Forming a habit typically takes much longer than the commonly cited 21 days. Scientific research shows that the average time to reliably form a new habit is about 66 days, but this can vary widely depending on the individual and the complexity of the behavior. Some habits may form in as little as 18 days, while others can take up to 254 days or even longer, sometimes nearly a year for more complex behaviors
. Key points include:
- The "21 days" rule originated from observations by Dr. Maxwell Maltz in the 1960s but is now considered an oversimplification
- Simple habits, like drinking water daily, tend to form faster than complex ones, such as exercising or changing diet
- Habit formation involves consistent repetition and can be influenced by factors like motivation, time of day, and whether the behavior is self-chosen or assigned
- Missing a day occasionally does not significantly disrupt the habit formation process
- Health-related habits often take around two months (59-66 days) to become automatic, but some can require much longer, even up to 335 days
In summary, expect habit formation to take roughly two to three months on average, with significant variation based on the habit's nature and individual differences.
