The popular notion is that it takes 21 days to form a new habit. 

Wrong! This is a myth.

Research suggests that the actual time required to establish a habit can be much longer and may average around 66 days or more, according to a study published in the European Journal of Social Psychology in 2009. 

There are so many factors that influence how people embed new habits and some of us find it much harder than others.

Some of these include:

• The complexity of the habit and whether it needs to be broken down to begin with.
• Whether you identify as someone who ‘owns’ that habit.
• Consistency and reinforcement and creating small wins for yourself.
• Your environment - is it set up for success?
• Your previous habits can help as a foundation to build on.
• Your belief that you can change.
• Individual differences - our brains are all different!

How do you know when a habit has stuck?

Short answer - if you feel ‘itchy’ when you don’t do the habit.

I was finding some new habits really hard to adopt successfully. If you follow me on Instagram, you’ll have seen me working on movement as a habit. That one is getting there but it’s not ‘sticky’ yet.

Two months ago I added dry body brushing into my morning routine after receiving a beautiful brush at the retreat I attended. This morning I was running very late and didn’t have the literal 60 seconds it takes to do. It felt really odd bypassing that step of my morning and racing through the shower. Something was really off. 

Sticky habit success!

If you’d like to hang with me and a group of like minded women for 30 days to change your life with simple sticky habits, sign up here to get the information when the next round launches.