Can you change a habit in three weeks?

I think it depends. Sometimes, maybe just one week can change a habit. When I was in college, I have lots of habit, have a serise of clean system. But when I come home this system just break down. But when I come back to school, I just used the system again. For me I can change a lot when the surroundings change. For me, if I kept doing something for whole one week, I may will kept doing it!

I think you can change a habit in a day. Look at all the smokers who throw a pack away and never pick another one up. It may take something like 3 weeks to get used to a change where you don't have to stop and think about it all the time but that's normal after doing it for so long. [b]~~AT PEACE WITHIN~~ **STAND STRONG IN YOUR BELIEFS**[/b]

Habits and styles respond easily to your wishes if quite a lot of determination is put into its execution. Bad habits especially could only be stopped abruptly....I myself chose not to smoke on an abrupt footing when I succumbed to heart problems.

i certainly hope some habits can be changed as its starting to look as if i may have to change things i say and do if sons new gf moves in next summer. i really do try and i hope we get along. but its going to take her trying also or i may have to move out.

It really depends on the person if he wants to change any old habits specially if its a bad one.

This actually seems pretty accurate! But did these experts say anything about not falling into a habit again? There are plenty of habits that I managed to drop simply to find myself doing them again a couple years later. habits are essentially mental addictions (some). The habits that I stopped took me longer than three weeks though, but I wasn't very motivated. I'd have to be very determined and focused to get rid of a habit in three weeks, but it can be done!

No, I don’t think its possible. Habit is something which we develop over a period of time and it requires a lot of determination, both physical and mental, to overcome any habit. If we exert that much pressure on ourselves continuously for three weeks, I think most of us would snap under the stress instead of getting cured.

It's true that experts say it takes 21 days to form a habit.. that is equivalent to three weeks straight. You should do that consistently until you eventually get used to it. But in my own opinion, "just" doing the job alone will not make you successful in changing the habit. You should have the proper motivation to do it, the right mindset, the deeper purpose and the WILL to do it. Just an example, I gained weight a few years ago and attempted to lose weight simply because I just want my old clothes to fit in. But then I found my deeper reason for losing weight: I want to be more healthy for my family and God so that I can live longer. :) With that deeper sense I strive hard to do the right things, with the RIGHT mindset.. yes it involves a lot of hardwork, but things are much easier when you have a deeper purpose for doing it... until I became successful. I'm actually maintaining this desired weight for a year now. :D

I can change a habit in three days if I really feel that I should change. The important factor is that I should feel that I need to change. It won't happen to me easily because I prefer to be the way I am. Once I decide to change a habit of mine, I will put all effort to make it successful, but I always have the tendancy to go back to the original habit.

They say it takes 21 days to build a habit, so I guess it goes the same way for breaking them. I have a couple of habits that need changing, or building and perhaps going through a 21-day plan would be a good start. I think the idea is that if you start doing something (or stop) for the next 21 days without fail, it becomes part of your routine and you don't forget to do them again after that. Like it becomes automatic, a habit. So if I were to come up with a goal, say, to not drink soda in the next 21 days and I succeed, the mentality after that would be, "I made it in 21 days without it, perhaps I don't need it after all." At least that that's how I understand it :)

I think it really depends on the habit more than anything else, because some habits are easier to break than others really

...Hi celticeeagle, I really think that it depends on what the habit would be. I don't think one could stop smoking in three weeks. I am not sure one could stop biting their fingernails in three weeks, if it was a constant habit. Other things depending on what they are, may or may not be able to be stopped in three weeks time. I do think that if someone has the will and is determined to stop what it is they want to stop, say it was endangering their health, they would be able to do it. It would take a fight though. I decided to stop using sugar, and it was kind of easy because I just stopped buying it and that was the end of my sugar use. Had to get used to the taste of things without it, but I did it. So again, I think it depends on what the habit would be. Take care.

I think you can if you're really up to it and will not make excuses. Sometimes doing something that your not comfortable with will be harder to do if you're the only one who's bent on doing it, too. But if you can talk it through your immediate family and friends and you can have their support it can be done. You have to be prepared for a lot of debates and clashing of wills though. Because if you signed on and declared a change of habit, your supportive friends and family will hold you to it. They will nag you, make you angry and ultimately stop you from getting back into a habit that you've declared war on. A habit had a start too, so maybe correcting a bad habit has to start somewhere. We are talking about bad habits though, right? Because any habit that does not really stop you from performing well in your life and doesn't affect your health can be ignored. We all have our own crazies from time to time.

Its depend on Habit.. and from how long time u hve that habbit.... it may also possible.... that u cant change that habit... even in an year//

I was listening to a similar program today, while I was on the computer. I had always read in the past that it took a month to change a habit. The other thing I have read numerous times is that you do not break a bad habit, you merely replace a bad habit with a good one. The things that they said to do on the program I was listening to were basically to go on a spending fast. NO out to eat, no credit or debit cards, etc. I think it is a good move in these economic times. I know that even with our income really down now, we still impulsively eat out even when we should not just because we think it is faster or easier than eating something at home. We also run to the store every day or two, even if we do not need to do so. I am trying to stay home now, instead of work, and we really need to follow some of those principles.

I think u can change bad habits but that doesn't seem like much time to me to do it in.

Hey celtic! I don't know what the habit is so I can't answer! But, if it is anything like smoking, or overeating or something to that effect it sure is going to take alot longer than 3 weeks! Who are they kidding? If you are a shopaholic and they tell you to stop overshopping and give you 3 weeks maybe you can cut down, but that doesn't mean you have given up your "addiction"! I sure know alot about addictions and they don't take 3 weeks to cure! Point me to that newscaster!

they said that if you do something repeatedly in straight days, you can include it in your daily habit. maybe that news is true. but for me, maybe i need 6 weeks to change a habit.

I know I could change a habit within a week if I put my mind to it. So if I can I'm sure anyone can. You want to really do it to accomplish it though. I remember hearing this report about it taking three weeks to get rid of a habit. I believe that its true for the average person.

No its not necessary.. that u can change ur habit in just three weeks. If u are use to of that habit than it may not be possible for u to change that habbit///// It may take much more time to change... but it is possible to change habbit