Whether you’re going through school, starting a small business, or just living your day-to-day life, having a routine is an essential part of living your life to the fullest. Believe us, it’s difficult to start one sometimes! It’s easy to forget, keep track of, and sometimes not so easy to start.
We’ve created a five step list to help you live your best life, and cement that routine you’ve been trying to create!
Step One: Unlearn that popular myth, “It takes 21 days to form a habit.”
We’ve all heard this at one point or another: After 21 days, your habit will become second nature, muscle memory, subconscious, whatever you want to call it. According to the Department of Epidemiology and Public Health in London, the average time it takes to form a habit is actually 66 days, or 10 weeks.
If you have a habit you want to create, keep in mind that you should be doing it consistently for ten weeks, not three! For example, if you want to start a skincare routine, it’s important to wash your face every day! (We’ll be using this example throughout the article, so if you’re looking to start a solid skincare routine, stay tuned!)
Step Two: Keep it simple
Ever wanted to create a master routine but got overwhelmed because you decided to add ten different new things to keep track of? Because same… and then you end up never following through because it seems like too much to add! So, keep it simple!
Using our example, if you want to start a skincare routine, start out with three simple steps in the skincare routine. Our All Clear Here, Seeing Spots, or Save Ur Skin Light Protection Kits are a great way to start since they are three steps, and contain all important ingredients for healthy skin such as Vitamins A, C, E, lactic acid, and glycolic acid.
Step Three: Write it down!
According to a 2014 study done by two professors, it is more likely that you will remember something when you write it down. Ever wonder why that one random fact from school is stuck in your head (like how the mitochondria is the powerhouse of the cell??) Well, the reason is probably because you wrote it down before laptops were introduced in schools!
To really get a routine going, write down the steps you want to take and keep the list somewhere visible so you see it everyday. If you get the All Clear Here Skincare Kit, then you could write something like this and post it on your bathroom mirror:
Step Four: Create a situation that will help you be successful
If your skincare products are tucked in a drawer or behind your mirror, there’s a slim chance you’re going to remember to even wash your face in the morning. It’s important to set yourself up for success!
Some ways to create a situation that will boost your success are to set alarms, clean up your space for some mental clarity, and place the things needed to create the habit in a spot you never miss.
If you want to make sure that skincare routine gets done in the morning, set an alarm at a time that works for you that will remind you to wash your face, apply serum, and apply sunscreen. As an added bonus, tidy up around your sink and place your products on the counter instead of the shelf or drawer for even more of a reminder!
Step Five: Don’t shoot for perfection immediately
We’re human- not robots! We forget things! Don’t beat yourself up if you miss your habit one day. Instead, take note of why you missed it and adapt! If you realize you missed your skincare routine for the past three days because you woke up 15 minutes before school, then it might be time to wake up just a bit earlier so you can spend some time in the morning practicing self care before taking on your day.
Routines take 66 days to create. There’s bound to be a few days where you miss your goal. That’s okay! The fact that you’re even keeping track and taking those 66 days to cement a habit down is something that should be celebrated.
With these five steps, creating any habit or routine should be a breeze! Remember, it’s important to practice permanence, not perfection. From GLU to YOU, we wish you good luck on whatever journey you’re going on and of course, since we strive for improving wellness and self care, give you one last reminder to WASH YOUR FACE!
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