I’ve spent the month reflecting on my habits, good and bad, and what it takes to break old ones and establish new ones. It’s tempting to think that habits are routines that just happen as though at some point (21 days seems to be popular), you just end up at the gym as a default setting. It’s not true though. Both good and bad habits are daily decisions. The bottom line? Habits are decisions without deliberation.

When it comes to bad habits, I reach for the donut without considering the way it’s going to make me feel in an hour or the ways it may sabotage the goals I’ve set for my day. It’s a decision without reflection.

 The same applies to good habits, except that I’ve done the deliberation ahead of time. I’ve already thought through the benefits of the practice, so instead of trying to rationalize or make excuses in the moment, I make the productive decision. 

Breaking bad habits or establishing new ones isn’t about will power.  It’s about reflection and decision-making. John Dewey knew it all along.