For many of us, the start of the week feels like a new beginning. It can also seem like the best time to start a new habit, whether you\u2019re trying to journal daily or drink more water. The catch? A Sunday or Monday kick-off can also feel overwhelming, making it difficult for the habit to stick. In contrast, starting in the middle of the week\u2014on a Wednesday, specifically\u2014might be less psychologically daunting.\n<\/p>\n
It might sound strange, but there\u2019s some merit (and science!) to the approach. To learn more, we chatted with mental health professionals to explore the perks of starting new habits<\/a> on Wednesdays.\n<\/p>\n The Science Behind Starting New Habits on Wednesdays <\/p>\n According to therapists, here\u2019s why initiating habits on Wednesdays is the way to go.\n<\/p>\n Less Pressure and Perfectionism <\/p>\n As the traditional start of the week, Sundays and Mondays come with a lot of pressure. They’re also typically saddled with huge to-do lists, so adding a new habit can feel heavier and more unrealistic, says Lisa Chen, LMFT. In contrast, \u201cstarting in the middle of the week inherently removes that pressure,\u201d adds therapist Will Dempsey, LCSW. \u201cThe emotional bar is lower, and the change feels more realistic to implement.”<\/p>\n There\u2019s Already Momentum on Wednesdays <\/p>\n When you adopt a new habit on Wednesdays, you\u2019re not starting from zero, Chen says. Instead, you\u2019re already operating with the week\u2019s natural rhythm. \u201cThat momentum lowers the energy needed to begin something new because you\u2019re already in a state of motion,” she says. “It\u2019s a small adjustment, rather than an overhaul.”\n<\/p>\n It Feels More Like an Experiment\u00a0 <\/p>\n Adding a change to the middle of the week can feel more like a test run rather than a full commitment, Dempsey notes. This allows you to be more flexible and forgiving of \u201cfailure,\u201d which supports habit formation<\/a>.\n<\/p>\n It Gives You Small Wins\u2014and Confidence\u00a0 <\/p>\n \u201cA midweek start creates a shorter runway,” Chen says. “It\u2019s only a few days of consistency before the week is over.” Similarly, Dempsey notes it allows you to try the habit for two or three weekdays, experience small successes, and build confidence. These quick wins can help us stay motivated<\/a> and consistent, thereby increasing the chances of turning a behavior into a long-term habit, Chen says.\n<\/p>\n Tips for Starting New Habits\u00a0 <\/p>\n Here\u2019s what you can do to set yourself up for success, regardless of the day you choose to start new habits.\n<\/p>\n Be Specific: First, identify the change you\u2019d like to make and get clear on what counts as success, Dempsey says. For example, instead of planning to \u201cexercise more<\/a>,\u201d try \u201cwalking for 30 minutes<\/a> three times a week,” he suggests. This way, you\u2019ll be able to follow actionable steps while tracking progress.\u00a0 Remember, adopting new habits is a practice. \u201cHabits don\u2019t require perfection, but consistency and repetition,” Chen says. “Most people need 60 days of imperfect consistency before a change becomes a habit.” Dempsey echoes this notion, sharing that you don\u2019t need to be perfect\u2014you just need to keep trying. \u201cUltimately, change is made from incremental, manageable steps,” he says. “By giving yourself grace and celebrating small victories, even the most challenging habits become a part of your daily routine.”<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"For many of us, the start of the week feels like a new beginning. It can also seem…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":337756,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[62],"tags":[337,97],"class_list":{"0":"post-337755","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-fitness","8":"tag-fitness","9":"tag-health"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/337755","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=337755"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/337755\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/337756"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=337755"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=337755"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=337755"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
\nStack Habits: \u201cLink the new behavior to something you already do automatically,” Dempsey suggests. “For example, you might engage in a yoga routine while watching the morning news or state daily affirmations while brushing your teeth.” This approach, known as habit stacking<\/a>, reduces friction because the new habit is associated with an established cue, Dempsey says.
\nPrepare: Determine what you need to initiate the habit, then prepare those items the night before. This will make it easier for you to transition into the activity. For instance, if you\u2019d like to eat healthier breakfasts<\/a>, try pre-cutting fruit or preparing overnight oats in advance.\u00a0
\nTrack and Celebrate Progress: \u201cUse a calendar or checklist to mark off your new habit,\u201d Dempsey suggests. This visual evidence of consistency will strengthen motivation and reinforce the mental association between Wednesday and your new behavior, he says.<\/p>\n