Who doesn't love an easy solution? In particular, when what we want to solve, fix, or change is something about us and how we behave. You know, a simple recipe like "Do these X things for Y days, and you'll be Z." A magic formula that will get you where you want just by doing a few simple things for a fixed amount of time.
I tried some of these recipes myself before I understood that they never work. Not for me, at least.
Most of the time, the list of actions is taken from someone, known or not, who has been successful, indeed, but the variables are so many when it comes to humans that you can't just boil it down to a random list of behaviors. If having the same habits as Richard Branson is enough to achieve the same results, why is he the only one who owns an island in the Caribbean?
It's the same for the time. It doesn't take 21 days to form a new habit. Or sixty-six. Or a hundred or whatever. Unfortunately, no magic number for habit formation. As this recent research highlights, "the time required varies significantly across individuals."
Yet, I can see the value in those magic formulas. Sometimes, they are enough to set someone in motion. It's harder to start something if you don't know what to do and how long it will take to see any results.
So, if magic formulas don't work, what does? I've found it very effective working with a coach or a mentor to design meaningful and sustainable actions, setting a clear timeline, and having some accountability support.
What works for you when it comes to creating new habits or changing behaviors?