How repetitive behavior
leads to new paths
In 21 days from desired behavior to habit
How long does it take to learn a new habit? It is sometimes said that learning a new habit takes 21 days. It sounds appealing, short and manageable. What does it take to convert desired behavior into a sustainable habit?
The highway of your brain
Your brain is built to automate behavior. It saves energy. You don’t have to figure out how to tie your laces, drive to work or start your laptop over and over again. Repetition creates connections between brain regions. The more often you do something, the stronger that connection becomes. It’s a highway your behavior effortlessly shoots across.
Therefore, a new habit requires something different from your brain. You choose a new path, a forest path still without structure. Each repetition makes that path smoother until it grows into a new highway. That takes time, attention and patience.
Where did the 21 days come from?
The well-known theory comes from a misinterpreted study. It was not about habits, but about patients who had undergone plastic surgery. They took an average of 21 days to get used to their new appearance. This research has something to do with habituation, but it cannot be applied one-to-one to behavioral change.
So what about it?
Your brain needs time to anchor a pattern. Psychological scientist Phillippa Lally showed that 21 days is a minimum. The actual time varies by person and type of habit. For most behaviors, it takes about 2 to 3 months to develop an automaticity.
So do you want to build a new habit? Give yourself space to practice. The more often you walk on that forest path, the faster it will become your highway.
Source: Huffington Post
Lally, P., Van Jaarsveld, C. H., Potts, H. W., & Wardle, J. (2010). How are habits formed: Modeling habit formation in the real world. European journal of social psychology, 40(6), 998-1009.
