What science says about forming new habits

Practicing music daily can become a habit with a few months

Now that we’re a good three weeks into the new year, how is everyone doing with their new year’s resolutions? Did you make any? Did you break them already? Or are you still diligently exercising, drinking water, or practicing music every day? 

Personally I’m trying Hilary Hahn’s #100daysofpractice, in which musicians are focusing on some structured practice every day. (It’s mainly happening on Instagram, but I haven’t shared my progress there yet.) One hundred days seems like a very long time, and I’m finding it hard to do a recurring task every day (and to not feel discouraged by skipping a day).

Me playing violin a few weeks ago

That’s not unusual, according to science. In a 2009 study, researchers from University College London asked 96 volunteers to start a new daily routine, and they studied how long it took for this to become a habit. On average, it took about 66 days. Some people picked up their new habit after less than 3 weeks, but others took more than 250 days for their new daily routine to become a habit they didn’t really have to think about. 

So for people participating in something like #100daysofpractice, it’s looking pretty good: If we all manage to keep it up for 100 days, daily practice should have become an automatic habit for most of us. So far I’ve already skipped a day, and I still can’t properly play the two-page piece I’ve been practicing daily for three weeks, so wish me luck! 

Music by MusiSci

This occasional section of Mixture features “MusiSci” -  people involved in both music and science

Ciara O’Neill is a radiographer in Belfast with a second career in folk music. In a recent interview with The National she said:

“I do like the balance. It can be hard working a full day and then playing a gig in the evenings, that is tiring and stressful but I wouldn’t have it any other way.”

Interesting links

• How arts and humanities can help in the fight against pollution - Dan Riskin for CTV

• The Scientific Reason Singers Have a Knack for Language - Amanda Florian for Discover

• Marine Life In Focus At Underwater Photo Contest - by me for Forbes.com

• La Botaniste, 1810–1865 “Elaborate annotations hidden in a copy of Sir James Edward Smith’s The English Flora hinted at the life of a mysterious woman botanist.” - Sukanya Charuchandra for The Scientist

• The Science And Art Of Really Seeing Weird Plants - GrrlScientist for Forbes.com

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