5 helpful tips for building habits that last

We all start with the best intention - new planners, vision boards, motivational speeches and playlists but somewhere in all that preparation, we fall before we even begin. I used to ask myself, why does that happen?

We prepare. We buy the tools. We hype ourselves up.
So why do we still struggle to follow through?

Because preparation feels productive — but it’s not the same as action.

Writing about your characters isn’t the same as writing your book. Planning out your day isn’t the same as actually living it. Watching productivity videos or curating the perfect morning routine doesn’t make you productive. These things feel like progress, and that’s the trap. 

Preparation gives us a sense of control. It makes us feel like we’re getting somewhere, like we’re doing the work — but in reality, we’re just orbiting the work. Convincing ourselves that organizing the game plan is the same as playing the game. It’s not. Real growth doesn’t come from more planning — it comes from action. From sitting down, opening the blank page, and writing when it’s not fun. From getting up and doing the workout, even when it’s inconvenient. From following through on your intentions long after the motivation has faded. We love to romanticize beginnings because they feel safe. They’re full of potential and possibility — but they’re also full of avoidance. The longer we stay in the “preparation phase,” the longer we delay the discomfort that real change demands. At some point, you have to stop perfecting the plan and just start. That’s where the habits are built. That’s where the identity shift happens. Not in the ideas, but in the actual doing.

Realizing that is what made everything click for me. I didn’t need another morning routine template or a perfectly structured plan. What I needed was consistency — not perfection, not intensity, just a commitment to keep showing up. That’s how habits are really built. Daily actions that seem insignificant in the moment compound over time and that is the doorway to your success. The more you do the thing, the less resistance you feel. Eventually, it becomes part of your identity. You’re no longer someone trying to build habits — you are someone who journals every morning, who drinks water throughout the day, who moves their body regularly, who finishes what they start. It becomes who you are, not just something you're doing.

In this edition of my blog, I’ll be sharing 5 tips that helped me build habits that actually stick. These aren’t quick fixes but practical strategies you can start using today to create lasting change in your life. These tips will help you move beyond the planning phase and start making real progress toward the habits that will improve your daily routine and overall well-being.

1. Find your WHY

The most important thing you can do before trying to build any habit is figure out why you want to build it in the first place. Not just because it sounds productive or because everyone else is doing it, but because it genuinely matters to you. Your “why” is the foundation — without it, even the most well-planned habits will eventually fall apart. When you know the deeper reason behind your habit, it becomes more than just a task on a to-do list. 

When your habit is connected to your why, it doesn’t feel like something you have to do — it feels like something you actually want to do. You’ll look forward to it, not because it’s always fun or exciting, but because you know it’s getting you closer to who you’re trying to become. The reason behind it makes it meaningful. You’re not just building a habit — you’re building a life you actually want to live.

So before you even try to establish a habit, I want you to sit down and really think about the deeper meaning behind it. What’s the real reason you want to do this? Because when you're actually in the process of doing the habit — on the days when it feels boring, tiring, or inconvenient — that deeper reason is what’s going to keep you going.

Once you’ve figured out your why, the next step is to make it doable

2. Start small

The idea of starting a new habit is so exciting — the planning, adding it to your to-do list, setting goals, and getting yourself ready. It feels like a fresh start, and you’re motivated to start right away. But then, when it’s time to actually do the work day after day, the excitement that you have fades away. Then, you’re left with the challenge of staying consistent. But, why does that excitement fade as quickly as it came?

A big reason is that when we first start a habit, we tend to overdo it. We get caught up in the excitement and think we need to go all in — we try to do too much and as a result our motivation and willpower run out quickly. Trying to change too many things at once, or pushing ourselves too hard from the start, leads to burnout before we even get the chance to make it a routine. That’s why starting small is key. When you begin with manageable steps, you give yourself the space to build momentum without overwhelming yourself. Small actions are sustainable, and over time, they add up to lasting change.

So, don’t overwhelm yourself from the start and risk dropping the habit before it’s fully established. Start small, take it one step at a time, and allow yourself to make gradual changes that will allow you to make it last even longer.

3. Give your habit a specific time

If you want to start doing something but don’t assign it a specific time, telling yourself, "Oh, I’ll just do it whenever I have time," you are never going to do it. Without a set time, your habit becomes something that can easily be pushed aside or forgotten. By assigning your habit a specific time, you turn it into a non-negotiable part of your routine. Having that fixed time ensures that your habit becomes a priority, not just something that happens when it’s convenient.

Also, having a set time every day helps train your brain to expect it. When you do something at the same time each day, it helps your brain establish a pattern, meaning that the next time you need to do it, you won’t have time to negotiate with yourself — you’ll just do it. This makes it easier to establish it as a long term habit.

4. Track your progress

One of the best ways to stay consistent with a habit is to track your progress. Having a visual tracker, like a calendar or a habit-tracking app, can help you see how far you’ve come. Personally my favorite one’s are Structured and Notion, both free and do their job perfectly.  Seeing your progress laid out in front of you makes it easier to stay motivated, especially on the days that are not it. 

Tracking your progress also keeps you accountable. When you can see how consistently you've been sticking to your habit, it becomes harder to skip a day or make excuses. Each time you check off a day or mark your progress, you reinforce the commitment you've made to yourself. That dedication that you have to become that best version of yourself. The progress that you make will help you get up on the bad days and serve as a reminder that even if you fall off, you can always get back up again.

5. Setbacks happen

One of the biggest obstacles to building lasting habits is the pressure we put on ourselves. It’s easy to think that missing a day, a week, or even a month means you’ve failed and should just give up. But the truth is, setbacks happen, and it’s important not to let them derail your entire progress.

Life may get busy, you might lose motivation, or you could find yourself in a slump, struggling to get out. These moments don’t define your ability to succeed. What really matters is how you respond. Instead of beating yourself up or giving up, acknowledge that setbacks are part of the process and know that you are not perfect. You might fall down, you might make a mistake, and even come close to giving up, but you have to believe that you are meant for success and love yourself enough to get back up again.

Building lasting habits isn't about finding the perfect plan or starting with extreme intensity. It’s about taking consistent, manageable steps that align with your values and purpose. By starting small, setting a specific time, tracking your progress, and embracing setbacks, you create a solid foundation for your habits to flourish. Remember, real change doesn’t come from perfection but from the simple act of showing up — day after day, even when it’s hard.

So, don’t get discouraged by the bumps along the way. Trust in the process, be kind to yourself, and keep going. The journey toward a better you is not about the speed of progress, but the consistency with which you move forward. You’ve got this — one habit at a time.


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I hope this brought you some clarity and inspiration. Thanks for reading, and I’ll see you in the next edition. Until then, keep growing and showing up for yourself.

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