21 days to change a habit? It’s more like two months and counting

It’s something every self-development guru likes to tell us—do something for 21 days and you’ll start a new, and hopefully better, habit.

But the truth is that it takes a lot longer, and new habits start to develop only after two months or more, say researchers from the University of South Australia.

They can take between 59 and 66 days to form, and then you need to keep doing them for 335 days before they’re fully embedded in your daily routine.

It’s important to know that new habits take a long time to establish, and people shouldn’t give up if they’ve reached the 21-day mark and not seen any benefits.

The researchers worked with 2,600 people who wanted to create better habits, such as improving their diet.  They found that the morning is the best time to introduce your new habit, and it also helps if you enjoy the change.  Planning can also play a part, such as by laying out your exercise gear the night before you go to the gym or preparing a healthy meal for tomorrow’s lunch.

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