Still waiting for your New Year’s resolution to feel like a natural part of your daily routine? I've resolved to add some weights into my workout routine a few days a week. It's going...okay.
It may take longer than you expect, according to new research. It turns out, the idea that two to four weeks are all you need to make a new habit become a disciplined skill is just a myth.
Healthy habits, like exercising every day, drinking plenty of water and flossing your teeth daily, actually take at least two months before they really stick. And according to a new study, it could take even longer for some folks.
- Researchers from the University of South Australia analyzed data from more than 25-hundred participants in 20 previous studies about forming healthy habits and the length of time it takes before the habit becomes “automatic.”
- The results show that new habits formed between 106 and 154 days, on average.
- While the median is 59 to 66 days, there are also extremes of just four days on the short side and as long as 335 days.
- While that sounds like an incredibly long time, study authors say the research should give hope to anyone who feels discouraged by previous attempts to maintain healthy habits that didn’t stick.
- They point out that the success of trying to establish a new habit can be affected by everything from how often we do it to the time of day we do it and whether or not we enjoy it.
“If you add a new practice to your morning routine, the data shows that you’re more likely to achieve it,” explains lead study researcher Ben Singh. “You’re also more likely to stick to a new habit if you enjoy it.”
Source: NY Post
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