How to acquire a routine and maintain it!

This September, the SKINVITY team has decided to get back to the healthy habits we lost during the summer months. This renewed motivation to give our bodies what they need has led to the crucial need to establish and stick to a routine!

Eating better, drinking less, going back to the gym, dusting off our devices —we know many of you abandon them in the summer—are thoughts that start swirling around in our minds at the end of August and fully settle in by September. We welcome them and figure out how to fit them in amidst the chaos that summer imposes—and that we love so much.

And we began to investigate how long it takes to establish these good habits in our minds, to move from obligation to necessity and from laziness to enjoyment, and to acquire a routine without suffering.

The 21 days are not necessarily true

The idea that it takes exactly 21 days to form a habit is a common belief that has circulated for a long time. It largely originated in the 1960s with the publication of the book "Psycho-Cybernetics" by Maxwell Maltz , a plastic surgeon and psychologist who has been quite influential and explored many topics related to self-image and self-esteem. He observed that patients who underwent plastic surgery took approximately 21 days to become accustomed to their new appearance. From this observation, he suggested that the same timeframe applied to habit formation.

However, subsequent research has shown that habit formation is a much more variable process and depends on several factors, such as the complexity of the habit, personal motivation, and consistency in practice.

In 2010, a study published in the European Journal of Social Psychology found that, on average, it took about 66 days for a behavior to become a habit, but the duration varied widely from person to person and from habit to habit.

We have decided to ignore these latest studies and stick to the 21 days like a koala to its tree: in October we are at our peak.

Breaking or creating habits

Experts also tell us—and we couldn't agree more—that it's harder to break a habit than to acquire one. And that it's important to find a replacement for that habitual behavior we've internalized. Swap the endless summer siesta for a pleasant autumn routine, complete with a podcast and a candle. Or replace the endless after-work drinks on a terrace in July with a get-together with friends and their devices. Well-being is found in many places.

Some keys to staying on the path of good:

1. Clearly define your goal: Be specific about the habit you want to develop and talk about it; don't let it be just a secret. In our imagination, we're capable of running a marathon and we see ourselves crossing the finish line… but in reality, we don't even have running shoes yet. Sharing it with others makes it tangible and, therefore, achievable.

• Start small: Instead of trying to completely change your routine overnight, begin with small, achievable steps. Extend this to your beauty routine as well. You should aim for a minimum and gradually increase: daily facial cleansing is the minimum, using two devices a day would be the maximum. There are many options in between; it's all about organization and motivation.

• Set reminders: Use visual reminders or alarms to remind you to perform the desired action. When it comes to the habit of taking care of yourself with the best cosmetic technology, one of the best reminders we can advise is to keep the device in plain sight.

• Keep track: Record your progress to stay motivated and accountable. This is crucial, and we want to emphasize the importance of taking a photo before you start using any device for the first time (or before you start eating better or exercising) and at least one more afterward. The idea is to document the process and track your progress.

• Be patient: Don't get discouraged if you don't see immediate results. Forming habits takes time. The TikTok "here and now" mentality, with its "everything can be achieved successfully in just 15 seconds" mentality, really undermines our self-esteem. The reality is quite different, thankfully more complex and nuanced. There's no better feeling than accomplishing a goal that was particularly challenging. That shower after the gym on the day you were going to skip it, that moment of fulfillment leaving a restaurant without having succumbed to another beer or fried food, that instant in front of the mirror when you feel your skin is supple, radiant, and healthy because you've dedicated time to caring for it.

• Adjust as needed: If you find that the habit you're trying to form isn't working, don't hesitate to adjust it and try different approaches. One of the great things about at-home cosmetic technology is precisely the freedom to create a routine that suits our needs.