Small Habits, Significant Results

The small actions we take each day shape not only our routines but also our future. When chosen wisely and repeated consistently, certain behaviors can become habits that contribute to our personal growth and long-term success.

Scientists once placed chocolate in a maze and studied how rats learned to find it. After several attempts, the behavior became mechanical for the rats—a habit that required little energy. In much the same way, we wake up in the morning, make our bed, and drink a cup of tea or coffee, all out of habit.

The popular belief that a habit forms in 21 days is actually a myth. Research has shown that habits can take anywhere from 18 to 254 days to form through repetition, with the average being around 64 days. This number can vary based on several factors, including the type of action, the person’s age, physical and mental state, environment, and more.

Have you ever tried to develop a new habit but failed?

Every habit is built on a system. By understanding and analyzing this system, we can break bad habits and make good ones inevitable. The process of habit formation consists of three stages: cue, action, and reward. First, you need to set a clear and conscious goal, explore solutions, evaluate the potential positive and negative outcomes, and prepare both mentally and physically, and only then begin the sequence of actions. You can reward yourself in different ways each time—these rewards act as a driving force.

Over time, you’ll notice that you perform the same action more quickly and effectively, and you'll see growth and success. A great example of this is learning a new language. Many people believe it’s possible to learn a language in a month without much effort. But no, dear friends, learning a language takes dedication and hard work. However, if you make language learning part of your daily routine and plan your study time properly, you'll make significant progress and gain the momentum to keep going. For instance, learning just five new words a day will result in knowing over 1,800 words a year.

I invite you to take a clean sheet of paper or open your notes app at your convenience. Write down your good and bad habits. Then, try to develop a plan to eliminate the bad ones and cultivate new, beneficial habits.

Article Author: Arina Davtyan, Armenian Language Teacher