Making a habit depends on the habit, you, and your efforts. Scientists say it could take from 21 days to eight months. This varies because each habit is different.
Many believe it takes 21 days to form a habit. This idea came from Dr.Maxwell Maltz, a doctor. He found that his patients spent about 21 days getting used to a new way of seeing themselves.
But not all habits take 21 days to develop. Some need more time to become a regular part of your life. Mark Vahrmeyer, a therapist, says the 21﹣day rule seems easy. But often, it takes longer to make a habit. Dr Maurice Duffy, who teaches about thinking patterns, says that our daily actions are our habits. Alyssa Roberts, who researches eating habits, says habits are made by repeating something.When we do something many times, our brain starts to do it without thinking.
Author Charles Duhigg explains the "habit loop". A habit has three parts: a trigger, the habit, and a reward. For example, stress might lead to overeating to feel better. If this repeats, the brain will see stress as a chance to eat for comfort.
How fast you form a habit depends on the habit. A 2009 study showed it can take 18 to 254 days to make a habit. On average, it's about 66 days. Simple habits like drinking water are quicker to form than harder ones like exercising a lot.
A 2016 study found that believing in yourself is the key to forming habits. If you think you can keep a habit, you likely will. This belief helps in quitting smoking, losing weight, drinking less, and exercising more.
Vahrmeyer advises thinking positively about your goal. If making a habit isn't fun, it will be hard to continue. He suggests making it as easy as possible. For example, pick a nearby gym if you want to exercise.
