Day Nineteen: How Hard Do Old Habits Die?

I read somewhere not long ago, that it takes about two weeks for something to become a part of a life routine, something that people get used to doing everyday. Similarly, it takes six months for something to become ingrained in someone as a part of their natural rhythm. Like going to the gym, for example. Sure, it's a burden for awhile, but then it becomes a way of life, and it becomes difficult to remember a time when it didn't happen everyday. But does it really take six months? Wouldn't the adjustment time be less depending on the kind of person is undertaking the change?

As much as I hate to bring up the example again, I read this little gem of information right when I started trying to make writing a habit. Now that I've been doing it for awhile, it's hardly something I have to think about, or make time for anymore. It naturally fits into my schedule, and it's rarely a burden (although it's safe to say I definitely don't always feel like doing it). Although there were some times in the first week of writing that I struggled to make deadlines I set for myself, and came in danger of almost not doing it at all, I did it. And now, after the amount of time I've been doing it, it seems as though I will be completely used to this new part of my life very, very soon. I daresay that I will be used to it in less than six months, even. Okay, so adding new habits is easy, but what about giving old ones up?

Does forcing oneself to break habits take similar time as taking new ones on? I'm thinking not. For example, adding a new element to life's routine is something, at some point, one has to consciously remember and think about. But does anyone ever really think about the habits they take on that they don't want to keep around? Who thinks, "Well damn, I think I'll bite my nails today"? It's doubtful. But if it supposedly takes six months to form a new, good habit (like exercising), I would think it would take longer to fully break a habit that's already ingrained as a part of you that you don't have to think about. So would it take nine months or a year? Maybe I should try to break some habits too, for comparison. I'll ponder that.