You\u2019ve probably heard it a few times: It would take 21 days for a new habit to stick. Well, that\u2019s a myth… The average time it takes to form a new habit is actually about 66 days. But of course, everyone is different.<\/p>\n
The good news is that no matter what the magic number of days is for you, every day you stick with it, your healthy choices will get easier. Habit strength should be seen on a continuum. After as little as two weeks you may find new habits starting to feel more like second nature, even if they still take some effort.<\/p>\n
With these tips, forming new habits becomes a bit easier.<\/em><\/p>\n Be specific<\/strong> By doing this, you form a new association with your habit. Which means every time you go for a run after work on a Monday, that association is strengthened. Eventually, it will become automatic.<\/p>\n Be positive<\/strong> The very nature of a habit is that once it\u2019s locked in, it\u2019s difficult to shift. You try to battle against your own automatic processes.<\/p>\n What you really do is stop yourself from responding to an impulse. Don\u2019t simply say you\u2019re going to give up afternoon potato chips. Plan for what foods you will replace the chips with.<\/p>\n Start simple<\/strong> You\u2019ve probably heard it a few times: It would take 21 days for a new habit to stick. Well, that\u2019s a myth… The average time it takes to form a new habit is actually about 66 days. But of course, everyone is different. The good news is that no matter what the magic number of […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[108,106],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-14172","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-mind-and-spirit-en-nl","category-mindful-living-en-nl"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\r\n
\nNo matter what your goals are \u2013 eating better, getting in shape, reducing stress \u2013 make sure that you have a specific plan. Don\u2019t just say you\u2019re going to \u2018start running.\u2019 Instead, plan a time and a day for it, for example \u2018Every Monday after work, I will go for a run\u2019.<\/p>\n
\nSometimes good habits are really about breaking bad habits. It is simply not possible to form a habit for not doing something. Ending a bad habit, like smoking or eating fried foods every day, will likely require a new behaviour to compete with that existing bad behaviour.<\/p>\n
\nIngraining new habits is hard work. And the more complex the habit, the longer it usually takes to settle in. For example, drinking an extra glass of water daily will probably be easier than finding 30 minutes every day for a new exercise routine. So get started by breaking those more complex goals into simpler, smaller goals. That might mean adding reminders to your calendar to work out at set times for the first month. As long as you\u2019re motivated, over time your new habits will develop.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"