Forming a New Habit is a Process, Not an Event

Are you having trouble getting a new habit to stick?

Some people say it takes 30 days to form a new habit. That means if you made a New Year’s resolution or set goals for 2018 that include a new habit, it should start getting a lot easier for you from here forward!

However, if you still feel like you need a nudge to stick to your resolution or habit, you’re not alone. In truth, habits are formed through triggers, repetition and reward. There’s no magic or universal number of “hits” it takes to establish new ones.

Creating new systems and habits takes time

Habits are created slowly, as behaviors are repeated. How long it takes a new habit to form can vary widely depending on the behavior, the person, and the circumstances. It might take 30 days or it might take a year to incorporate a new habit into your life! Creating new habits takes focus, time and patience.

The best way to be successful is to just start at Day 1. Celebrate your success each day from there. Make sure that your environment supports your current goals and direction, and stay focused on setting yourself up for success. How long it takes to form a particular habit doesn’t really matter that much. The only way to get to Day 500 is to start with Day 1.

Changing behaviors is a key component of improving organization and productivity.  Making new behaviors routine and habitual ensures the success of maintaining new systems designed to increase your organization, reduce stress and increase productivity. If you’re looking for some tips on how to develop daily habits, we’ve got a few here that will help you get started.

Here is a trick we often teach clients to help them successfully create new behaviors into lasting habits.

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If your habits could use a tune-up, contact us to learn more about how our professional organizers and productivity consultants can help you develop productive habits and organized systems. We understand the importance of daily habits and can help you create routines that will help you work smarter not harder.

Debbie Rosemont is a Certified Professional Organizer, Productivity Consultant and Trainer and Owner of Simply Placed. Simply Placed teaches organized systems and productive habits that allow busy professionals to maximize their time, focus on their priorities, reduce stress, improve their customer service and increase their bottom line. She is the author of Six-Word Lessons to Be More Productive.

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