How long does it take to build a habit?
· Source: Lally, van Jaarsveld, Potts & Wardle, European Journal of Social Psychology, 2010
Most new habits take longer than a few weeks to run on their own. And one missed day doesn’t reset the clock.
How long does it take to build a habit?
Anywhere from 18 to 254 days. In a 2010 study, people repeated one daily action after the same cue. Getting to automatic took anywhere from 18 to 254 days, and missing a single day didn’t undo the progress. Tie it to something you already do. Right after the kettle, or after brushing your teeth. Missed a day? Just do it the next one. Notice the day it stops taking effort. Halflight keeps your weekly notes by date, so you can read back how the habit grew.