3 Powerful Lessons from Atomic Habits to Transform Your Drumming and Music Career
Introduction
If you've ever struggled with consistency in your drumming practice or felt like your music career isn't progressing as fast as you'd like, you're not alone. The good news? There’s a proven system that can help—James Clear’s Atomic Habits. While this book wasn’t written specifically for musicians, its principles are incredibly effective for drummers and session musicians looking to refine their craft and build a sustainable music career.
In this post, I’ll break down three key lessons from Atomic Habits and show you exactly how to apply them to your drumming and career in music. Stick around—this could be the game-changer you’ve been looking for.
1. Focus on Systems, Not Just Goals
The Lesson
One of the biggest takeaways from Atomic Habits is that goals are great, but systems are what actually get results. Instead of fixating on “becoming a world-class drummer” or “landing more session gigs,” focus on the daily actions that lead to those outcomes.
Applying It to Drumming
Instead of saying, “I want to be a better drummer,” create a system like:
- Practicing rudiments for 15 minutes before each practice session.
- Recording yourself twice a week to analyse progress.
- Playing along with different genres to improve versatility.
These consistent, small actions will compound over time, making you a far better musician than a vague goal ever could.
Applying It to Your Music Career
Rather than setting a goal like, “I want to book more session work,” build a system:
- Reach out to three new contacts per week in the industry.
- Post one high-quality drumming video on social media each week.
- Engage with fellow musicians and producers daily online and at events.
When you focus on systems, success becomes inevitable.
When I’m not teaching, you can find me drumming for Winter Gardens & Coco & The Lost.
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2. The Power of Habit Stacking
The Lesson
Habit stacking is the idea of attaching a new habit to an existing one. This helps integrate new behaviours more seamlessly into your routine.
Applying It to Drumming
Want to improve your speed, endurance, or timing? Stack small habits onto routines you already do:
- After playing your favourite song, do 5 minutes of click and timing practice.
- After making your morning coffee, practice paradiddles on a pad while it cools down.
- Before starting your practice session, warm up your feet with 5 minutes of alternating singles and doubles.
By linking new habits to established ones, they become automatic—and suddenly, practice becomes effortless.
Applying It to Your Music Career
Struggling to network or market yourself? Stack these habits onto existing behaviours:
- After uploading a new Instagram video, spend 5 minutes engaging with other musicians’ content.
- After finishing a practice session, email one new industry contact.
- After watching a drum lesson video, take 30 seconds to comment something positive.
Simple tweaks like this can make self-promotion feel more natural and less like a chore.
3. Make It Easy: Reduce Friction
The Lesson
Humans are lazy (yes, even drummers). If a habit requires too much effort to start, you won’t do it. James Clear suggests reducing the friction between you and your desired habit.
Applying It to Drumming
- Keep your practice pad next to your desk or sofa so you naturally pick up sticks during downtime.
- Set up your kit the night before so there’s no resistance to morning practice.
- Use a pre-made practice routine so you don’t waste time deciding what to work on.
By making practice more accessible, you’ll be more consistent without even thinking about it.
Applying It to Your Music Career
Want to build your online presence or book more gigs?
- Have email templates ready for reaching out to potential promoters and venues.
- Use scheduling tools in Instagram to batch social media content in advance.
- Keep your bio, website, and showreel updated so you can send them instantly when an opportunity arises.
The easier you make things for yourself, the more likely you are to follow through.
Final Thoughts: Small Changes, Big Results
The principles in Atomic Habits prove that tiny, consistent actions can lead to massive improvements over time. Whether you’re looking to become a better drummer or grow your music career, focusing on systems, habit stacking, and reducing friction will put you on a path to long-term success.
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