One of the things that we all know exists but few really understand is how habits work. However, when only a handful of people fully grasp something, misinformation and myths spread quickly. Sometimes, it’s a result of innocent ignorance. Other times, it’s simply because fabricating a story is easier than telling the truth. However, the outcomes are the same regardless of the cause.

This article will dispel five widespread misconceptions about building habits and how they could be impeding your efforts:

Five Major Misconceptions Surrounding Habit Building

1. Habits Form Within a Set Number of Days

The number of days it takes to form a habit is a topic of much debate. You might often hear “21 days,” a figure popularised by the 21/90 rule (21 days to form a habit, 90 days to make it a lifestyle). It’s a commonly cited number, but that doesn’t make it accurate.

In 2009, 96 participants picked a simple habit they wished to adopt as part of a study to determine how long it takes to form a habit. According to the study, it took an average of 66 days, much longer than the frequently stated 21 days, to form a new habit, ranging from 18 to 254 days. Frequency, ease, enjoyment, compatibility with your lifestyle, and other factors all affect how long it takes to become a habit.

So, be patient. Don't give up if it takes more than 21 days or even two months to form a new habit. It takes time, and it’s impossible to pinpoint an exact timeframe.

2. Focusing on Goals is Key to Building Habits Successfully

There is a common misconception that goal-setting is necessary for any attempt to succeed. Many people believe that you need well-defined SMART goals before you can begin. A goal-focused attitude alone, however, does not ensure success, particularly when forming habits.

Usually, goals centre on an outcome, such as launching a project, getting in shape, or getting a promotion. They’re tied to a major event that happens only once, ending in either success or failure. Goals help you find your way, but they don't tell you how to get there.

When you set a goal, you often start strong and strive hard to reach it as soon as possible. However, as the deadline draws closer, you might realise that while you have made progress, you are still far from where you had hoped to be. You may be discouraged or even believe that you have failed, which is where most people stumble in their attempts to reach goals or build better habits.

It's more productive to take the opposite approach and concentrate on creating the right habits to reach your goal rather than using goals for forming habits.

3. Missing a Day Can Ruin Your Progress

Repeating an action enough times creates a habit. Some people misunderstand this, thinking that successive repetition is essential to forming a habit. If you think that skipping a day will ruin your progress, that belief alone may cause you to fail. That missed day itself won’t hold you back, but believing in its negative impact will.

It’s okay to miss days when you’re working on better habits—everyone does. Accepting a missed day, understanding the reason behind it, and returning to your new routine the next day will not hamper your progress in the long run.

4. Big Results Require Big Changes

We overcomplicate major achievements, look at everything successful people have done to reach their goals and think they started with all those things at once. That is rarely the case, though.

Take someone who has dropped a few heavy pounds. They track calories, walk daily, go to the gym five times a week, get plenty of sleep, and take the right supplements. It might seem that their weight loss required all of these efforts, but often, one primary habit, known as a “keystone habit,” made the real difference.

Keystone habits have a ripple effect on your life, encouraging other positive behaviours. Maybe our friend above started simply by going to the gym. Soon after, they began sleeping more, following a healthier diet, and so on—all sparked by that initial commitment to gym workouts.

You don’t need drastic changes to get results. Start with one simple positive action, then gradually expand. Over time, you’ll achieve great results.

5. Willpower Is Enough on Its Own

Another popular habit misconception is that strong willpower guarantees success. Proponents believe that failing to stick to new habits is due to a lack of desire or weak willpower. However, willpower alone isn’t enough to build sustainable habits.

Similar to a muscle, willpower has to be rested after prolonged use. So, resisting temptations by the end of a demanding day is often harder. You may ultimately give in when people pressure you with demands or requests.

Establish an environment that facilitates making the right choice to prevent depending entirely on willpower. You might need to avoid certain people, rearrange your home, or turn off your phone. Eliminating temptations will free you from relying solely on willpower, allowing you to start building better habits and a better life.

Parting Words

Numerous myths and misconceptions surround habits. Some are harmless, while others can hinder progress. This article has successfully debunked five common myths about habit-building.