How To Create Lasting Habits for Healthy Skin: Community and Success
Everyone has wondered how to create new habits without seeing them fizzle out after a week or two. Even results in things like weight loss, engagement, or better health sometimes aren’t enough to keep you motivated.
There’s often a missing link where lasting results are concerned when starting something new. Here’s why it’s important to create lasting habits through community support.
The Power of Community Support
You’ve likely heard that it takes 21 days to form a habit, right? Before you block the next three weeks off on your calendar, know that, while there is some basis to this number, it’s only a starting point.
The 21 day myth comes from the book Psycho-Cybernetics published by Dr. Maxwell Maltz that states that it takes “a minimum of about 21 days for an old mental image to dissolve and a new one to gel”. So, according to this information, 21 days is the starting point for establishing a new habit.
If this feels like bad news, take heart. A study published in 2009 by the European Journal of Social Psychology states that it generally takes from 18 to 254 days for a person to form a new habit.
That said, there are a few things that can help when working on how to create lasting habits. And one important factor appears to be a strong sense of community. In other words, having others who back you up will help to make those habits stick.
There’s certainly no shortage of quotes that basically boil down to … you are the company you keep. This is why groups like Alcoholics Anonymous and Weight Watchers have been around so long. The power of community supports creating new habits with long term results.
But this support works best when you associate with those who have like minded goals. Research shows that people with lower self control are better equipped to stick to new habits when they spend time with friends who are better able to resist temptation. And spending time with a varied group of friends may be even more successful. Studies show that those who associate with different groups of people reap the most rewards.
You can put the power of community to work for you when you are dealing with skin problems like acne, eczema, rosacea, psoriasis and other challenges. Finding communities of people who are coping with their skin challenges in a positive way will help you feel less alone, and can increase your progress.
Community can be organized or it can be informal. Something as simple as following an Instagrammer who also has your same skin condition, and who is posting about their journey could provide you a sense of commonality and shared energy. Online forums can also help you have a place to share and receive support as you try new treatments and make changes to your life.
How to Create Lasting Habits for Skin Health: 4 Tips to Success
- Set Your Goal: Clear goals are the best way to set the groundwork for establishing a new habit. Think of how you want to look and feel, write it down, meditate on it. Holding a vision in your mind of your desired outcome is ultra-powerful.
- Get Inspired: Look to those who are working on similar goals and those who’ve had success. There’s nothing like inspo to keep you moving forward.
- Focus on the Good: When you feel tempted to skip your new habit, go back to that visualization from step one. It’ll keep you on track.
- Stay Tuned In: Make friends with people who are working on the same habits as you. And don’t be afraid to reach out if you have questions or need a boost of morale.
Establishing a sense of community when you are working on new habits is super powerful. It’s fun and rewarding, and sets you up for success. You don’t have to go it alone.
Discover your healthy skin community. Holistic Skin Circle offers the community support and expert guidance you need for your best skin.
Join our free Facebook Group and talk to other people with skin problems about the holistic habits that are working to help them keep skin clear and calm.
