🌅 Habits Are Crucial for Health

SOURCE

Singh et al. (2024)

WHAT TO KNOW

• Researchers at the University of South Australia found new habits take roughly two months to develop, far longer than the well-known 21-day timeline. The team found repetitive tasks, like remembering to floss or make your bed, are easier to automate and stick to, while more complex habits, like healthier eating or developing a gym habit, take longer to form.

WHY IT MATTERS

• While roughly two months was the median amount of time it took for a new habit to form, the team found it can sometimes take up to a year, depending on the type of behavior, how frequently you undertake the activity, and the context in which the habit was formed. Planning and intention to complete the behavior—like laying out your gym clothes the night before a morning workout—can also positively influence new habit formation.

CONNECT THE DOTS

• Scientists widely regard habit formation as a crucial aspect of long-term health, emphasizing the importance of ingrained healthy lifestyle patterns, like a well-balanced diet, consistent physical activity, and sufficient social interaction. Part of habit formation is developing and reaching what’s known as “automaticity,” which enables a person to perform tasks or behaviors without conscious effort, often after a long period of practice or repetition.