How Long it Takes to Develop A Habit
I read this study the other day that really got me thinking… Go grab some snacks because I’m about to summarize it for you so you can do something more exciting with your five hours.
It was a scientific study about how long it takes to develop a new habit. (I’m so into stuff like this…)
The bottom line was this: it takes 21 days to form a new habit.
Woa… this kind of blew my mind.
All those bad habits I have been carrying around with me since a child could be fixed with just 21 days of discipline.
Hmm… I’m kind of a skeptic when it comes to things that ream unrealistic (and you should too) so I put this to the test. For the past 20 something years I have been basically addicted to chocolate.
I basically eat chocolate every day. Please tell me I’m not the only one.
Anyway, for 21 days I stopped eating chocolate (in candy bar form at least hahaha) and replaced it with a chocolate protein shake. This was a hack my friend told me about when I told her my idea about quitting chocolate. I’m going to be honest, not unwrapping that little gem of cocoa goodness each night was hard to get used to. The first 3 nights I was wondering why I experiment on myself like this just so I can tell the people of the internet about it.
I digress… So each night I stopped eating my routine piece of chocolate and I started drinking this chocolate protein shake. I never thought I would say this, but by day 10 I was actually enjoying my shakes more than my chocolate bars. But what happened around day 18 shocked me even more:
I started to get out the blender and protein powder automatically, without even thinking about it.
Forming a new habit is actually REALLY exciting.
It kind of feels like you’re putting your body on hijack mode and some really cool girl is coming over and taking over for a while. When you realize it’s actually happening automatically it kind of just hits you in the face:
That was not so hard. That was actually pretty easy. I didn’t even have to think about it!
WHY DID IT TAKE ME SO LONG TO DECIDE TO TRY THIS?!?
By day 21 I had finally kicked my ‘chocolate bar a night’ habit right in the gut.
Speaking of gut, my guts feel much better. Thank you for asking.
]So there you have it ladies, How long it takes to develop a habit: 21 short but so worth it days.
Next up is my nail biting… but that’s a story for a different day.
What are some of your bad habits?
Write ONE down today and for the next 21 days become laser focused on tackling it! You can do it and I’m cheering you on! Let me know in the comments below so I can shower you with love and encouragement!