Rome wasn't built in a day

Read this if you struggle to build new habits

“You have to write about this”

I knew this was coming.

It was 8.55am and I was still laying in bed. The 6.30am alarm was a distant memory.

For the third time in as many days the allure of the snooze button had been too strong.

And my wife was absolutely right. How could I write about habits and routines without conceding that I’d fallen off the horse this week.

A few late nights, falling out of my evening routine and poor quality sleep due to the the muggy British heat and the old Jake was back in town.

To be honest, I’m surprised it took this long.

For years, I’d been best friends with the snooze button and yet I somehow managed to wake up early for the past 6 months.

But with this bad habit creeping back in, I’ve noticed a lack of energy throughout the day, I’m unable to fall asleep at night and my morning routine has been non-existent.

Apparently it takes 21 days to form a new habit. But I’ve been getting up early every day for the past 180 days and guess what, it still isn’t a habit.

The minute you stop, it’s no longer a habit and that’s why the 21 day rule is a myth.

Anyhow, I admit that I hit a roadblock this week, simple as that.

It’s never plain sailing when trying to cut out bad habits and pick up healthy ones.

If it was easy we would all be in great condition with a life expectancy of 150. But that’s not how the world works.

Yet I can make a choice.

Continue down this road and let those bad habits creep in and take over.

Or jump back on the horse, tomorrow is a new a day with new challenges and rewards.

The old me didn’t even know there was a choice.

The new me will set that alarm and get up early tomorrow.

And this is my call out to you.

If you hit a roadblock with your habits, recognise tomorrow is a new day and you can make a choice.

If you’ve missed the gym for 1 week after a long stint of working out, tomorrow you can get right back to it and pick up where you left off.

Whatever it is that you’re trying to cut out, tomorrow is a new day.

There will be setbacks. Inevitably.

But these small moments are what tests and builds our character.

So people, I’m making a choice to get back on track. Will you join me?

Tomorrow is a new day.