Why 21 Days Won't Build Your Habits

There is a common misconception that it takes 3 weeks to form a habit.

It’s an attractive idea; It only takes 21 days to get to the point where something you want to accomplish is now an automatic part of your day. Everyone likes having a daily routine, but no one likes working to get to the point where it feels easy.

However, recent studies have shown that this is not entirely true. 21 days to form a habit is likely a myth. The reality is that it depends on the person and the habit. This may be discouraging for some people to hear, since 21 days has been a solid reference point for years, but in reality this is something that should be even more encouraging.

Habits really have nothing to do with the amount of days it’ll take; it has to do with consistency. The focus should be on each individual day, not completing a 21-day challenge. This mindset and focus on 21 days, or a month, or a year at a time, erases the core building block that builds habits which is the choice you make every day to commit to your new habit. One day is the building block for a new lifestyle. It's also why the most effective learning happens the same way: small, consistent moments that compound over time rather than a single training event.

The 21-day mindset also means that you are less likely to get back on the saddle if you miss a day. With this mindset, missing a day means failure. It means you’re off track. In reality, missing a day only calls for a re-evaluation and a plan to do better tomorrow.

There is no shortcut to building a habit.

Your commitment is the only thing that matters. Every day is a new choice and keeping yourself accountable is everything. At RockED, we believe the same is true for developing people: progress is built one day at a time.