21 days to create a habit?

I have heard of this before, and I think that it does work, but it can still be easy to break that habit. I think it usually takes much longer than 21 days.

Most habits are formed subconsciously it's when we try to break the habit, they say takes 21 days. Most people don't try to make something a habit and if they do they don't call it a habit. A habit is usually associated with a negative, like smoking, or drinking, etc... Also associated with I'm going to eat healthy, or I'm not going to drink caffiene anymore, to break these habits would be 21 days or even longer. It probably didn't become a habit for the above mentioned things in 21 days, as it happened in the subconscious, but to break them would take 21 days or longer, depending on the addiction. Just my 2 cents worth.

I think maybe longer to become a habit if it is total change. I can't tell you how many times I have started working out did really great for about 3 weeks and then all of the sudden I am not doing it anymore. I think 3 weeks is more of a how long I can stick to new things kind of time frame for me. So I think it would likely take longer for something to develop as a habit for me, and I would have to get over that 3 weeks of doing it.

I think it takes less than that for me to create a habit. I'm a bit of an obsessive/addictive person as well. I don't have OCD or anything, but I get addicted to things fast. For example showers. One day I decided to start having 2 showers a day.. Then 3. That habit was hard to quit, I was wasting so much water but I felt so dirty if I didn't shower more than once a day.

The time it takes to establish a habit is different for everyone. It would also depend on the kind of habit. If it's something you really dislike and have to push yourself to do, you might not ever manage to make it a habit. And if you skip a day or two, the habit will probably be broken. Of course, if you have an addictive nature (I'm like that, too)then some thing will be very easy. But I don't call that a habit. It's really an addiction or obsession. I have a terrible time creating real habits, but I have what I call serial obsessions, where I'll stick to something for a long time, maybe even for months. And then, suddenly, it's gone.

hi, i think the time to create a habit is much shorter. i once read it only took 11 days and for me i guess thats about right. if i stick at a new hobby/interest class after 7 visits 'i'm in!'. i too have an addictive nature like you so this may be the reason. i just started swimming at a new gym i have joined and am totally addicted and it's great!

Hi Mac!. Its going to need more than 21 day to change my habit. I have this bad habit for many years so its impossible to change it in short amount of time. One is I its really hard to wake up in the morning, I have to struggle because I had low blood pressure so I had enough sleep. Or I will get dizzy. I want to be able woke up more early but its mean I had to sleep more early too.

It's not about how much time you have used to form a habit, its all about your dedication and passion to learn a new one.

My personal experience is not at all. I exercised everyday for a year and I still don't do it as a habit. It does not in anyway come naturally to me like brushing my teeth. I wish that was the case, but for me not so much.

i don't know ,because i have not got a chance for a trying. i don't remember all of my habits ,from start to form ,how much i take , maybe just like what you said ,within 21 days,maybe longer maybe shorter ,i really don't know... from the begining of the habit to form a habit , it is depend on personal.different people has different learning ability ,some are quick ,some are slow , and with the time goes by ,the ability will become weak. if you want to make survey ,i suggest you should investigate different generation ,young ,elder ,old ,children ,thus can make the survey more reliable... in my view ,bad habits will quickly form ,maybe one day is enough , so we should choose the right habit to form ,and keep away from the bad habits

I have never heard of this theory before, but I think it is absolutely possible for one person to form a good habit in 21 days. Even if you have no interest in something, for some reasons, you will have to insist on doing that, through 21 days' efforts, it may become a habit for you. Of course, if you are interested in doing something, the time may be longer for them to creae a good habit.

I think it is very hard to say how many time we need to create a habit.However, i know there are a lot of elements can affect it.One that i think the most effective is interest.If you are interested in the things you want to do,then you will soon have an addictive to it,and in this situation,you may use less than 21days to create a new habit(for example,play computer games every day),while if you aren't interested in it,you may use more time than 21 days(for example,read books every day).So what i want to say is that there are so many other things to influence a person to create their new habit,such as interst,weather and personality.