The Daily News – April 10, 2025

Welcome back. Alright, so today on the Daily News, let’s bust a myth that’s been messing with your health goals for the new year. And you know the one I’m talking about, right? It takes 21 days to form a habit. Well, according to a new study from the University of South Australia, it’s just false, plain and simple. And it turns out that forming a habit can take a lot longer than that. Now, researchers analyzed the data and found that habit formation only really starts to kick in at around two months, 59 to 66 days to be exact. But get a load of this. The study says it can take up to 335 days to fully lock in a habit. Now, that’s nearly an entire year. So if it’s been a few weeks and you’re still struggling to get into a groove, please don’t throw in the towel just yet. In fact, one of the lead researchers explains it this way, healthy habits take time, but factors like when you do them, how often and whether you enjoy them, play a big role in your success. So the good news is there’s a way to make it work. The University of Self Australia press release explains that success depends on a few key strategies. Now, here’s what they recommended. First, make it fun. If running feels like torture, try something more enjoyable. Maybe like dancing, for example. And if you’re trying to eat healthier, spice it up with meals that you actually like. Nobody wants to eat bland salads, day in, day out. And second, set yourself up for success. Why wouldn’t you? If you want to exercise in the morning, lay out your gym clothes the night before, and if you’re trying to eat better meal prep, something delicious so you’re not scrambling for takeout. And finally, stick to routines. Adding new habits to your morning ritual can help them to stick Better mornings are prime time for setting the tone for the rest of your day. Now, before you start stressing about sticking to all of your goals, remember this building a habit isn’t about perfection. Progress does take time and slipping up doesn’t mean failure just keeps showing up and putting in the effort. Oh, and here’s a reality check. Most people struggle with healthy habits. Who would’ve thought, right? So what’s the takeaway here? Be patient. Give yourself some grace and forget about the magical 21 day habit hack because science just proved it wrong. But we’d love to hear from you. What’s the habit you are working on this year? Let us know in the comments. And remember, small steps lead to big changes over time. If you found this helpful, don’t forget to like, subscribe, and hit that notification bell for more beneficial health news. As always, thank you so much for joining us on The Daily News.