Does it take 21 days to form a new habit?
We've all heard the saying that it takes 21 days to build a new habit, but how true is that?
To explore this question, let's look at a study conducted in 2009.
In this study, researchers paid 96 students €30 to help them establish new habits. The students could choose from three options:
1. Drinking more water
2. Eating healthier
3. Exercising more
On average, it took the students about 66 days to form a new habit, although this duration varied among individuals.
One student established a new habit in just 18 days, while another took 254 days.
Here’s the average time it took to form each habit:
Eating healthier: 59 days
Drinking more water: 65 days
Exercising more: 91 days
Interestingly, skipping a day didn’t significantly impact their ability to form the habit eventually.
The key takeaway is that building a new habit takes time and can vary from person to person, depending on factors like motivation, the challenge of the habit, and individual circumstances.
It's essential to be patient and avoid comparing your progress to that of others.
Study Links: