Why You’re Giving Up on Your New Habit Too Soon

It’s not your fault.

The path to your new life — Image generated by the Author

It’s a story we all know too well.

You commit to a new habit. Say, you’re going to meditate every morning.

You’re all in.

You’ve set up an alarm at 6:05 am (why 6:05? because it doesn’t seem as early and painful as 6:00 am), to get a few minutes before waking up your two kids and preparing them for school.

You sit in silence for 5 minutes and try to stay focused on your breathing without letting the buzzing thoughts in your head (work, kids, partner, the gift you have to find for your son’s best friend’s birthday party) take control over your attention.

You feel… more relaxed and refreshed for the day.

It’s working, finally!

Well, almost.

After 17 days of an impeccable streak, you fail.

You have one of those mornings.

You know, the ones where you fight to open your eyes after waking up a few times during the night, couldn’t find any sleep between 2:27 and 3:42 am, see that it’s already 6:32, and then struggle to wake up the kids, move a whole grumpy house from bed to the front door, everyone with the right number — and colour- of socks.