Why Your Habits Keep Failing And the Chemistry Lesson That Will Fix Them

(Part 2 of the Physics of Habit series)

“The difference between what we do and what we are capable of doing would suffice to solve most of the world’s problems.”

— Gandhi

Remember that time you decided to exercise for 60 minutes daily, meal prep every Sunday, and read for an hour before bed?

How’d that work out for you?

If you’re like most people, it lasted about as long as a mayfly’s lifespan.

But you shouldn’t feel guilty about that. It’s not because you lack willpower. It’s because you accidentally designed a habit obstacle course that would challenge a Navy SEAL.

Today, I’m sharing the chemistry lesson that may make you think differently about starting new habits.

The Activation Energy Problem

In chemistry, every reaction needs activation energy: the minimum energy required to get things rolling. Even reactions that eventually release tons of energy need that initial push.

Your habits work the same way.