How long does it take to build a habit?
· Source: Lally, van Jaarsveld, Potts & Wardle, European Journal of Social Psychology, 2010
You started a new habit, and three weeks in, it still takes effort. A team in London measured how long this really takes. Ninety-six volunteers picked one daily action, like drinking water after breakfast. Every day, they rated how automatic it felt. The time it took to become automatic ranged from eighteen days to two hundred and fifty-four. So a few weeks is often not enough, and that's normal. And here's the kind part: missing one day didn't undo the progress. The habits grew by repeating the action in the same situation, day after day. So tie your habit to something you already do, and if you miss a day, just carry on.