We Are What We Repeatedly Do. Excellence, Then, Is Not an Act, But a Habit.

Day 12 of 30 – Why habits build the foundation for every productive day

Author

Selim Uysal
June 12, 2025

Hi friend,

We all want clarity. Focus. Impact.

But goals alone don’t get us there.

What matters is what we do daily.

“We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit.”

— Aristotle

Last month, I wrote every day about habits. (You can check that here! :))

This month, I’ve been writing about productivity, systems, and AI.

But at the core of it all?

Habits.

For knowledge workers like us, habits aren’t just routines; they’re identity builders.

They shape how we show up, how we think, and how consistently we create.

🧱 My Daily Rhythm (Not Perfect, But It Works)

I’ve tried complicated systems.

But here’s what’s working right now:

  • Morning gym (on weekends or when I’m not working)

  • Go to work (or work from the library if I’m not going to the office)

  • Draft my post while walking by, speaking into the phone, then transcribing with AI

  • Work sessions throughout the day, focused and calendar-aligned

  • Evening reading, reflection, and family time

  • Sleep tracked and optimized

I don’t follow it perfectly. But the rhythm brings structure, without pressure.

🤖 Where AI Fits In

I track my core habits in a simple app called Habits (on iPhone).

It reminds me of what matters and shows streaks when I stay consistent.

Some days, I even ask ChatGPT:

“Based on the last 7 days of my writing and sleep, what habit is slipping and what’s improving?”

These small reflections turn data into decisions.

📚 3 Books That Changed How I Think About Habits

  1. Atomic Habits by James Clear – Systems over goals

  2. Tiny Habits by BJ Fogg – How small changes drive lasting growth

  3. Good Habits, Bad Habits by Wendy Wood – The science behind behavior loops

Each helped me realize:

You don’t need to change your life.

You just need to change what you repeat.

💬 Your Turn:

What’s one habit you’ve been trying to build, but haven’t been tracking?

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📬 Want more reflections like this?

→ Catch up on previous posts: productiveknowledgeworker.com (You’ll also get my list of top productivity tools!)

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P.S. ✍️ Want help turning your knowledge into a hands-off, high-leverage newsletter or course?

DM me “habit” and I’ll show you how to make it run on autopilot.

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P.P.S. Want to start your own newsletter but not sure how?

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Stay steady,

Selim