: When songwriting is easy to begin, you’re more likely to start—and continue. Removing self-imposed barriers is one of the simplest ways to boost creativity.
4. Build Systems, Not Just Goals
Many songwriters set big goals—like I want to write a hit song or I want to co-write with my favourite artist. But goals alone don’t lead to success—systems do.
Clear makes a great point: Every Olympic athlete has the same goal—to win a gold medal. But only one does. The difference lies in the systems and processes they use to train and prepare.
For example, instead of saying, I want to write 25 songs in 2025, break it down into a system:
- Writing one song every two weeks = 26 songs in a year
- Scheduling co-writing sessions in advance, allocating time for solo writing.
- Taking part in songwriting challenges like FAWM (February Album Writing Month)
- Attending songwriting workshops and retreats
Pro Tip: Write down your goals in clear, simple terms—as if explaining them to a child. Then, review them regularly. I do a weekly reflection to track my progress, and it’s been a game-changer for keeping on track.
Why It Works: People who take action toward their goals—rather than just setting them—make real progress. By tracking small wins, you’ll stay motivated and see your growth over time.
Final Thoughts
Atomic Habits teaches us that big transformations don’t happen overnight—they’re the result of small, consistent actions. For songwriters, this means showing up regularly, embracing the identity of a songwriter, and making creativity a part of daily life. It also means not expecting results without the hard work. Behind every ‘over night success’ is a lot of hard work, effort and struggle.
By applying these principles, you can build a sustainable songwriting routine that leads to real progress—not just in the number of songs you write, but in the joy and fulfilment you find in the process.
Let these lessons inspire you to develop a songwriting practice that not only helps you create more music but also makes the journey more rewarding.
Keep Writing,
Celine x