Apparently it takes an average of about 66 days or some two months to form a new habit[1]. This length of time is needed to develop habits like walking 30 minutes every day, eating two or more fruits and vegetables, waking up 15 minutes earlier each morning to reduce the mad rush to work or taking a complete mobile phone break on weekends (this will be a tough habit to follow). Habits that could be good for our personal and general well-being.

It’s not unrealistic to take a long time to get into the habit of doing things. Good things, that is. For instance, it’s not unusual not to have 30 minutes to exercise, jog or meditate, out of the 16 or so waking hours that we have each day. It’s quite normal not to eat the recommended portions of vegetable and fish, despite wanting to, during meals. But still remember to devour the chocolates or biscuits in the drawer or fridge (or is this just me?). It’s not uncommon to sleep through the alarm, and miss the bus to school or train to work. These things happen. They may come across like excuses or bad time management, but they do happen.

I find I doggedly keep to the good habits I already have but am slow at adopting new and breaking bad ones.  I know what works for me. I think, I act and I repeat decisions and actions until they become more natural and automatic. But, it’s not always easy. It can be difficult to create the right mindset to accept new or different decisions or actions. And, follow through with them steadfastly.

That said, I do have a few redeeming habits that I am proud of. I do my morning exercises like clockwork. To be honest, my arthritis is my exercise-buddy, my motivator. The more I move, jump about, the better my bones and the rest of me feel. I also pray every morning for good sense and guidance. Vitamins are taken, without any reminders, after breakfast while the kettle is boiled for my hot water and tea. Once the morning ritual is completed, my day begins. I have a daily and weekly plan. It is not etched in stone but it gives me structure and a sense of purpose, which I like and want to have.

I am good with the old habits but not so with the new. Since January, I have been trying to learn the lyrics of songs that I like. I sing along to my favourite artistes but usually have no clue what the lyrics are. As a fun exercise, I set a reasonable target of learning the lyrics of 12 songs for the year. Six months on and I have only managed three. ‘Shotgun’ by George Ezra, Bryan Adam’s ‘Summer of 69’ and ‘Bad Moon Rising’ by Creedence Clearwater Revival. Sigh!

My other downside. I have one food choice – dessert. Sadly, bad habits don’t take long to form but very long to break. I bought a Krispy Kreme doughnut, twice in one week, and that was enough to nudge me into buying six doughnuts the following week. The sales person, sensing a weak customer, sold me (rather easily) the spiel that six doughnuts would cost less and they would be packed neatly in a pretty polka dot box. Not in the usual paper bag that sometimes tear off or smudge the doughnut toppings. I couldn’t let that happen to my six carefully picked doughnuts. 

Since then, I have been buying doughnuts regularly. I buy one and get one free Original Glazed doughnut (a great marketing ploy) by just filling up the previous day’s receipt with a few details about myself. I am hooked and I know it. Now, I have the hard task of weaning myself off this recently formed bad habit of wanting more of the same round fried deliciousness.

Based on the habit-forming study, I should, inversely, be able to break this bad habit in about two months or more. There might be hope for me yet.