Month-long jump-start challenges often promise a fool-proof path to a new life with healthy new habits in 30 days.
But do they work?
The answer is yes and no.
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The Science of Change
A habit is a learned automatic response.
Building new healthy habits takes time.
In fact, research suggests it takes an average of 66 days for a new behavior to become ingrained.
Stages of Change
Change is made in small steps or stages.
The “pre-contemplation stage” occurs before you even think actively about making changes.
It’s only in thenextstage that the actual new habit is acquired.
Context and consistency are strongly linked to success in modifying behaviors.
In addition, positive attitudes had a direct result on successfully making a new habit.
Using apps, such as MyFitnessPal, FitBit, Habitify, or Todoist, can also boost success.
Both can be effective ways to start a new healthy habit.
Some people find online challenges offer an aspect of friendly competition that helps propel them forward.
For some people, 30-day challenges promote an all or nothing mentality that can set them up for failure.
A Word From Verywell
Using a 30-day challenge can be an effective strategy for building new habits.
Not all online challenges are designed with the right intentions.
